DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES ITS THREE HEADLINERS PLUS MUCH, MUCH MORE…
Category: Music

 DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES ITS THREE HEADLINERS PLUS MUCH, MUCH MORE…

The legendary, multiple award-winning Download Festival, crowned Top Festival of 2007 by Billboard, is to return for its sixth year with rock legends KISS, chart-topping Californian skate punks The Offspring and Welsh nu-metal kings Lostprophets set to headline the Donington Park event over the weekend of June 13, 14 and 15.

Other bands confirmed to play are UK rock gods Judas Priest and Mötorhead, Finnish sensations HIM and Chicago rockers Rise Against. More bands will be announced soon. Download 2008 will be the ONLY festival to see these world-renowned acts in one place – but of course, the complete, now fully established Download experience is about far, far more than just the music.

The campsite will be open two days before the music starts – from midday on June 11, and those arriving to take in the whole event will be treated to a host of entertainment, details of which will be announced shortly.

The 2008 event kicked off in earnest before last year's event was even over. 5,000 'early bird' tickets were put on sale, and sold out immediately, without even a hint about who would be playing, emphasising that, despite the always stellar line-up, Download Festival is much, much more than just a rock festival.

Andy Copping VP Music for Download Festival remarked, "Download Festival 2008 will continue with what was achieved last year: a line-up that caters to the entire rock genre. The variety of bands spread over the three stages means that Download Festival has more options than any other music event. We are delighted that the world's great bands of past and present are already confirmed to continue Download Festival's reputation as one of the world's top festivals".

With more entertainment and assortment of activities on site than any of its rivals, it truly is a new generation of festival. The strength of its impact was emphasised when last year's event was crowned Top Festival 2007 at the prestigious Billboard Touring Awards.

"The Top Festival trophy at the Billboard Touring Awards is based on actual box office performance, not any sort of popularity contest or industry agenda," says Billboard's executive director of content and programming for touring and live entertainment Ray Waddell. "That makes Download's taking of the Top Festival award in 2007 quite an achievement, particularly considering the stranglehold U.S. festivals - namely, Bonnaroo - have had on the trophy the past three years."

This accolade is just one of many the festival has been awarded since its inception in 2003 – within 12 months it was named Event Of the Year at the Kerrang! Awards.

Then, in 2004, the furiously expanding festival claimed the prize of Best Event or Performance Site at the BT Digital Music Awards, as well as Best Themed Festival at the UK Festival Awards. The following year, the BT Digital Music Awards honoured the festival again, awarding it the prize for Best Official Website.

2007 witnessed another double triumph – the aforementioned Billboard award and then Download was honoured again at the BT Digital Music Awards for Best Music Community.

Praised for its 360º entertainment experience, from the Village (which will be bigger and better than ever in 2008 – watch this space!) which caters for all your festival needs, to the extensive camping facilities, the Download Festival continues to provide a service which is bigger than the three days of live music, beginning on Wednesday 11 June at midday until Monday 16 June at noon when the site closes.

Now in its fifth year, the RIP campground has revolutionised the festival camping experience.  After a sell-out year in 2007 this exclusive bespoke campsite will once again provide its loyal RIP community with quiet refuge and luxury facilities.
 
Whether camping in Hangman's Square, saluting your gnome in Pod City, adventuring with an authentic Tepee, trying out a lodge in Tomb Town or travelling light along Kip & Kit Boulevard, each package comes wrapped up in the same great benefits.

The RIP private campground boasts mains toilets, hot showers, a convenience shop, and a breakfast barn/bar.  Drive into the site and park your car next to your tent …then come and go as you wish!  The site also has electric hook-ups for caravans and is a designated quiet zone from midnight.  If that isn't enough, each package also includes a main arena guest hospitality pass, exclusive RIP merchandise, twenty-four hour security and the services of the RIP concierge desk manned throughout by our ever helpful Angels and Demons.

Rock by day and rest by night. RIP at Download 2008 (only 25% left).

Brand new for the Download festival 2008, Live Nation have brought all disabled customer ticket sales in-house, providing a Disabled Customers hotline number that patrons can call to book tickets – Tel: 0121 767 9729

NB: Disabled customers will be provided with one free ticket for their helper, where required. Should additional helper tickets be required, please call the disabled access ticket line on 0121 767 9729 or email access@downloadfestival.co.uk

For "Club" or "VIP" Experience packages, please call 020 7009 3484 to discuss your requirements.

