Domingo 23 Jun 2013, 17h:51
Fri 14 Jun – Download Festival 2013
So here I was again, my fifth year in a row wondering if there was not going to be any rain this time. By the end of it though I was realising that wishing for that one bit of nice sunny weather was too much! But I am getting ahead of myself, I recently went to the Download Festival at Donington Park where headlining this year was Slipknot, Iron Maiden & Rammstein.
Last year had great music terribly flawed by the god awful weather that had been thrust upon the site (This was five days of non-stop rain, read more about that here though). Will this year be different, lets find out! Here is my day by day account of Download Festival 2013.
Wednesday 12th June
We arrived to the site at around 1PM to the site workers in the car park proclaiming that it was “an hour and a ‘alf wait” to get in to the site. We arrived and queued for two and a half hours not really sure why when every other year we just walk in, apparently someone was carrying too much and his leg snapped and went through the skin so he had to be taken to the hospital, anyone who can confirm this would be great. The waiting was tedious but bearable as the sun was out and the atmosphere was great. Get into the campsite, set up tent and drink. Day One completed.
Thursday 13th June
What do you do when you have no music and are there for a full day? I read a book, the people I was with slept a few winks. Why such boring things I hear you cry? Well the sky was being like a special kid playing with taps in the bathroom. The rain was constantly on and off, making it hard it do anything! When we did venture out to the car to try and get some supplies, by the time we made it I had a nice suntanned face and also drenched clothes.
Friday 14th June
Being woken up by my fellow campers to hear “Did you hear that someone near us had their tent broken in too… and they were still inside” was one of the most bizarre experiences I have ever encountered, lets hope that it won’t happen again for everyone involved. Except for the thief. You are scum sir.
We took a nice trip to Asda in the sun to get some money and buy some pasties (baked beans one to be precise, they were amazing). After consuming some McDonalds we were back on our way to the site, which we were greeted back in kind with more rain, lots more rain. Not deterred by our swampy clothes and surroundings we went back to the tent ready to hear some music. I mean that is what we were there for.
We saw full sets of Papa Roach, Europe, Korn & Bullet on Friday. The lead singer for Papa Roach was losing his shit and going mental (in a good way) and really captured the atmosphere and excitement of the crowd. They were very good it must be said. Europe are a very good live band, however it is a shame that people just want to hear the final countdown, which is their best song of course but what can you do. After seeing Korn at their own gig last year I was ready to be blown away, I would say I was cautiously shunned more than anything. A band like Korn have so many good songs and lots of albums picking a good mix is always difficult, so when they only played two songs of their newest album I was pretty bummed out. The last band I saw before retiring to my bed, because I was sooooo tired for some reason was Bullet, they drew in a huge crowd and played their typical set, honestly I have seen them so many times now they start to just be background noise, really good background noise don’t get me wrong but background noise nonetheless.
Saturday 15th June
This was it, the day people kept talking about the most. The night that Iron Maiden are going to play Download, I however didn’t see them. Taking a far more alternative route and saw The Hives headline the third stage, which in my opinion was my best band of the whole weekend. Period. The atmosphere, the lights and the setlist they decided to play all made it a fantastic show.
http://media.tumblr.com/b51ae1afb026d121fedc3def465188b9/tumblr_inline_moou7usx0m1qz4rgp.jpg
Also seen on this day was Lit, Motorhead, Jimmy Eat World & Enter Shikari. Lit were good considering it seemed like no one knew who they were. Motorhead are always good despite the lead singer being so old no one understands a word he is saying. Jimmy Eat World were very and hope they achieve good things in the future because it seems they deserve it. Whilst Enter Shikari were rough, dirty, loud and ruthless in a good way of course! They all looked genuinely happy to play to such a large amount of people.
Sunday 16th June
On the last day we ended up seeing a Five Finger Death Punch, Parkway Drive and Stone Sour in full. A very good way to end the weekend in my opinion, we left the festival early because we have had past experiences of it being shit when trying to leave after all the acts are finished and by the sounds of it that happened again this year.
All in all a good time was had, but I think I shall not got for my sixth year in a row next year as I am just too bummed out on camping at this point!
Full list of people seen!
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