“The only way we can do that is making sure we’re evolving, taking risks and pushing boundaries. And, right now, there’s no question we are in a purple period for rock music.”Īnd, with the fans more devoted than ever, “We want to still be running in another 10 or 20 years’ time,” he adds. “Sometimes it’s been more popular than others but, over the years, we’ve seen amazing sales. “But 2023 is the year for Bring Me – I know they’re working on an amazing show for us, and they’re going to surprise a lot of people.”Ĭopping also cites the emerging likes of Cassyette, Wargasm, Nova Twins, Hot Milk, Holding Absence, Sleep Token and Spiritbox as newer bands with the potential to move up to headline status, especially with signs of a rock revival. “I’ve been massively conscious that we’ve got to bring the newer acts through,” he says. The 2023 weekend will also feature Bring Me the Horizon’s first headline slot at the festival and, while Download has been criticized in the past for its reliance on vintage headliners, Copping says he’s determined to provide a platform for the next generation.

“There is a finite amount of bands that you could do it with, but I’d certainly look at it again in the future, probably when there is something special going on around the festival.” “The beauty of Metallica is they have such a huge catalog of songs,” says Copping. – which, in 2021, were headlined by Metallica on two nights of the weekend. Copping says the idea to get Metallica to double up was inspired by Danny Wimmer Presents’ festivals in the U.S. Sales surged again when a strong bill – including headline slots from Slipknot and Bring Me the Horizon, plus two different sets from Metallica – was unveiled. Normally, on a very good year, we’d do 4,000 early birds.” “We ended up doing 35,000 before we’d even announced a band – that’s unheard of. “We saw this huge uptake in early bird tickets –and when I say huge, I mean huge,” he says.

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