I meant to do a 2018 post but I had such a good time and most of the bands I have talked about before so I just didn't bother.
So Here we go Drownload 2019.. Wait no sorry Download 2019.
The 2nd Weekend in June comes around every year, and every year we all migrate to that holy field known as Donington Park, an this year I nearly didn't make it.
Thank you to the guys in the group that bailed me out saved my arse and got me into said field.
There will probably be very little about the bands in this so if you are here for the bands then I am sorry there are more things to say about the whole what needs to be looked at instead of what they get right this year.
So lets start with Wednesday. Now as always there is a que into the car park but it gradually moves forward at a steady rate... Nope 2019 we all have to park in the West Car Park and that's a mile away from the actual camp site... But hang on the roads are grid locked, this was not planned well at all, so we were pushed into the south car park. This I can live with it is closer to where we plan to camp and as such it is a simple quick trip through the gates and into the BLACK CAMP. Yeah the village has moved. Whole team gets greatly confused as I wander off to scout where we want to be, I do it pretty darn quick on my lonesome. Into camp, tent goes up and I start laying out the other tents I am carrying heavens open have to wait for it to pass then carry on, mean while rest of the group are now at the entrance to where we are camping. They are told the camp sites closed. Because of a tree that has fallen, but if you are already in there you are safe but if you're not you have to wait. Yet for some reason they let me take a tent in from them one at a time and continue setting up.... How nuts is this! So I just keep walking back and forth building tents and on the 3rd tent they all seem to appear running down the hill, the hub crew had totally messed it up and they were meant to stop people camping near the tree. Head Wall, plus we were made to move the tents about 6 feet further in from the white line because the fear of new trees falling. I must admit there is a large tree where we camp but the fallen tree is all the way over the other side of the camp.
This isn't even the best bit yet, anyway the total redesign to the camp layouts, the loss of what was white and green results in more issues of people getting a little confused and lost. On top of this why did we lose the camp colours the dividing fences are still in place? Any one want to explain to me why this had to happen, as such over the years the camps themselves have become worse and worse, toilets get smaller and food merchants get reduced and move. The paper shops that used to permeate the hubs no longer exists, so you have to walk all the way to the coop in the village and now the village is not central it becomes a nightmare drudging through 10" of mud and water, an the restock for there is so slow because of the rain it becomes even more of a nightmare to try and purchase any thing When you think that the crews have already been on the site two weeks before we get there and the weather has been forecast as wet for that long, why do they never do anything to improve the situation before we even get in? I am hearing stories of boarding for wheel chairs in the disabled camp not being in place and the mud causing so many issues that the toilets weren't getting cleaned as often as they should be, though these companies will still take their money for a job fully done when it wasn't even half done.
I understand the wish for some to have the toilets segregated for male and female, I do but if you are going to segregate the toilets then you need to possible add more toilets, Or plan how they are being put together or the way they are laid out. This will become apparent in a moment why I am mad about this. Examples of this male urinals depending on which way you are walking you can see directly into them, an why is this important well back in 06 or 07 we got told males if you can just use the fences in the camp site around the edge and just be courteous and try to be as discrete as you can. in 19 we get told we can no longer use the fences as toilets, when I questioned this and pointed out that its been written for years (An yes I know urinating into a dike is probably not great for the water course but it's a short term thing and not an everyday thing an mud seriously you can piss yourself trying to get to the loos cause of ques and mud) But this is not the reason the little Hitler in the white jacket was giving. When I questioned this he actually said that's not changed. So I kept pushing and was threatened with removal from the festival if I did it. (I hadn't at this point) I kept pushing as I was not happy with this thing and I wanted clarification on the exact reason, I brought up the whole indecent exposure and I got told no that not the reason either, when I got to the end of this list I was basically told because it might trigger someone. Yep. Pissing up a fence discretely can trigger someone. The crew I go to Download age range is 19 to 40. Both Male and Female, the look on everyone's face when he said that was one of shock, followed by much moaning about metal festival and rock festival and so on. We never saw this white coat again, okay that not true he was seen by some of the guys in the Slipknot pit, but was ever seen again in a white jacket.
There was also a lot of confusion between white jackets, red jackets and orange jackets, it was like they were all working of different instructions.
So moving on from this we had some people just throwing water balloons at people as they walked up the road way, a friend was hit and we aren't 100% it was water I convinced her it was as said I am not 100% and when she reads this I'm sorry I think it was water I am fairly sure. But once reported security just shrugged it off like they couldn't be bother, so we can't piss up fences but we can throw water balloons filled with unknown liquids at people Oh the joy. (I'm not sure on the day of this)
Village layout, well if the walk ways had been correctly placed and the straw had been put down before we all arrived this might have been easier to walk through, it was seriously hard to walk in, made a killing in welly sales I guess but seriously my legs hurt, just trying to trudge through it. West car park is a stupid distance away and the shuttle bus wouldn't let trolleys on (This is what my mate said I don't know about that but I know the walks back breaking)
So for 2020 weather reports need to be watched and things need to be in place before we get there really and once more security singing off the same hymn sheet and sort the west car park walk some how.
