With Metallica returning to play unprecedented double headline shows after a decade away, this 20th anniversary edition of Britain’s biggest heavy rock festival was specially extended to four days for the first time ever. Indeed, as 100,000 headbangers converged on Donington Park over the sweltering heatwave weekend, everything about Download 2023 felt bigger than usual: interminable traffic jams entering the site, marathon hikes from car park to arena, long queues for drinking water, overinflated food prices, and more.
That said, once underway, Download again proved itself one of the most reliably fun and friendly gatherings in the summer rock calendar: a rowdy holiday from reality and fabulous fancy dress party for audience and bands alike.
