Close your eyes for a moment, and listen. Hear that? That distant, rumbling thunder rolling across the ether? Thundering in all directions from the East Midlands epicentre.
That’s the sound of Donington Park warming up, stretching its muscles, clearing its throat and preparing to embrace us all in its chaotic, mud-splattered, rock-fueled glory this summer.
In exactly 100 days, the gates to our promised land will crank open, and the mosh pits will awaken once more from their 12-month slumber. The Download Dog will howl its triumphant welcome as up to-100,000 rockers, metalheads, punks, and dreamers converge on the hallowed grounds of Donington for the ultimate weekend of unbridled mayhem. It’s visceral. It’s primal. It’s Download. It’s home.
The mighty Download Festival is back for 2025, and if you thought last year was one to savour then you ain’t seen nothing yet! The hallowed turf of Donington Park—the mecca of rock ‘n’ rolla, the battlefield where legends are made—is primed and ready to host one of the most electrifying line-ups in its long and black history. Every great to ever wield a riff or thrust the horns into the sky has graced this sacred ground, and this year, it’s welcoming a fresh wave of titans to the throne.
Oh how we have missed the deafening roar of the crowd, the earth-shaking riffs, and that sacred communion between band and fan under the open skies.
From June 12 to 14, Donington Park transforms into our Mecca, our Valhalla, our heaven on earth. For one unforgettable weekend, the air will be thick with the smell of burgers, beer, and anticipation, as four stages explode with music that defines our lives. Anticipation is already crackling like electricity as we pack our wellies, shades, and that battered but deeply loved old denim jacket covered in patches that hasn’t seen action since last summer.
The line-up? Oh, mate. The line-up is nothing short of biblical. Andy Copping—the stetson-wearing savior of our scene—has delivered us a festival stacked higher than a towering wall of Marshalls. Friday night brings us Green Day, those pop-punk juggernauts are finally making their Donington debut. Imagine it: Billie Joe Armstrong screaming “Do you have the time?” to a sea of ecstatic faces as fireworks burst overhead. It’s a first that will go down in history.
This isn’t just a victory lap for one of the most enduring bands of our time—this is a moment. Expect a career-spanning set loaded with classics, fist-pumping choruses, and a whole lotta pyro. It’s about time these pop-punk pioneers staked their claim in Donington’s Hall of Fame.
And for those who’ve been paying attention to the rise of the most intriguing force in modern heavy music, it was only a matter of time before Sleep Token ascended to headliner status. The masked enigmas have bewitched the world with their genre-blurring sonic rituals, and Donington is about to witness something truly transcendental as they pledge to wrap us in their ethereal, spine-tingling embrace.
Then there’s Korn, finally taking their rightful place at the top. Nu-metal royalty, Jonathan Davis and co. have spent decades shaping the heavy music landscape, and now they’ll unleash the full weight of their groove-laden chaos onto Download’s faithful. ‘Freak on a Leash’ under the night sky? Spine-tingling. When Korn bring their unrelenting, angsty fire to close the weekend. From ‘Basket Case’ to ‘Blind’, this year’s headliners alone promise the kind of moments we’ll be talking about for decades.
But let’s not forget the rest of the bill—and as always Download isn’t just about the headliners—it’s a full-throttle celebration of everything heavy. The legendary Jerry Cantrell is bringing his unmistakable voice and riff mastery to the festival, ensuring that the spirit of grunge’s golden age still burns bright. Poppy will continue her genre-melting rampage, proving why she’s one of the most unpredictable and exciting acts on the planet. And for those craving some no-nonsense, hard-rocking chaos, look no further than Airbourne—expect beer-drenched mayhem and riffs so sharp they could cut steel.
And let’s not forget Sophie Lloyd, whose six-string wizardry is set to leave jaws on the floor. The shred queen is bringing her blazing solos and unstoppable energy to Donington, further proving why the next generation of guitar heroes is in very safe hands.
Jimmy Eat World will tug at our emo hearts while Steel Panther will have us laughing and headbanging in equal measure. They’ll all join the pantheon of legends who’ve walked this stage before them, etching their names into Donington history. Each band is a puzzle piece in the beautiful chaos that is Download, and every set is another memory waiting to be made.
And the crowd—our Download family. They’ll be there in droves, pitching tents, cracking open cold ones, and sharing laughs in the campsites. Strangers will become mates, and mates will become family, as we all come together under the banner of rock.
When those gates open on Friday morning, we’ll pour onto the sacred turf like a musical army, but only armed with cups, grins, devil horns and a whole buttload of anticipation. The first chords will hit like a battering ram, and for three days, we’ll lose ourselves in the music, the mud, and the madness.
This is what we’ve been waiting for, what we’ve needed. Download isn’t just a festival—it’s a way of life. It’s the place where the riffs are louder, the drinks are colder, and the world feels right again. So grab your tickets, your tent, and your most ridiculous band tee, because this summer, Donington is calling.
And yes, the weather will do what it wants. Rain, shine, mud, or fire—we’ve all been through enough to know nothing can dampen this weekend. After the mess of 2020 and 2021, not even the most vengeful of Mother Nature’s storms can break our spirits. The mosh pits will churn. The air will buzz with the smell of the festival delights. And as we stomp the earth and sing until our voices crack, we’ll be reminded why this festival, this family, this scene, is our home.
So pack your gear. Stock up on baby wipes, charge those portable power banks, and prep yourself for three days of madness, mayhem, and memories. Download Festival is more than a weekend. It’s a pilgrimage. A tradition. And this year, more than ever, it’s our long-awaited return to paradise.
Horns up, my friends. I’ll see you on the front line.

By Eric Mackinnon