Download 2025 is shaping up to be one of the biggest ever events in the storied festivals’ history.

HEADLINERS

With already announced headliners, Green Day, Korn and Sleep Token, the undercard for 2025’s Download Festival is just as stacked as ever. The headliners are three new ones in the sense that they have never headlined the three day shindig. Green Day have a huge back catalogue of hits that are going to be bonafide winners at Donington Park. Korn have paid their dues over the years with countless legendary performances at the event; they rightly get the chance to be on top.

The big head turner at the top is Sleep Token. We saw the group at RADAR Festival a few years ago and they blew us away. Since then, we caught them rising up to be an arena headlining act. At the moment, they are very much the zeitgeist. With a new record in the offing and three albums of electronically infused heavy metal laced with pop hooks and modern production techniques, it is a bold choice my the organisers.

The booking will not only create a buzz but looks to safeguard the future of the festival with new blood heading up the bill. Legends are all well and good; they always deliver. It is new bands that need to be given the chance to step up and make those headline slots their own. Download have tried in the past with acts like Biffy Clyro and My Chemical Romance, but this one feels different. Andy Copping reckons that Sleep Token’s time is now.

WHO TO WATCH?

Across the rest of the bill, there are plenty of acts that At The Barrier have seen over the past few years who offer a range of tastes and styles to satiate the masses. Opeth are rejuvenated with their The Last Will And Testament album; the deathly growls are back and their recent UK tour has seen them selling out iconic venues.

Orbit Culture are a band that have all the facets needed to be huge. Their records are hulking and their live shows are exhilarating. They get proceedings off to a start on the Apex Stage on the Sunday.

Industrial electro-rocker Poppy is taking to the stage on the Apex Stage on the Saturday. Expect this one to be a popular one. On the same day as Sleep Token, these bookings work hand in hand. Finding fame on YouTube, Poppy has turned heads around the world with dazzling live shows and Saturday at Download will be no different.

Friday night has a distinctly retro feel. Green Day are headlining, but fellow American rockers Jimmy Eat World make up part of the bill. 20 years ago, Jimmy Eat World played support to Green Day at their era defining shows at Milton Keynes Bowl. Another American stalwart of a rock band are Weezer. We recently caught the band co-headlining with The Smashing Pumpkins and naturally, they delivered a set of clinically catchy hits.

LEGENDS

Whilst the legends of Maiden and Metallica et al are not on the bill, there are plenty of legends about. Sex Pistols return with Frank Carter taking on vocal duties. They will be preceded by The Darkness, who are becoming Download darlings. There aren’t too many things better than a crowd of people singing ‘Get your hands off my woman….” As far as darlings go, Steel Panther have trod these boards many a time. Their Sunset Strip schtick is stuff of legend, and they are always wildly entertaining.

Airbourne are always a hoot live. Their no frills balls to the wall rock and roll always excites and they always take their show to the crowd. Within Temptation top the Opus Stage on the Friday night. As standard bearers in symphonic metal, the Dutch group will a dedicated crowd along to see them.

On the Dogtooth Stage, Cradle Of Filth will headline the Saturday night. The legendary black/goth metallers will have a new album to play with amongst a slew of cuts from their vast back catalogue. Crossover thrashers Municipal Waste will take to the Opus Stage on Sunday and Swedish tech-death legends Meshuggah will bring their bludgeoning sound to the main stage on Sunday.

ELSEWHERE…

Owing to the success of Busted’s booking in 2024, their punk pop brothers in arms McFly get a shout for Download 2025. No doubt, there will be plenty of folk on hand at the Avalanche Stage for their set. Japanese rockers Crossfaith will take to the same stage on the same day as McFly. Crossfaith have been around for quite a while; here’s hoping they’re still playing their cover of Prodigy’s Omen.

A booking that really brought us joy here at At The Barrier was that of Venus Grrrls. The Yorkshire grrrl group have been on our radar for many years. We saw them a couple of years back in Leeds and they’ve consistently released plenty of great singles, whilst dealing with a whole host of trying circumstances on their journey. They will undoubtedly win over plenty of new fans at Download 2025.

Check out our Download 2025 Spotify playlist below. You can buy tickets for Download 2025 HERE.

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