So Friday
How did this go, well we took the "Short cut" through the track as that was the only visible way to get into the arena (We later found out it wasn't) This has gotten longer I and more windy, used to be a quick trek down the track and round a corner now the new infield layout of Donington Park meas you have to snake across the in field up and down hills in order to cross it and it takes ages, from Saturday we just started using the old route as it was quicker and easier. Though the new entrances and new ways in to the arena from each type of ticket did mean we didn't have a massive crush to get into the arena, though on Sunday they did reduce the entrance gate for people coming in. On top of this the amount of beer cans and not allowed items seen with in the arena makes me wonder if the security were checking anyone or just asking and letting them through, I know I never got searched I wasn't carrying anything but still.
Only one beer tent is open at 1pm on Friday. ONE. An then the options for said beverages (I don't do spirits so didn't look but were) Lager Choice: Carlsberg Pilsner, or Dogtooth Bitter. Or you could have Cider.... Any one seeing the problem here? Pilsner is not LAGER, Dogtoogh is BITTER, no LAGER! That was it. Last year we had a great selection of beers it was great beer prices I will be honest were reasonable for a trapped audience.
Skidrow in passing, sounded great loved the 3 tracks from the set I caught new singer is no Sebastian Bach but it's all okay can't fault them but I am heading for Summo Cyco.
Into the tent sets a few minutes late in for Summo Cyco, has been years since I last saw these guys and they are really killing the Avalanche stage, if you find time check them out not everyone cup of tea but I enjoy them fun and bouncy heavy and just insane i can't describe them. This bit is from 4 years ago when we saw them supporting Fozzy and ended up chatting to them for quiet some time at their merch stand, all support for these guys.
I wandered off so didn't see Icon for Hire but have been told there was some technical issues and they started late.
I know why we were trying to find an open bar that didn't have a que longer than the field. We ended up in the que next to the main stage and had the pleasure of listening to blackberry smoke, I have no issues with these guys single tracks in play lists popping up are fine and they play really well live, just after 20 minutes of them playing I get bored, just not my thing they are a good band but not a whole set for me (We did get the whole set though that's how long it took to get to the bar)
Up come Clutch, we have terrible beer. Catch first song, can't remember the words as always with Clutch but Zebrahead are playing and I like these guys, early for them I guess but was a great set, all that energy and the tent is rammed can't even get in to see them but get to hear them and sing along rather happily.
Wanted to see Deadland Ritual, got the day wrong totally screwed that up didn't see a thing.
My phone says I watched white snake, but I am not sure I did, for some reason I can't recall watching them, an here is the best bit I've not even finished my first beer so I can't blame it on the alcohol I never did finish the first beer.
Over to Opeth, catch the start of the set, never seen Opeth live they have played loads but I always forget to go and see them but Slash is playing and I want a good spot for that, so couple of songs in and off we go need to be close and Holy Crap how many people! Make my way to the front of the speaker tower and Here we go Slash, Myles, Conspirators Hell YES.
You know how good Slash and Myles are you do not need me to tell you how good these guys are together
An on to Rob Zombie, Rob can be hit and miss, but he is headlining, he is the last band on this stage it will get dark he will be happy and it will be awesome..... It was, he played he interacted he danced he sang he used loads of awesome video effects.... But nothing animatronic very few costume changes well for him the rest of the band were flying around changing outfits and so on, J5 as always on point, so glad he jumped from Manson to zombie. Great set and a fantastic way to finish the day, so walk back to camp take the short cut and listen to Def Leppard as we go (the volume on main stage was so loud you could hear it all the way at the back of the camp site and I know this because that is where we camp)
Back to camp with the crew all together to chat about our day and just enjoy beer, music and mates.
Saturday!
So Saturday didn't start early.... Well not for me didn't crawl into my tent till 4am the younger ones were out long past my head hitting the pillow and passing out.
So my first official band was Skindred. At 3:35pm, I was in the arena for Behemoth though, An was a great stage presence and some interesting things going on on the stage, but I am reaching this point of wondering what else is on and go for a wander, and here comes the annoying but I am wandering and not really watching who is where or where I am and floating in and out of shops. But I am back for Skindred.
The rain oh the rain, Was really enjoying the set but I am really set up for Slipknot pits later on and as such I am not wearing a lot so once it rained it got cold and while my enjoyment of Skindred was not damped I was cold and I was not happy, my T Shirt was so damn wet I couldn't even get it to spin for the Newport helicopter. Was a great fun set with curve balls and randomness thrown in through out and all the crazy stuff that Benji is known to throw in. Right sod this I am wet next band is Halestorm at 7:45.....
