This weekend all the rockiest rock bands are heading to Donington Park for Download Festival. Alongside headliners Avenged Sevenfold, Guns N’ Roses and Ozzy Osbourne, you’ll find a number of Upset’s faves – from former cover stars Black Foxxes and Milk Teeth, to cover-stars-in-waiting The Faim (right, guys?!). We sent a bunch of ‘em our patented (not really) Download 2018 Q&A to find out what their plans are, and who they’re looking forward to checking out (spoiler alert – almost everyone said Guns N’ Roses)…
Hi Billy from Milk Teeth! Congrats on playing Download this year – are you all ready for festival season?
Thank you! I like to think so! We just got home from what felt like the coldest three months of touring I’ve ever done, so I’m excited to start playing some shows in the sun.
What’s your top tip for surviving a summer spent in fields and on the road?
Prepare for all types of weather! You never know what British weather is gonna do. So bring sun cream and a big rain coat. Also stay hydrated!
Do you have any fond memories of Download from years gone by?
We played Download 2016, and it’s still probably one of my favourite shows we’ve played! It rained the whole weekend, like the worst rain I’ve ever seen. But during our set, it seemed to settle for about 40 minutes which was cool! (Also got to watch Black Sabbath which was sick)
Which bands are you most looking forward to seeing there this year? Will you be meeting up with any pals?
I’m super excited to watch Marilyn Manson! I know Webby wants to see Guns n Roses (even if he won’t admit it). There are so many friends going/playing this year, but I’m mostly excited to watch Boston Manor rip the main stage!
Download’s got a new Greenpeace campsite this year – do you think festivals have a responsibility to do some good by raising awareness of things like environmental and/or social issues?
Absolutely!! I can’t think of a better place to raise awareness for important issues! Festivals (especially Download) are full of open-minded people who I think will take this stuff seriously. Especially something like climate change, with dumbass leaders who are trying to convince people it’s not happening we need all the help we can get!
If you were running your own festival, are there any ‘do good’ initiatives like the above that you’d want to introduce?
I think I’d link in the climate change with veganism and show people that by going vegan you’re doing more than just saving animals. Also, introduce people to try a sober weekend (I KNOW! FESTIVAL? NO BOOZE?!), but I think too many people rely on alcohol and drugs to pave their social lives. I’ve met so many people who are so lost in themselves that the only way they have fun is by getting wrecked. So I’d like to introduce something that makes people see how much fun they are without it and how much better you feel from it (by no means am I saying drinking and doing drugs is wrong and you’re a bad person for doing it. I’m just suggesting that it’s not the be all and end all of your social life).
What else are you up to this summer, do you have a busy few months coming up?
We’ve got quite a few festivals this year! Which is great because last year we only played a handful. I can remember if we’ve announced them all, I don’t wanna get in trouble for naming one that we’ve not announced, but I’m sure Google has the answer! Other than that I think we’re just enjoying being in our own beds for a while!
