Download update: Formidable Friday

Toby Jepson of Little Angels

Who played…

Jim Marshall Stage: The Prodigy, Chase and Status, Machine Head, Billy Talent, NOFX, Fear Factory

Zippo Encore Stage: Slash, Nightwish, Opeth, Little Angels, Terrorvision, Quireboys, Red White & Blues

Pepsi Max Stage: Devin Townsend Project, Axewound, Soil, While She Sleeps, The Defiled, Lawnmower Deth, Hounds, Absolute Power, Silent Descent, Impaled Existence

Red Bull Bedroom Jam Stage: Cancer Bats, Gallows, The Safety Fire, Voodoo Six, Marmozets, Upon a Burning Body, Dive Bella Dive, Reachback, Dead Harts, The Jellycats, Broken

Jagermeister Stage: Yashin, Skindred, Breed 77, Million Dollar Reload, Neonfly, With One Last Breath

Whether report…

Everyone knows the British like to go on about the weather, but for once even those from abroad had to admit there was good reason. With wind and mud threatening arena safety, and rain closing roads around Donington leading to hours-long traffic jams, it was a topic difficult to ignore.

Voodoo Six: Typical British Weather – good job we’re in a tent tomorrow.

The Safety Fire: Join us in the Red Bull tend to stay dry and keep the party going.

Impaled Existence: Dear rain, enough already. We’re very wet and our tents are shit.

Perhaps surprisingly, some people saw the upside at the event variously referred to as “Drownload” and “Brownload” (although perhaps for other reasons):

Dead Harts: Advantage of pissing rain: flyers stick to stuff! (Posted with picture of their photocopied sheets covering official promos)

@HackOddity: If #Downloadfest was washed away in some kind of Biblical flood it would be just about funny enough to make up for the friends I’d lose.

Sian Llewellyn, Classic Rock editor: There are more people on site in this shitty weather than there was this time last year – a good turnout for Little Angels. And Toby Jepson hinted, well, said, this appearance wouldn’t be the last we’d see of them.

@Download Festival: At least the toilet seats are warm, because there’s always someone sat one one #girlsatdownload

Silent Descent frontman Tom Watling took a more direct approach, bidding his audience to show their fingers to the sky and shout: “Fuck the rain!”

And perhaps we can allow event staff a little venting… for some it was bad enough dealing with partying in the mud. Those guys had to work in it.

@snoogella: Yesterday I had to push a car uphill, argue with owners of stupid cars and explain to 73874 people that there is only field parking. I swear to God that today will be the day I lose my temper, leap into somebody’s car and throttle them #parkingstewardrage

Information Point Man Jake: The strangest question I get is, ‘Where’s my tent?’ The answer is: ‘Wherever you left it.’

Next page: The Megadeth of punk rock…