The lineup for Download Festival 2023 has been confirmed, and fans are fuming at the announcement, slamming it as “lazy” and a “cop out”. The rock festival will return to Leicestershire’s Donington Park in June for its twentieth anniversary “extravaganza,” and more than 60 acts have been confirmed to be performing over its four days.
Confirmed as headlining the festival are Sheffield rockers Bring Me the Horizon and mask-wearing metal band Slipknot, who return to the site as “true Donington veterans.” Joining them at the top of the bill are rock titans Metallica, who in an unprecedented move have been confirmed for headline slots on two days of the festival.
The California four-piece will perform two completely unique sets with no repeated songs as the festival features four headline sets for the first time. It will mark the first time the band have graced Donington Park in more than a decade.
Confirming the news on Twitter, the band said: “We’re psyched to celebrate Download Festival’s 20th Anniversary with not one… but two nights on June 8 & 10, 2023! It’s been over a decade since we last visited Castle Donington so we’ll make up for lost time with 2 unique sets with no repeat songs whatsoever that weekend.”
However many festivalgoers have slammed the move as “lazy” and a wasted opportunity to give the slot to another band. @filmpowell said: “No sorry actually why are u charging so much money for an extra day for the headliner to be the same? It feels lazy.”
@Oleemorris added: “The best thing they could come up with to celebrate the 20th anniversary was to have one of the headliners play twice? Hard pass.”
The wait is over! Your first line up announcement for the Download 20th Anniversary is right here - and we've got OVER 60 acts for you, including your headliners!
Presales now open, tickets on sale everywhere Thursday 10th Nov 10am https://t.co/A7Jj7pXQ1c #DL20 pic.twitter.com/PoUsWIzdfl— Download Festival (@DownloadFest)
@traindriverdeb echoed: “2 Metallica slots, what a cop out! Should’ve bumped up Parkway Drive, they’re far more deserving of a slot than BMTH [Bring Me the Horizon]! And where are Rammstein/ AC/DC? For a 20th anniversary, this falls short of expectations.”
“This is a huge mistake having Metallica headline two days, you had an opportunity for four big bands, this is weak,” @Oli900009 added.
Elsewhere on the lineup are Architects, Evanescence, Placebo, Parkway Drive and Ghost. Electro-rock icons Pendulum and Dutch rockers Within Temptation have also been confirmed.
Though many fans were extremely vocal in their frustration at the lineup, some are thrilled at the broad spectrum of rock music on offer, though these fans appear to be in the minority. Praising the news, @Goon_Magee said: “Fantastic announcement. Great mix of the old guard with some fresher bookings.
“BMTH and Metallica x2 is worth the price of admission alone for me. Top it off with Architects, Lorna Shore, Parkway Drive and Ghost and it’s the most inspired bit of booking from DL in years.”
@tntliam said: “So happy with this, absolutely solid headliners and the undercard is outstanding. Great to see Download really targeting a younger audience!”
“That is absolutely Amazing, fair play you didn't let us down. Worth the long wait, can't wait for the rest of the announcements in the Spring,” @DBPilgrim added.
Download Festival’s Andy Copping said: “This year marks a huge milestone for Download, celebrating the incredible 20 years of the festival is no small feat. We really wanted to up the ante for this special anniversary, adding an extra day for the fans to experience the unforgettable line-up, that once again brings together unparalleled talent from the rock music world back to Donington Park.”
Download 2023 will take place from Thursday, June 8 to Sunday, June 11, with the general ticket sale opening on Thursday, November 10 at 10am.
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