In an interview with Kerrang! back in June, Download booker Andy Copping gave his two cents on the return of live music, explaining: "The concern is that we might not see gigs as we know it this year, certainly in the bigger rooms. I’m hoping that some of the smaller venues will be up and operating towards the end of this year, and that will hopefully energise the live business and we can get back to some kind of normality in early 2021."
He added that bands are just as bummed out as us fans – and we need to be mindful that coronavirus has affected everyone in music.
"That’s the other thing we’ve got to bear in mind: we’re frustrated about not going to shows, but the bands themselves are super-frustrated about not being able to play – that’s what they do for a living!" he continued. "Yeah, they’re writing songs and just spent the past three-and-a-half months sat in their houses, but most bands make their money being on the road so they wanna get out there. I’m hoping we see some kind of light at the end of this hideous tunnel and we get back to live music sooner rather than later."
Earlier in the week, Download revealed all three headliners for the 2021 festival, plus over 70 more bands across the weekend.
Download Festival 2021 takes place at Donington Park from June 4-6. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, August 7 over at downloadfestival.co.uk/tickets.