Download Festival 2010: Rocklouder recommends…
Our favourite picks of the bands to catch at this year's event
This weekend sees the kick-off of Download Festival 2010 - the start of every self-respecting rock fan's festival season.
It's traditionally a brilliantly sweaty, boozy, and good-time fun festival, and this year it's celebrating 30 loud years of Donington rock festivals. We've delved into the lineup to showcase some of our essential picks for you to check out when you're not downing pints of Snakebite and setting fire to your best friend's hair.
- FRIDAY -
36 CRAZYFISTS
One of the most underrated metal bands of recent years, 36 Crazyfists are gearing up to release forthcoming album 'Collisions and Castaways' this July and heading out on the festival circuit to bring their brute force to rock fans across the continent. Definitely worth catching for your mid-afternoon dose of metal.
TAYLOR HAWKINS & THE COATTAIL RIDERS
Foo Fighters drummer Hawkins is currently causing a stir with this impressive side project: he's playing mid afternoon at the intimate Red Bull Bedroom Jam stage, so it's definitely worth trekking along to catch his quartet doing their prog-indie thing. Since bandmate Dave Grohl's playing with Them Crooked Vultures later on in the day, there's a good chance of a guest appearance, too.
COHEED AND CAMBRIA
Since their cross-album 'story' is almost concluded, Coheed are being pretty cagey about their future. We're big fans of the band here at Rocklouder, and their pomp-prog punk is well worth checking out on the Ronnie James Dio stage (named after the late, great rock legend). We're not panicking just yet, but this might be the last time in a while you'll get to see them, so make the most of it while you can.
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
If you haven't browsed through our Bullet For My Valentine week content, then where've you been? Their new album 'Fever' is brilliant and they're riding a wave of success at the moment (including a recently announced arena tour) - we can guarantee this appearance on the Dio stage (handily, right after Coheed and Cambria) will be the last time they play anywhere other than a main stage festival headline slot.
AC/DC
This is a no brainer - the band rarely do festivals anymore, let alone ones on this little island of ours, and now they're back at Donington after 19 years away (last time was headining the Monsters of Rock festival, fact fans). There's rumours they'll be doing most - if not all - of their iconic 'Back In Black' album, as it's 30 years since it was released. Even if they don't, this is an absolute must see. They're one of the greatest rock bands of all time, fergodssake.
- SATURDAY -
THE BLACKOUT
This is an interesting one - not only are the band playing their 'normal' show on Saturday evening at the Dio stage, they're also doing an acoustic slot on the Jagermeister stage at lunchtime. We've not seen them do much acoustic stuff before, but love the idea, and it sounds like it could be a great hangover soother too. For those of you who prefer your Blackout a bit louder, they'll be on the Dio stage at 6pm.
ROLO TOMASSI
One of the most exciting young rock bands in the country, Rolo Tomassi have just put the finishing touches to their upcoming second album, bizarrely produced by hip hop/electro producer Diplo. The tasters we've heard sound amazing, and their slot on the Dio stage promises to be just as impressive. Expect their unique spazz-math-rock with electronic influences - ie, well worth a watch.
DEFTONES
We were blown away by their new 'Diamond Eyes' record - it's their best since the iconic 'White Pony' album - and word on the street from those who've been lucky enough to catch their recent intimate shows suggests Deftones are back on top. Where they belong, quite frankly. See their return to form, and remind yourself what a special band they are, at 7pm on the main stage.
GLAMOUR OF THE KILL
One of the finest independent British metal bands, this York lot have toured with Bullet For My Valentine and Avenged Sevenfold, and they're heading to Download this year for a slot on the Red Bull stage. Expect chaotic metalcore with snatches of catchy-as-hell melody dotted all over the place.
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
Headlining the main stage, Rage come fresh from their celebratory free gig at Finsbury Park (read our review of it here). If the setlist from last weekend is anything to go by, this is basically going to be a fan-pleasing greatest hits set (and yes, of course they'll do 'Killing In The Name Of'). This is guaranteed to be a euphoric, heavy and triumphant set - the perfect Saturday night at Download, in other words.
- SUNDAY -
TAKING DAWN
Like The Blackout, Taking Dawn are also planning a 'normal' slot (they open the main stage on Saturday) and a special acoustic slot on the Jagermeister stage. We don't quite know how it's going to translate just yet, but it'll certainly be interesting to see their fantastic glam metal stripped down and laid bare.
STRAIGHT LINES
We wrote about them earlier in the year - this brilliant young Welsh quartet are making waves at the moment and their afternoon slot on the Red Bull stage is set to be a total must-see. Expect cheeky prog-punk and glorious melodies.
NAPALM DEATH
One of the most brutal bands ever to come from the UK, this legendary lot play the Dio stage in the afternoon. They might not be the catchiest band ever, but their straight-down-the-line death metal will be a perfect soundtrack for the realisation you've not had a shower in three days, probably have more lager than blood in your veins, and are loving it.
SLASH/BILLY IDOL/MOTORHEAD
This is a trio definitely not worth missing on the main stage - playing one after another, you'll go from Slash's fantastic solo material, through to Billy Idol's stomping bleach-blonde rock, through to Motorhead's scuzzy leather-jacketed hits. The finest classic rock Sunday afternoon grouping you can imagine.
AEROSMITH
There were rumours this might never happen - singer Steven Tyler's been in and out of rehab - but it looks like it's definitely on, and we're very excited. It's set to be an impressive main stage spectacle: Aerosmith are a band who've always had more hits than you can remember, and every one's an absolute stone-cold classic. The ideal way to finish off what's set to be an exhausting and amazing weekend.
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