Speaking from a student’s perspective, I – at least – rank festival season as something that falls at the end of one year and before the kick back to reality as you return to University. Initial announcements rear their heads towards the end of the first semester, i.e. just in time to acquire a ticket to said festival as a Christmas present.
 Download Festival, however, have been releasing their line-up’s increasingly early as the years go by. Last year, on the 11th of November at 11.11 Black Sabbath were announced as the Sunday night headliner, giving seven months’ notice on the event, yet Metallica had been confirmed already – albeit the day before. As with every announcement, someone complains, but though no one could really speak out against Sabbath, people were saying it was quite early – gasp!
Move over 2011, because 2012 is beating you for announcements.
Admittedly, there’s nothing actually wrong with having the announcements early, but it seems we’re barely being given time to get back into the swing of life (Again – student perspective!) before the next year is already set to take a massive chunk out of your bank balance.
It is September 28th. It is merely three or so months since Download Festival ended, yet we already have the three headliners. Personally, I think it could be a conspiracy: I uttered the deadly words “I might not go to Download next year...” You know, try to be sensible with the bank balance and stuff, but then in the space of a few days following this flippant statement came the announcements: Iron Maiden, Rammstein (admittedly, this was aided by their accidental self-confirmation) and Slipknot. How can you really say no to that?
But why are they doing this? To beat out the competition? Maybe.. But then again, there is no real competition to Download. It feels like the mecca of metal. After the sad cancellation of Sonisphere earlier this year, they've got a hard time for 2013 anyway if they do try to successfully revive the festival; being active competition to Download should ultimately come second fiddle to just pulling it off. But then again, it shouldn't be as hard as people have made out. Fans aren't betrayed, they aren't bitter towards Sonisphere – in fact, most people I know were gutted for those behind it and – more so – are hoping they come back since it is “the best festival” in terms of layout, set up, etc.
Is it to secure thousands of attendees before the Christmas rush? Or before they have a chance to consider anywhere else? Again, perhaps. Floods of people have already bought their tickets, most hotels in and around Donington are sold out or going for extortionate rates due to demand, and that’s not even based on the first three headliners. Download is a tradition. Sure, the kick-ass line-up helps a lot, but countless people blindly buy Download tickets for the experience, dead certain that they’ll be going regardless of line-up.
Maybe it’s a gift to fans. A “you’re probably going to come anyway, so let’s give you something to get excited about” announcement. If people are going to buy tickets when they go on sale, regardless of how much or little is announced, why not throw a little teaser out there? Probably the first time Iron Maiden has been referred to as a ‘little teaser’.
Ultimately, there could be no reason or there could be several. It does beg the question of how early will they go in years to come? Will we turn up at Download one year and hold a vote for next year? Or as Maiden head off stage will Bruce Dickinson step up to the microphone, his parting words being, “2014 – KISS, Pearl Jam, Green Day”? (Insert or extract bands as you wish there.)
It feels that with these early announcements Download are trying to make festival season a yearlong activity, in the sense of excitement, anticipation and planning. Usually in September, we’re catching up with friends we’ve not seen in a while, exchanging summer stories and going “Well, I saw Black Sabbath...” But this year, we’re already amped up for 2013, already booked or planning our adventures and thorough waterproofing methods, already picturing Rammstein pulverising Donington with pyro, cannons and any other wild concoctions that spiral from their warped minds.
Whatever the reason for Download announcing their festival so early, it already seems that this is going to be one hell of a challenge to beat for others. Safe to say that, eight and a half months before gates even open, I can’t imagine myself not being there. Even if I remained resolute on saving money, that line-up would niggle away at me for the next few months until I caved.
Bravo, Download. You win this round.
Download Festival 2013 line-up so far:
Slipknot - confirmed
Iron Maiden - confirmed
Rammstein - confirmed
Download Festival 2013 takes place at Donington Park, Leicestershire from 14th - 16th June 2013. Download Festival 2013 Tickets are on sale now, priced at £170 for a weekend arena ticket, £195 for 3 nights with camping, and £205 for 5 nights with camping. Click Here to Compare & Buy Download Festival Tickets. For further information on next year's festival, visit www.downloadfestival.co.uk.NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
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