Two years ago, I travelled to the annual Download festival, looking forward to seeing the Japanese kawaii rock band Babymetal, only for their show to be cut to just three full songs because of thunder and lightning.
The band returned to the Donington Park main stage, again on a Saturday afternoon, and this year played their allotted hour with the “spiritual home of rock” bathed in sunshine.
I’ve always thought the fusion of J-Pop and metal was a great idea and, judging by sales, streams and listens, millions of fans all over the world obviously agree with me.
Babymetal on the main stage. Picture: Download (Todd Owyoung)
Saturday’s show was a triumph, with a huge crowd enjoying massive bangers such as the breakthrough hit Gimme Chocolate, Ratatata, Headbanger and Pa Pa Ya.
The Tokyo trio weren’t the only Japanese band impressing over the three-day event either, with Band-Maid packing out the Dogtooth tent for their first-ever European festival appearance on Friday evening.
It was another woman making the national music headlines, though, as Linkin Park’s Sunday night headline slot was the first time a female-fronted band had headlined Download, with Emily Armstrong at the helm.
Emily Armstrong fronted Sunday night headliners Linkin Park. Picture: Download (Matt Higgs)
But it was another female artist who impressed me, with American internet sensation Ivri thrilling a full Avalanche tent early Sunday afternoon with her shoegaze rock. The ‘Tower of Memories’ star played all her biggest tracks in a short but sweet set.
I attended my sixth Download, as always, with my son Alfie and, once again, we had a wonderful weekend at this massive celebration of alternative music.
As well as Linkin Park, other headliners Limp Bizkit and Guns N’ Roses delivered sensational sets on the UK’s biggest festival stage after its fastest ever sell-out, along with dozens of other artists from all around the world.
And probably the most famous person at the whole festival was playing with one of the lesser-known bands, with Hollywood great Keanu Reeves on bass for American alt-rockers Dogstar.
Keanu Reeves on bass guitar for Dogstar. Picture: Download Festival (Todd Owyoung)
Some 95,000 rock and alternative music fans make the famous motor racing their own friendly, inclusive, safe and exciting community for a long weekend.
Whatever the weather, the positive vibes are always the same here, with bands preaching togetherness, love, empathy, fairness and social justice. If only we could bottle that spirit and spread it around our divided world.
The crowd is a complete mix of ages and dress styles too, with the mix between male and female about 50/50… far removed from the alpha male Monsters of Rock events of the 80s and 90s.
Guns ‘N Roses frontman Axl Rose. Picture: Download
Despite using the festival to get together for a few days with 23-year-old Alf, we usually spend some time watching different bands… this year we stuck together, although you can see from our top tens that he enjoys the heavier ‘throaty roar’ bands, while I prefer slightly lighter sounds.
In fact, Indian folk metallers Bloodywood were the only outfit to make both top tens. While I went for the camp fun of German electronicore exponents Electric Callboy, USA country metal sensations Lakeview and alt-rock royalty Ash, Alf’s list leaned in a totally different direction. American cosmic death metallers Blood Incantation, crossover thrash band Drain and UK arena rockers Architects were among his favourites.
Which all goes to show what a wonderful, eclectic mix is served up at what some still assume is purely a heavy rock extravaganza. To me, it’s the best weekend of the year, spent in the company of kind, liberated people, eating lovely food, drinking (too much!) beer and listening to all sorts of exciting music.
Download’s is the UK’s biggest festival stage
We’ve already reserved our days off for 2027, when the festival returns from Wednesday, June 9, to Sunday, June 13. Limited early bird tickets are on sale now at www.downloadfestival.co.uk
Alfie and Jeremy Ransome at Download. Picture: Jeremy Ransome
Jeremy’s Top Ten
1- Babymetal
2- Electric Callboy
3- Ivri
4- Lakeview
5- Bloodywood
6- Ash
7- Dinosaur Pile-Up
8- Caskets
9- Band-Maid
10- Letlive
Bloodywood put on an amazing performance and were included in both Jeremy and Alfie’s top tens. Picture: Download (Leora Bermeister)
Alfie’s Top Ten
1- Blood Incantation
2- Drain
3- Architects
4- Limp Bizkit
5- Kublai Kahn TX
6- Bloodywood
7- Snot
8- Mould
9- Linkin Park
10- Landmvrks
Previously
2025: Green Day and Sex Pistols the highlights for a father and son at their fourth Download Festival
2024: Download Festival was wet, muddy and marvellous
2023: Download Festival: as experienced by a 53-year-old and his 20-year-old son
AloJapan.com