In the wake of the current lock-down, many events are being postponed or cancelled. And due to the uncertainty of how long lock-down will go on for, events that are scheduled later in the year are also being reconsidered.
One of which, is the famous Download Festival, which has taken place at Donington Park every year since 2003. This extremely popular event has been host to world-class acts—2019 saw big names such as Def Leppard, Slipknot, and Tool, amongst many many more. Unfortunately, as of the 26th March, Download Festival 2020 will not be taking place.
The lineup for this year was set to be as big as ever, with names such as Kiss, Iron Maiden, and System of a Down, as well as more obscure, niche bands like the grog-swilling, pirate-rock band Alestorm and California’s Of Mice & Men (not to be confused with the Steinbeck novella, set during the Great Depression).
But all hope is not lost, as the team behind this renowned festival have announced that they will be providing fans with a “virtual festival” which will be streamed live across all of their social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram during the originally planned weekend.
This virtual festival is expected to provide viewers with three daily shows, sporting a mix of “music, special interviews, unseen performances, exclusive footage, interactive content and loads more.”
Viewers are being encouraged to get into the festival spirit during the weekend, by setting up their tents at home, flying their flags, and getting ready to mosh, all whilst practising responsible social distancing.
Alongside this, the Download team are asking supporters to share their experiences and photos from
previous years, and to enjoy themselves by rocking out and celebrating the Download community.
The virtual festival is set to go ahead on Friday 12th – Sunday 14th June this year.
If you want to keep up to date and find out how to get access, follow their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube accounts.
Stay healthy, happy, and positive! And don’t forgot to raise those horns starting on 12th June!
By Sam Ellison
