Download Festival was a delightful dream

Spalding Guardian reporter Kat Wakefield looks back on her favourite event of the summer.

As festival season draws to a close, the first since the height of the pandemic, one legendary event remains a firm favourite.

Any rock or metal fan worth their salt has graced Donington Park for Download Festival. Although I hadn’t visited for a decade, I’ve always kept an eye on proceedings.

While elements have changed over the years, the bones of it remain intact - and there’s always a brilliant mix of acts to enjoy and discover.

From Kiss, The Darkness and Steel Panther to Iron Maiden, Biffy Clyro and Deftones, this year’s line up was an absolute delight.

I once heard someone describe a certain type of musical obsession as something similar to religion, and you can see that among the sea of faces at Download.

We might be perceived as miserable, but you’d be hard pushed to find a happier group of people than the 80,000 plus fans in attendance.

The atmosphere is like nothing you’ll ever experience elsewhere - even when it rains.

We worship at the feet of our heroes. Whether it’s Korn, Skindred or even Drag Race UK star Bimini, we all stood in awe and amazement as they delighted us with heavenly sounds and spectacular visuals once again.

While I was to be found in this state for most of the weekend, there was one moment where it was all a bit too much for me.

In fact, this is where I could lose all of my heavy metal credentials… yes, reader, I slept through Iron Maiden.

Actually, I heard some of their set and then drifted off to a peaceful slumber to the sounds of Bruce Dickinson belting out Run to the Hills. Lock me up now and take all of my band T-shirts with you.

Aside from this, it really was the most fantastic return to Donington Park - from watching my favourite band (The Darkness) perform their Christmas hit in the blazing June sunshine, to drinking with Bez from Happy Mondays who was there to support his partner’s band Control the Storm.

Next year, there will be an additional day of music to mark the festival’s 20th anniversary.

My predictions? Well, based on album releases and tour dates, I’d suggest we could see Rammstein, Muse and Def Leppard headlining the main stage.

Could we see an eagerly awaited return from ACDC for that fourth spot?

Only time will tell. Either way, I’ll see you down the front!