Download 2007: Sunday Blog

Maiden, Mastodon, Killswitch, the list goes on!

10 June 2007

8pm As the crowd awaits Iron Maiden, we have no choice but to join them! We'll let you know how they got on but for now, goodbye from Download!  

6pm Download Festival director, Stuart Galbraith, has just held a press conference for journalists. Key points included:
- 80,000 fans have enjoyed Download over the weekend. "It's difficult to put into words how good it's been", said Stuart.
- In the first year that the Main Stage has been streamed live, 6,000 people have been monitoring this website, including my blog - the majority of those from the US.
- With Download now a global brand, organisers are planning to export the festival to two new countries in 2008.
- The recycling scheme has been working well. The main arenas have been cleared daily and one guy has spent the entire weekend picking up beer cups to fund his trip to Ozzfest in Australia!
- Next year's festival will take place from 13-15 June - yes that's one year and A WEEK to wait - to fit in with the European festival calendar. Early bird tickets, costing the same as this year's festival, go on sale from Friday.

5.44pm Within Temptation are running late. It's been 15 minutes and there's still no sign of them. 

4.55pm Hailing from nearby Birmingham, Napalm Death are treated to a heroes homecoming reception before they proceed to batter everyone senseless!

4.46pm Frank Carter, singer from Gallows, is guesting with Kids In Glass Houses over on the Tuborg Stage and they've just launched into a Glassjaw cover. Oh what a surprise.. Frank has just dived headlong into the crowd in fits of punk venom. Gallows take the prize for most active band at Download 2007 - they also kicked up a storm DJing in the Duracell Powerhouse last night.

3.54pm Lamb Of God have just dropped their challice picture backdrop to reveal a new one - a mocked up US flag with one star. The caption reads 'Pure American Metal'. It sums up their set - solid and unrelenting.

3.42pm Download Dog is on the loose! I've been let off the leash to go and meet fans. Come and see my by the side of the Main Stage.

3.31pm Two World War fighter planes have just flown over during Lamb Of God's set. It's official - they're a threat to national security!  

3.17pm Hardcore Superstar have just had to cancel their Tuborg Stage show for unknown reasons.

3.15pm The first Red Bull X-Fighters show of the day kicks off, gravity defying stunts that leave the crowd with hearts well and truly in mouths. The compere has totally lost his voice after three days of geeing up the crowd, but the six riders are point perfect, pulling off all manner of aerial tricks to the delight of onlookers. 

2.37pm
As promised, Devil Driver manage to get the biggest circle pit of the weekend, with one huge effort spanning around half of the tent.  

1.57pm
Spotted! Legendary footballer turned household name Ian Wright - apparently looking 'cardboardy, 2D and unresponsive'. Has the metal proved his Schmeichel-like undoing?!  

12.51pm
Cancer Bats belie the early hours by inciting a huge circle pit with their excellent metal-laced hardcore over on the Dimebag Darrell Stage. As the band finish, thousands of fans descend on the arena as the excitement grows for Unearth's hotly-anticipated set.

11.25am
Performing their debut UK show, Indian metallers Parikrama kick off the Main Stage with hard hitting but polished hard rock. Having played support for Iron Maiden during their a recent tour of India, the band were invited to Download on tonight's headliners' special request - and you can see why! 

11.55am
It's the final day, the big one, Mastodon, Maiden, Killswitch, so many more - just the thought of it is enough to make the hairs stand on end! First off though, the Dimebag Darrell Stage opens in dramatic fashion. Plooms of thick smoke and forboding, ominous music introducing After Forever who kick off the day with a heavy dose of opera tinged metal.

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