Festival fever is mounting ahead of the first big event of the season – Download 2009.
Tickets are now on sale for the event, which will be held from June 12 to 14 at Donington Park.
This year’s Download Festival boasts a line-up which is a little more varied in terms of genre than previous years.
This is demonstrated in the choice of Friday’s headliners Faith No More, whose performance at Download will be their first live show for 11 years.
The band’s reunion has prompted huge excitement among fans of the rock-rappers.
After playing Download, Mike Patton and FNM will be heading out across Europe on tour.
Taking the Saturday headline slot will be Slipknot – familiar faces with the Download crowd.
But Sunday’s headliners Def Leppard are a somewhat riskier choice.
While the Sheffield rockers have a legion of loyal fans – and will attract those who love a bit of ‘retro’ – their style is somewhat light compared to the metal on offer today.
Download organisers have taken a bit of a trip down rock memory lane this year, with Whitesnake, ZZ Top and Journey all featuring on the bill.
That’s a lot of tight trousers and hair on stage.
Bringing things more up to date will be US artist Chris Cornell, fresh off the back of his new album Scream.
It will be his solo debut at Download, although he appeared in 2003 with his band Audioslave.
Returning to Donington for the second time will be Southern groove metallers Down, in what is to be their first UK show this year.
US nu-metallers Papa Roach have also been added to the bill, coming back for their second Download Festival.
Skin are reforming especially to play Download, back together after a 12-year hiatus, marking their second performance at Donington since playing Monsters of Rock there in 1994.
Also performing will be Italian goth-rockers Lacuna Coil, Kentucky blues-men Black Stone Cherry, Clutch, Architects, Karma To Burn and Parkway Drive.
Representing the more alternative end of dance at Download will be festival favourites Pendulum and The Prodigy.
Also confirmed on the bill are Korn, Marilyn Manson, Limp Bizkit, Mötley Crüe, Billy Talent, Trivium, Dream Theater, Killswitch Engage, Dragon Force, Buckcherry, Anvil, The Blackout, Devil Driver and Tesla. Tickets are on sale now from www.downloadfestival.co.uk.
Weekend Tickets cost £135.
