Bullet For My Valentine, Enter Shikari Announced For Download Festival Pilot Event
The event will see 10,000 music fans descending on the UK’s Donington Park from June 18-20, with “moshing allowed”.
Bullet For My Valentine, Enter Shikari and Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes have been announced as the headliners for this year’s Download Festival pilot.
Download organizers confirmed earlier this week that the Donington Park bash will make a small-scale return next month for a three-day camping pilot as part of ongoing research into the safe return of live music. Organizers say that “moshing is allowed” when 10,000 fans descend on Donington Park from June 18-20. Now, it’s been confirmed that the above three acts will lead proceedings for the pilot event. Visit the event’s official website for further information.
Enter Shikari’s Rou Reynolds said: “After 18 months trapped inside, we cannot wait to be back in our favourite element; playing music beneath an open sky. It’s also fitting, as we have a long history with Download… 2021 being the 15th anniversary of our first time there – which also happened to be our first ever festival show! We’re incredibly proud to be headlining an event that helps to get live music back on its feet in the UK”.
Other acts taking part in the pilot include Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, Creeper, While She Sleeps, Neck Deep, Chubby & The Gang, Boston Manor, Twin Atlantic and Skindred.
The event will form part of the second phase of the UK Government’s scientific Events Research Program.
Festival Republic boss Melvin Benn, who previously teased a camping pilot, said: “Following the huge success of our Sefton Park event, we are delighted to contribute to Phase II of the Government’s Events Research Program with the creation of the first three-day camping festival which will be the Download Pilot at Donington Park.”
“This massive next step will help us understand and study the safe return of large-scale festivals with no social distancing or face masks over a full weekend… the return of the full festival experience we have all been waiting for and a much needed return to work for musicians, backstage crew, caterers and many more that form part of the UK’s exemplary live music industry.”