NXT, so yeah went and sat in the NXT UK tent for 2 hours, if you watch NXTUK you might see me you might not we will see how that goes, I Was very tired and stood through the whole thing. Not out of choice there were no chairs where we were. Also as we were in the tent we missed the MASSIVE rain shower that came down between 5 and 7pm
7pm, time to grab some merch. Die Antwoord on main stage while trying to buy merch from some on that only started Saturday morning hasn't been trained and has no idea whats going on....
Okay Die Antwoord, what the hell are they! I get they have a following but I just don't get them at all the base was the hard I thought I was going to have a fit. Not fun not fun at all.
Halestorm....
I love Halestorm, they can preform they do great songs, they do great covers, I was bored. I don't know why the set was killer but there was a lot of Guitar solos and I just wasn't feeling that for some unknown reason. They played great they just weren't that interesting on stage. I don't know I know the conversations about them with the rest of the group we all pretty much said the same thing, could not fault the playing the singing or anything they just seemed a bit dull.
SlipKnot.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH
That hurt. I wasn't even in the pits I was just near them. An still so good so awesome still Corey can control that crowd the interaction the everything, No matter who is in Chris's place, or the new masks or what the hell was Sid doing what is the deal with Sid and not having a Gas Mask he just wanders around like a deranged evil and freak Golem but still Slipknot as always WOW.
Sunday....!
We'll just sit here and chat till the rain stops.... Phone says its raining all day... Mine says its going to slow down about 2... That's okay we'll head up and 2 then... Yeah, Well were off now we want to go see this that and the other... that's okay we'll meet up for Slayer or meet back here later.........
This is what Sunday morning went like. Breakfast as usual, the long trek to the village which in the present mud level takes nearly an hour to get too. Yeah it was that bad.
Rain oh the rain, crap site pretty much gets wrecked Gazebo goes flying and then it stops, but the phone says rain still there so we get the water proof gear on and wander down to the arena about 1 in the end and we get there the rains stopped and it is rapidly heading towards 20C. Yeah not a good day over heating like mad towards the end of it.
Amon Amarth.
Wasn't a bad set, but my back is killing me so I wander to the side to just listen and not watch, the mud is starting to do a number on me and I am exhausted and in pain that pit bump the night before bloody hurting now.
Still played well good stage show and all a lot of great metal. If heavy low vocals are your thing then this is definitely your thing.
Wanted to see Beartooth, but I am done and just crashed out under a sun shade trying to get feeling back into body parts so I can actually move.
Lamb of God or Anthrax.. Lamb of God or Anthrax... Anthrax, seen LoG several times couldn't remember if I had seen them or not but I had and I got to see them again they been doing it that long they they can just play, fast and hard. You might be noticing a theme today there is a fair amount of thrash on.
Dream theatre, seen them before not that bothered want to see Smashing Pumpkins but have time to sit here and listen to one Dream theatre Track 15 minutes and not a long walk from Zippo Stage to Main Stage and I did I listened to One track and after 15 minutes went to Pumpkins.
Smashing Pumpkins...
Opening with Zero, then playing several tunes I don't know and then some I do know and this is Smashing Pumpkins. I wish I caught the name of the guest that came on to sing Snowblind, I am sure someone will tell me some where was an a really good performance of said song though, an the stage decor was amazing.
Time for SLAYER.
Last time these guys are playing the UK and the last time I am going to hear Raining Blood Live.
So so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so Worth It. The pain the heat the everything so so worth it just to see Slayer for one last time. Thank you download festival for giving me that chance.
Monday......
Holy Hell and all that is wrong with this World.
From what used to be Green Camp all the way back to the west car park is an absolutely brutal affair, while the ground is more solid as it was easier but up and down those hills with two of us pulling the trolley and trying to get out Damn it all that was a push, pull, run, crawl. Seriously we had zero chance of getting the trolley on the bus so we had to walk but I am sure there could have been an easier route through if someone really thought about it a little.
On another side the rain did hamper things, just in general I am not talking about specific days, the organisers could have been more prepared it has been going on for 16 years! You would think they could get this right by now. Bands all played to the best of their abilities within the confines of the weather situation. Festival goers themselves were as always family. A little dysfunctional but all the same. This year has put a whole new board of issues to get sorted and corrected before 2020.
An I know a lot of you are going to hang on certain comments at the start and you can do that. I won't hold it against you. This is just one persons view of an event that can houses over One Hundred Thousand. So, Download 2019, we have been we have survived we are family.
So Until 2020. 51 weeks and counting. I'll leave you this tiny beer tinted sleep deprived and chaotic view of a weekend that I would never give up for anything, and the friends I have made and the guys I call my Family.
Scream for me Donington.
