A ‘big band’ have been tipped to play Download – and fans think they know who (Picture: Kevin Nixon/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Download Festival attendees reckon they’ve discovered which iconic rock band will fill this year’s alleged secret slot.
Andy Copping, the booker for the Donington Park Circuit festival, teased that a ‘big band’ will play the three-day event this year – but didn’t reveal who.
‘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 during his Planet Rock show.
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 another band coming in doing a secret set. Something very, very special. Big band. So look out for that.’
Naturally, the announcement has sent rockers heading to the festival into meltdown as they try to work out who will perform.
But some fans think they’ve discovered who will be playing Download this year that haven’t been announced on the main bill from June 14 to 16.
Paramore have been tipped to play a secret set at the huge rock event (Picture: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Fans pointed to a gap in their touring schedule as evidence of their Download appearance (Picture: Theo Wargo/WireImage)
Paramore are currently supporting Taylor Swift on the UK leg of the Eras Tour (Picture: Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management )
Pop punk band Paramore is currently supporting Taylor Swift on her mammoth Eras Tour across the UK, with fans pointing out the band has a gap in their tour schedule on June 16.
‘Istg if Paramore do a secret set at Download i will scream. they’re in Liverpool the same week with a day off Sunday 16th,’ Fellj01 wrote on X.
DevPlacePhotos agreed, saying: ‘Why I haven’t seen Paramore suggested as the Download secret set is strange to me- they’re in the UK, they have Sunday 16th June off.’
Foxxtailz added: ‘Listen right, I BELIEVE that paramore should be doing a secret set at DL cos simply I deserve to have it.’
Katesunei echoed the thoughts of many, writing: ‘Whoever is saying it’s Paramore doing the secret set at download this year need to stop it bc I WILL SCREAM CRY AND THROW UP RN.’
Sodandcheapcigz had a message for the band, fronted by Hayley Williams, writing: ‘@paramore Lmk if you are the secret set at Download so I can prepare myself.’
The band formed in 2004 and became a mainstream success with the release of their second album Riot! (Picture: Aaron Rapoport/Corbis via Getty Images)
The Grammy Award-winning band released their sixth studio album last year (Picture: Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
Paramore was formed in 2004 with vocalist Williams, lead guitarist Josh Farro, bassist Jeremy Davis, and drummer Zac Farro.
They released their debut album All We Know Is Falling the following year featuring singles Pressure and Emergency which reached number 30 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Chart in 2006 and number four on the UK Rock Chart in 2009.
The band’s second album Riot! was released in 2007 with the songs Misery Business, That’s What You Get, and Crushcrushcrush.
The release saw Paramore become a mainstream success with Riot! being certified platinum and earning them a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist.
Their lineup now features lead guitarist Taylor York following the departure of Jeremy and Josh, with them released a further four albums including Brand New Eyes in 2009, Paramore in 2013, and the critically acclaimed After Laughter in 2017.
The band’s latest album, This Is Why, was released in 2023 and won Best Rock Album and Best Alternative Music Performance for its title track at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.
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