The final day at Donington saw the festival out in style for another year, as Female First caught performances from Buckcherry, Frank Turner, Silverstein and more.
After a morning of interviews with Starseed, Bowling For Soup, ACODA and Buckcherry, we finally headed into the arena to enjoy the final day of Download.
-Bowling For Soup were back again, this time taking to the Main Stage for a hilarious, slightly limited, set.
The rain finally stopped for this set, leading Jaret Reddick to joke that they are "God's favourite band".
It was definitely an interesting show, featuring singalongs of hits like '1985' and 'Punk Rock 101', and a giant inflatable sheep being pentrated by a giant inflatable penis.
It certainly wasn't an ordinary Download Festival set, but BFS have become unlikely favourites over their four performances at the festival.
(Check out our interview with Bowling For Soup, and our full review of their sets)
During our interview with Silverstein, the band mentioned that their set would be their last performance in England. Be sure to keep checking back for that interview, and read on for our initial thoughts on what could be their farewell performance.
-By the time The Gaslight Anthem hit the Main Stage, the weather had taken another turn for the worse.
It did make for a slightly diminshed crowd compared to other shows here this weekend, but Brian Fallon was still beaming as the band powered through a great set.
He was clearly enjoying himself, and even got the crowd to throw up the devil horns as they screamed 'metal', just for his enjoyment.
The set could maybe have been consistently quicker, as songs like 'The Queen of Lower Chelsea' were too slow to keep everyone engaged, giving the weather.
(Check out our full review of The Gaslight Anthem)
-It is a testament to Buckcherry's talent as live performers that the unrelenting rain didn't affect their performance or the crowd's energy.
This was a wonderful festival set, with ballad 'Everything' proving a welcome change of pace from the usually fast-paced hard rock.
Buckcherry are a perfect fit for Download Festival, and front-man Josh Todd looked reminiscent of a young Axl Rose (back when that was a compliment) as he danced across the stage.
-Silverstein took to the Pepsi Max Stage in the early evening for what they said would be their final performance in England.
Vocalist Shane Told mentioned it during our interview, but seemed to be joking. However, he has since hinted that it's because of a lack of support over here.
Honestly, no-one could blame him for being disappointed after this show. The band were energetic and exciting, blending fan-favourites like 'Smile In Your Sleep' with a couple of punk covers.
However, the crowd was largely dead for most of it, not responding with the same energy shown on stage. It resulted in a slightly diluted experience, especially when this could be the final time we get to see Silverstein in the UK.
(Check out our interview with Silverstein, and our full review of the set)
-In one of the strangest bookings of the weekend, Plain White T's were up next, playing to a surprisingly receptive crowd.
Boasting further maturity since they appeared on the scene with 'Hey There Delilah', the band's sound now resembles a mix between more recent Hanson and McFly.
Tom Higgenson was clearly aggitated between songs, seeming to suggest to band-mates that he couldn't hear through his monitor.
He didn't let it detract too much from a great show, highlighted by a beautiful singalong of their biggest hit.
-Whilst most punters headed to watch Linkin Park, the Pepsi Max tent stayed around two-thirds full for a headline set by Frank Turner.
Joined by his band The Sleeping Souls, Turner was another odd choice for the bill. He noted that he's a metalhead at heart, even doing a brief cover of Iron Maiden's 'Number of the Beast', much to the delight of the Donington crowd.
It was a brilliant end to the weekend, concluding with Frank announcing that his latest album England Keep My Bones has charted at Number 12.
He finished off by playing 'The Ballad of Me and My Friends', showing that this recent success won't stop him from being a humble, exciting live performer.
(Check out our full review of Frank Turner)
Coming Soon
Keep checking back for these pieces, plus more to come from the rest of the weekend.
Interviews with The Darkness, The Hype Theory, Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows and Skindred.
Full reviews of The Darkness, Thin Lizzy and Anti-Flag.
Interviews with The King Blues and Bowling For Soup.
Full reviews of Bowling For Soup, Skindred, The King Blues and System of A Down.
Interviews with ACODA, Starseed, Buckcherry and Silverstein.
