What I learned from the Download Pilot Festival
Hot Milk at the Main Stage on Friday at Download Pilot
It’s been two whole weeks since I returned from the UK’s first post-covid festival. As part of the government’s pilot scheme to test to return of live events, Download festival ran a 10,000 capacity three-day event and I was one of those 10,000. For context, the capacity for Download festival is usually 110,000, so it was quite a big difference and noticeably smaller. I first went to Download in 2016 and I’ve been every year (bar 2020) since, it’s my favourite festival and I’ve missed live music so much so I jumped at the chance to be back in a field singing my emo heart out and it didn’t disappoint. There’s so much I could say about this weekend, and equally not enough words to explain how incredible it was, so I’ll stick with five things that I learnt from the festival.
Very happy to be back at the front barrier
The alternative scene is alive and kicking
The atmosphere this weekend was possibly the best I’ve ever experienced. Everyone there, in the crowds, the bands, the crew, was there for one reason and that was the love of alternative music. All the bands were UK bands, and smaller lesser-known bands got the chance to play to a fully packed main stage. The stage set up meant that there were no clashes, so when a main stage band finished, the second stage band who start 5 minutes later. The crowd would clear the stage and migrate to the next, even if people didn’t know the bands, there was a. real sense of just supporting the music and enjoying the experience.
Getting wild at the main stage
I’m ready to get back to gigs (and everything that involves)
I’ve had anxiety about most stages of reopening, and I was expecting to be more concerned about being back in a crowd and getting close to strangers. I really didn’t know what to expect. But this is my happy place, this is the thing that lights me up and makes me feel most like myself and that feeling came back really quickly and out-shone everything else. We got sweaty, got pushed against the barrier, got up close and personal with strangers and I loved every second of it.
It’s totally possible to have a metal festival with no Dad-Rock
Download is known for its wide range of rock and metal acts, but the headliners usually feature at least one of the rotating Dad-rock icon bands, and the 2022 lineup has more than its fair share. If there’s one thing this lineup proved it’s that we have incredible new and exciting bands that deserve higher placed positions. I saw more women on the main stage in this one weekend than I have in the four previous years in total.
it’s necessary to go at your own pace with reopening
I wasn’t rushing to get back to pubs or restaurants, or even some social events, when they were first allowed, the benefit didn’t outweigh the risk for me and I was happy to wait a bit longer to curb my anxiety about it. With this though, I was ready to accept the increased risks and do whatever it took to get back to live music. It’s important to me, I felt safe and it made sense. However I totally understand that for some people it seemed like a terrible idea. That’s okay. We’re not all going to want to get back to the same stuff at the same pace, so do what you’re comfortable with, set your own boundaries, and try to let others do the same.
Wargasm on Sunday at Download Pilot Festival
The New bands I’m super excited about
The band I was probably most excited to see was Wargasm, because I got into them last year and obviously haven’t had chance to see them live. And Download Pilot was their first festival show! They didn’t disappoint - they put on an incredible show and was definitely one of my highlights of the weekend and I can’t wait to see them again. Other bands that I haven’t seen live before that I was really into was Hot Milk, Vukovi and While She Sleeps. The set up of the festival made it really easy to check out loads of bands and all the bands clearly gave it everything.
The whole weekend was incredible from start to finish, and it’s just made me so much more excited for all the gigs and festivals I’ve got coming up in the next year. If you want to get even more up close and personal to our weekend, you can watch our video montage below!