Download Diary –End Of Day One June 12, 2009

Well, I’ve just got back from my first ever festival experience, and wow, what an experience! First of all it was boiling hot and now I look like a human lobster, but I guess it was all worth it.

When we pulled up I couldn’t believe the amount of tents and cars that were lining ever available inch of grass, but it was as we entered to ‘arena’ type area that I was just blown away by the sheer size of the place…

Endless bars, burger vans and merch stalls lined the outer walls, whilst a massive stage loomed all over them all, and then there was another stage complete with its set of bars and another one with it’s complete little village! I was completely dumfounded.

Then there were the people, I mean there was everyone, old, young, rocker, emo and even Barney the big purple dinosaur… I feel sorry for whoever was stuck inside there all day! But work was to be done and I hauled myself over to the press area for my first batch of interviews.

Having no idea what I was doing, I just wandered around aimlessly wondering if these people were ‘in a band’ or not, but eventually people started coming up to me and asking ‘are you Ruth?’ which was quite weird as we’d never actually met… and away I went.

Starting off I chatted with Young Guns, Dir En Grey and Voivod, all of whom were super nice and made me feel relaxed despite the fact that I was the only girl in shorts and pumps, surrounded by lots of super hot, rock star men.

Then before I knew it A Day To Remember (my favourites) were due on stage and it was up to me to try and navigate my way to the second stage for a glimpse of the man of my dreams, Neil Westfall, but before the set was over, Roadrunner Records called to ask me to come and interview Killswitch Engage, a band I grew up loving, I mean, I was torn, stay and watch my favourites or go and interview a band I admired.

So, off I went back on the massive trek to the press area, which I found quite well seen as I was on my own, and there didn’t appear to be any obvious signs, I just sort o followed the crowds and hope for the best! Killswitch we awesome, and so down to earth considering the scale of the band, and when they cam on stage later that afternoon, the place just went crazy. I did get to chat to A Day To Remember later that day though, which was pretty awesome, even though the future husband wasn’t there. Boo.

It was during their set when I realised how honoured I was to be here, in a place where noone was fighting or hating each other, and everyone picked people up should they fall down next to them. Everyone was there to enjoy the sun and listen to some incredible music, and bloody hell, what a line up.

Limp Bizkit tore the place apart, and the sense of unity between people as the batted each other during the famous ‘wall of death’ was totally awe inspiring, and how Wes managed a full set in a full leather outfit is totally beyond me, that guy has heart.

Korn were on top form too, and as it was the first time I’ve seen them, i have to admit, i couldn’t tear my eyes from the stage, the presence that this band had was unbelievable and something I imagine a lot of people how to repeat with their own band – they completely captivated everyone in their for their whole set.

Faith No More and Motley Crue were two band’s I’ve grown to appreciate ever since I started working in a rock club whilst i was at university, so when i was minding my own business and making a cup of tea and Tommy Lee walks in, i thought my head was going to fall off. I mean WHAT? I’m making a brew and Motley Crue walk into the room… well Didn’t get ot speak to them though, they were quickly whisked away from us peaky journalists!

One thing I did learn though, was that festival toilets are as bad as they say, but luckily the press have ‘real’ toilets… so, time for bed and ready for tomorrows fun.

Make sure to check out the site on Monday for a full review of the headline acts, as well as interviews with hoards of the acts.

Oh and always remember to wear suncream. Ouch!

Ruth xx

Ruth @ Download June 12, 2009

So just done my first catch of interviews with a couple of today’s bands. Met the singer from Papa Roach which was pretty awesome. Just sat waiting for A Day To Remeber to come on now.

I’m sat on my own, which sucks, the hundred thousand people here make it pretty hard to find your friends. Either way this band are my favourite, so it shoukd be pretty awesome. Bring it on!

Keep Checking back for my latest updates as they happen

Download special Friday June 12, 2009

Just interviewed Killswitch, Engage, and Steadlur.
Now I’m watching Billy Talent.
The atmosphere here is immense. Everyone is just sat around loving every band I’m just waiting for a call from my future husband
Ruth On Tour

David Beckham Armani Ad Reveals His Biggest Talent! June 12, 2009

Come to Mummy!

Who said David Beckham didn’t have hidden depths (or should we say girth!) Check out his package in the latest Armani underwear ad campaign!
The obvious bulge in his sexy boxers is  a little distracting to say the least- infact we’re suprised we’ve managed to get any work done this week. Mr Beckham we’d tug on your rope any day

Nine Trailer June 12, 2009

Despite the fact that I absolutely loathe them the musical has major power at the box office.

Whether that be the traditional musical where all the cast burst into song for no apparent reason or the music biographies such as Ray or Walk the Line they have all found major success.