Full reviews of The Gaslight Anthem, Silverstien, and Frank Turner.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge
The final day at Donington saw the festival out in style for another year, as Female First caught performances from Buckcherry, Frank Turner, Silverstein and more.
After a morning of interviews with Starseed, Bowling For Soup, ACODA and Buckcherry, we finally headed into the arena to enjoy the final day of Download.
-Bowling For Soup were back again, this time taking to the Main Stage for a hilarious, slightly limited, set.
The rain finally stopped for this set, leading Jaret Reddick to joke that they are "God's favourite band".
It was definitely an interesting show, featuring singalongs of hits like '1985' and 'Punk Rock 101', and a giant inflatable sheep being pentrated by a giant inflatable penis.
It certainly wasn't an ordinary Download Festival set, but BFS have become unlikely favourites over their four performances at the festival.
(Check out our interview with Bowling For Soup, and our full review of their sets)
During our interview with Silverstein, the band mentioned that their set would be their last performance in England. Be sure to keep checking back for that interview, and read on for our initial thoughts on what could be their farewell performance.
-By the time The Gaslight Anthem hit the Main Stage, the weather had taken another turn for the worse.
It did make for a slightly diminshed crowd compared to other shows here this weekend, but Brian Fallon was still beaming as the band powered through a great set.
He was clearly enjoying himself, and even got the crowd to throw up the devil horns as they screamed 'metal', just for his enjoyment.
The set could maybe have been consistently quicker, as songs like 'The Queen of Lower Chelsea' were too slow to keep everyone engaged, giving the weather.
(Check out our full review of The Gaslight Anthem)
-It is a testament to Buckcherry's talent as live performers that the unrelenting rain didn't affect their performance or the crowd's energy.
This was a wonderful festival set, with ballad 'Everything' proving a welcome change of pace from the usually fast-paced hard rock.
Buckcherry are a perfect fit for Download Festival, and front-man Josh Todd looked reminiscent of a young Axl Rose (back when that was a compliment) as he danced across the stage.
-Silverstein took to the Pepsi Max Stage in the early evening for what they said would be their final performance in England.
Vocalist Shane Told mentioned it during our interview, but seemed to be joking. However, he has since hinted that it's because of a lack of support over here.
Honestly, no-one could blame him for being disappointed after this show. The band were energetic and exciting, blending fan-favourites like 'Smile In Your Sleep' with a couple of punk covers.
However, the crowd was largely dead for most of it, not responding with the same energy shown on stage. It resulted in a slightly diluted experience, especially when this could be the final time we get to see Silverstein in the UK.
(Check out our interview with Silverstein, and our full review of the set)
-In one of the strangest bookings of the weekend, Plain White T's were up next, playing to a surprisingly receptive crowd.
Boasting further maturity since they appeared on the scene with 'Hey There Delilah', the band's sound now resembles a mix between more recent Hanson and McFly.
Tom Higgenson was clearly aggitated between songs, seeming to suggest to band-mates that he couldn't hear through his monitor.
He didn't let it detract too much from a great show, highlighted by a beautiful singalong of their biggest hit.
-Whilst most punters headed to watch Linkin Park, the Pepsi Max tent stayed around two-thirds full for a headline set by Frank Turner.
Joined by his band The Sleeping Souls, Turner was another odd choice for the bill. He noted that he's a metalhead at heart, even doing a brief cover of Iron Maiden's 'Number of the Beast', much to the delight of the Donington crowd.
It was a brilliant end to the weekend, concluding with Frank announcing that his latest album England Keep My Bones has charted at Number 12.
He finished off by playing 'The Ballad of Me and My Friends', showing that this recent success won't stop him from being a humble, exciting live performer.
(Check out our full review of Frank Turner)
Coming Soon
Keep checking back for these pieces, plus more to come from the rest of the weekend.
Interviews with The Darkness, The Hype Theory, Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows and Skindred.
Full reviews of The Darkness, Thin Lizzy and Anti-Flag.
Interviews with The King Blues and Bowling For Soup.
Full reviews of Bowling For Soup, Skindred, The King Blues and System of A Down.
Tagged in Download Festival Frank Turner