Tickets will be available from 9:00am Friday 8 February:

Weekend Ticket - £130

Standard Camping - £20

Campervan - £40

Family Camping - £20

Lockers - £11

Car park - £10 advance, £15 on the day

0844 847 1767 (24 hrs Ticket Hotline)

All tickets subject to booking fee

For more information on RIP Packages (VIP Packages available from £315) and up to the minute news, go to:

www.downloadfestival.co.uk

Show subject to licence.

Continuing their relationship with Download this year is the social music network Last.fm. Giving music fans free access to millions of tracks from artists in every genre, Last.fm has tracks from all the headliners of Download 2008 available to listen to for free right now at lastfm/festival/download2008. Also, check out last year's Last.fm Download festival radio station, and stay tuned for the 2008 edition.

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FAQ - Please read before messaging us!
Category: Music

Hi guys, I am often inundated with various queries and questions that are similar so I thought it would be salutary to create this FAQ

Tickets

When will tickets sell out/Will tickets be available on this date? Download Myspace does not have access to ticket sales figures, however, we are notified when tickets are close to selling out. When this occurs, we will let you all know so don't panic about missing out.

How do I buy tickets for kids? We will be running a half-price ticket offer for kids under 14 years old. This will ONLY be available on the day from the on-site Box Office. This offer does NOT apply to "RIP" upgrade tickets.

How do I get a photo pass? Photo passes are limited and will only really be given to photographers employed or commissioned by a known publication. If this applies to you, please message us so we can put you in touch with the relevant contact

How can I goto Download for free? Ha, cheeky  My best advice would be entering a competition like our own or one run by another company such as a magazine or website. Check these are legit before entering your details! We will not be held responsible for problems that may arise from customers entering a competition that is not endorsed by Download Festival!

That said, my second piece of advice would be to look for work for a company you know is at Download such as a caterer, or a promotions company. This is up to you to find yourself, as I have no idea which caterers or comapanies will be turning up this year!

Bands/Lineup
When is the next announcement?  Announcements can be as regular as every week to as few as once every few weeks. When there is an announcement coming, we will send out a bulletin, so no bulletin = no announcement.

Are *band* playing this year? If they haven't been announced, we can't confirm if a certain band is or isn't playing. Some bands self-confirm on their website or at shows before they are announced, but don't take it as 100% until they are officially announced by Download Festival.

When/Where are *band* playing? Again, this isn't 100% known until it is officially announced, and even then it is subject to change. Various bands have individual dates or slots down on their web page or will tell someone in person, but again, don't take it as 100% until the band times are released shortly before the festival, as they are constantly subject to change, even at the festival itself.

Why are Lost Prophets headlining? Because they are a successful band? Because they have a massive alternative fan base? Because the Download Dog likes them? Take your pick! The only firm fact is that they are headlining, and our advice to anyone who isn't a fan to either try them out or watch someone else!

How can my band play Download? Possibly the most common question. I have no idea how bands are chosen and booked, as I am not the promoter. In the past, we have run unsigned competitions/battle of the bands offering a slot to bands wishing to play, but if this happens this year or not is currently unclear, if it does, we shall let you know as soon as we do!

Camping
When does the campsite open? The campsite opens midday on Wednesday the 11th of June and closes at midday on Monday the 16th of June.

I will be arriving late, can I still get in?/Can my mate pitch my tent for me? As soon as the campsite opens, it is open for the rest of the weekend until 12midday on Monday the 16th. If you are arriving late at night or during one of the festival days, you will still be able to get into the campsite (providing you have a festival ticket with camping), and there should still be space, although these may be further away from the arena. It is fine for your mate who may be arriving earlier to pitch your tent (that is, if they're ok with it!!) and save you a space but you will still need a ticket with camping to enter the campsite.

My mate has a ticket with camping, and I'm sharing a tent with them. Can I get into the campsite without a camping ticket? No. You must have a ticket with camping to enter the campsite!

The Myspace
Where are the banners/display pics/wallpapers this year? Yeah, sorry guys. The truth is I have them pretty much ready, I just have to get round to getting them put together and sampling them so they dont take up much memory! I will get on this as soon as I can

Why was my comment/pic comment deleted? The main reasons for comments being deleted is if they are offensive, spam, a repeat post or flooding. If your comment has been deleted which doesnt apply to this, don't hesitate to ask.

Who are you? Why thanks for asking. My name is Ben (also called Benj), I am a student studying Journalism in Falmouth Cornwall, hoping to go into a career in music PR someday! I got this job by making it in 2005, Live Nation saw it in 2006 and liked it so much, they wanted me to do it for them! Now I also design and maintain myspaces for the o2 Wireless, Hyde Park Calling and various other non-Live Nation ventures such as record labels and bands.

This FAQ will be added to when I think of more questions! So keep an eye on it!

Benj

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