Alter Bridge, The Darkness and Mastodon are among the 40 artists added to the Download Festival 2020 line-up today.
Playing the Saturday 13th June special guest slot before headliners Iron Maiden, Alter Bridge will make their first Download Festival appearance in three years this summer.
Guitarist Mark Tremonti enthuses: “We are very proud and honoured to be a part of the 2020 lineup. Download has always been the highlight of our touring schedule over the years, thanks for another opportunity to perform for some of the best rock fans in the world!”
The Darkness will play the Zippo Encore Stage before headliners Disturbed on Sunday 14th June. Singer Justin Hawkins comments in his inimitable style: “UK festival appearances are like children – so precious and impossible to pick a favourite.
“This year though, my number 1 child is our Download slot! I have a pair of pyjama bottoms designed to look like jeans with tickets for Monsters of Rock 1991 hanging out of the pocket, and that tells you everything you need to know about my excitement levels.”
Also confirmed across the weekend are the following acts (in alphabetical order):
Amaranthe, Bowling For Soup, Cemetery Sun, The Distillers, Employed To Serve, Fire From The Gods, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Funeral For A Friend, Glorious Sons, Haken, Hatari, Heavy Lungs, The Hara, Higher Power, Holding Absence, JJ Wilde, Lacuna Coil, Kill The Lights, Loathe, Mastodon, Menzingers, Milk Teeth, Modern Error, Motionless In White, Northlane, Press Club, Polyphia, The Raven Age, Renounced, Tempt, Twin Temple, Sepultura, The Skints, Sleep Token, Sulli, Three Doors Down, Thy Art Is Murder and Wage War.
It’s also been confirmed today that WWE NXT UK is returning to Download Festival once again. The first wrestlers taking to the ring are NXT UK Champion WALTER, NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray, and NXT UK Tag Team Champions Gallus.
Plus, the first-ever WWE United Kingdom Champion Tyler Bate, and his Tag Team partner Trent Seven Also set to perform is Finn Bálor’s protégé Jordan Devlin, the highflyer Mark Andrews, and his Tag Team partner Flash Morgan Webster. Toni Storm alongside powerhouse Piper Niven are also bringing the energy to Donington Park.
Our sister station Kerrang! Radio will once more host Finding Fresh Blood, the search to bring the hottest emerging talent to Donington. 2019 was its inaugural year and grime-punks PENGSHUi triumphantly opened the Avalanche Stage. UK acts can now upload their tracks online to be in with the chance of playing this year’s festival on the same stage. To apply, and for more information please visit Kerrang! Radio’s website. The chance to apply closes on 1st March at 23:59, and winners will be announced in April.
Kerrang! Radio’s Alex Baker said: “Playing at The Download Festival is a benchmark moment in any bands career, it is the most important festival in the country for alternative music and a performance on any of the hallowed stages can catapult your career as a musician to new heights.
“I only like working with people who share my unyielding spirit for supporting new artists, and the absolute dedication that Andy and the team from Download have in this field is truly inspiring. When Pengshui walked out on the Avalanche Stage last year, the atmosphere on the stage, in the crowd AND in the wings was absolutely electric – it is a moment that will never be forgotten.”
The new line-up additions join Download Festival 2020 headliners KISS, Iron Maiden and System of a Down plus Volbeat, The Wildhearts, Airbourne, Stone Broken, British Lion, Deftones and many more.
Download Festival takes place at Donington Park from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th June 2020. Tickets are on sale from Planet Rock Tickets right now.
The Download Festival 2020 line-up poster, including stage and day splits, looks like this:
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