And having seen this success more and more big names are jumping on the old musical bandwagon, and this can be seen with the new movie Nine.

The film stars and string of Oscar winners including Daniel Day Lewis, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson and eeerrr Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas.

Famous film director Guido Contini struggles to find harmony in his professional and personal lives, as he engages in dramatic relationships with his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent, and his mother.

Lets ‘Jam’ June 12, 2009

Maddy gets the girl

Madonna gets her Mercy.. the  singer was praised by the African country’s high court for her efforts to improve the lives of local children thats a case of celebrity and money overcoming principle, we wonder how many times she will be back now that she’s got her trophy.

Cristiano Ronaldo the champagne-swilling ex Red celebrated his £80million transfer by sharing a raunchy night with Paris Hilton, the heiress is obviously hedging her bets if daddy doesn’t leave his party loving daughter a share of his empire.

Then we have the ‘B’ list heiress Kim Kardashian who is determined to emulate her hero Jennifer Lopez by embarking on a pop career… before you do Ms Kardashian look how the Hilton pop career bombed.

Porr old convicted murderer Phil Spector he has to spend his prison time bald as his wigs are not classed as medical supplements

Shutter Island Trailer June 12, 2009

It’s fair to say that the partnership between filmmaker Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo Dicaprio has been quuite fruitful for both.

The last time they teamed up, which was on The Departed, the movie picked up the best Picture Oscar and Scorsese finally got his hands on a best Director gong.

But the pair are set to light up the big screen together once agian with Shutter Island.

It’s 1954, and up-and-coming U.S. marshal Teddy Daniels is assigned to investigate the disappearance of a patient from Boston’s Shutter Island Ashecliffe Hospital.

He’s been pushing for an assignment on the island for personal reasons, but before long he wonders whether he hasn’t been brought there as part of a twisted plot by hospital doctors whose radical treatments range from unethical to illegal to downright sinister.

Take a look a the first trailer for the movie:

Download Festival Blog – Friday Morning June 12, 2009

Well, last night was eventful, first I left the house without my warm and cosy hoodie, only realising when we were halfway down the motorway, then when I went to get my suitcase out of the boot, the bottom had fallen off somehow, on it’s own, whilst sloshing around during the drive. Great. Anyway, I thought at least I’d be able to check into my room and have a nice cup of tea, right? Wrong!

The hotel had overbooked, and as we didn’t arrive until 11pm, everyone who they’d hoped would be no shows, actually showed up, so we were left with possibly the most unprofessional receptionist I’ve ever seen, swearing and not telling us what was going on. Finally though, he decided to boot out two of the ‘Double superior’ guests and put us in their rooms… now whether we’ll return home from the festival tonight and find our bags out on the street I don’t know, but after a hour and half of dealing with the receptionist and drunk Irish men who were here for the cricket we were in.

I threw my bags on the floor and went to get my hayfever tablets out of my handbag, guess what, my zip came off my bag… I mean seriously, can anything else actually go wrong for me? After a night of sleepless hours, I tried to get a shower, which was like someone directing a hosepipe at my head and the water was coming out so fast it didn’t go down the drain, so I was actually stood in a pool of my own water. Great.

So, now I’m dressed and ready to take on the festival at long last… but only one thought is in the back of my mind… should I have stayed in a tent after all? It would have been far less hassle!

Ruth x

Ruth’s Friday Flutter June 12, 2009

What has really angered me today is the number of people saying that Adam Lambert doesn’t deserve to be successful just because he is gay! Shouldn’t we be past being homophobic by now? I fully understand that the US is a very religious country, and the bible doesn’t look favourably on homosexuality, but the USA also condones the Death Penalty, and that doesn’t follow the commandment of “Thou shall not kill.”

It’s weird to think that two months ago no one knew who Susan Boyle was, and now she’s only gone and moved into a £2 Million flat. Yes that’s right, TWO MILLION POUNDS! So she’s getting that, Ronaldo is being sold for £50 million and I can’t even afford my Saturday big Shop in Asda! Damn credit crunch.

Guillermo Del Toro has admitted that he isn’t feeling the pressure of directing the highly anticipated movie The Hobbit. Well it’s time that you began to worry pal as the fans of the book and The Lord of the Rings movies are expect nothing but the best!

I’m also out of the office this weekend at the wonderful Download Festival, it’s my first ever festival and I really don’t know what to expect! Keep an eye on my blog to find out which celebs i’ve been hobnobbing with and how I’m coping with those portaloos.

Finally, if you’re a fan of Big Brother you can find all the gossip from the housemates locked inside Big Brother 10 on FemaleFirst – and trust me, we tell you how it really is.

Ruth xx

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