A “big band” will play a surprise set, boss reveals

Download Festival booker Andy Copping has revealed that a “big band” will perform a surprise set at this year’s edition of the fest.

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Copping recently hosted an hour-long show on Planet Rock called Andy Copping’s Secrets of Download during the bank holiday (May 27). While on air, he opened up about the most iconic moments of Download Festival and reflected on Metallica’s surprise set at the first edition of the festival in 2003.

“In some years we’ve had some secret sets from different bands – Enter Shikari, Black Stone Cherry, Bullet For My Valentine. But one of the very special secret sets, which kind of, I guess, sets it all off, was Metallica back at the very first Download (in) 2003,” he said (per Planet Radio).

Copping then went on to share that the legendary metal band told him they wanted to play a secret set which left the festival booker “completely over the moon.”

“Anyway, the band played. It was completely and utterly immense as you can imagine, and just great memories of that,” he saod. “Obviously, Metallica have been back at Download a number of times over the years but that was particularly special that year when they did a secret set for us.”

He then went on to play Metallica’s  ‘St. Anger’ on air and after the track was done, he revealed that there will be a massive band playing a secret set at Download 2024.

“That’s ‘St. Anger’ by Metallica, harking back to the time when they played a secret set for us back in 2003 at Download,” he said.

He continued: “One thing’s for sure, you’ve got to keep your eyes and ears peeled for this year at Download because, yes, we have an another band coming in doing a secret set. Something very, very special. Big band. So look out for that.”

The music festival will return to Donington Park for its 21st edition from June 14-16. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.

Slayer’s Kerry King, Creeper and Soft Play were recently announced as new names that were added to this years bumper line-up for Download. Other new additions include Bayside, Bambie Thug, Lowlives, Florence Black and Mallavora.

Last November, Queens Of The Stone Age, Avenged Sevenfold and Fall Out Boy were announced as the headliners of Download Festival 2024.

Royal Blood, The Offspring, Machine Head, Pantera, Bad Omens, Corey Taylor, While She Sleeps, Sum 41, Billy Talent, The Used, Babymetal, Bowling For Soup, Heilung, Polyphia, Thy Art Is Murder, The Black Dahlia Murder, Biohazard, and Fear Factory were also part of that first wave of names added to the bill.

In January, a host of further names were added, including Busted, Wheatus, Tom Morello and Enter Shikari.

Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes, The Struts, Mr Bungle, The Hunna, Escape The Fate, HEALTH, Code Orange and Royal Republic were also added.

Copping previously said of this year’s edition: “After our unbelievable 20th anniversary celebrations last year, we couldn’t be more excited about what DLXXI has in store. This year we have two brand new headliners in the form of Queens Of The Stone Age and Fall Out Boy, as well as the mighty Avenged Sevenfold and a whole host of huge names that make every second of Download Festival memorable.

“I can’t wait to join the fans there – it is our home. With first time headliners and our first headline partner with Liquid Death we are embracing the evolution of Download Festival. We have the best and friendliest community together and we can’t wait to celebrate the next 20 years of Download with you all.”

Last year’s edition saw Slipknot, Bring Me The Horizon and Metallica take to the stage, with the latter playing two completely different sets for two nights.