Never been to Download

[t8yman]

I can't believe that people are saying download 12 was just like the other years, it was hugely overcrowded, poorly organised, they dealt badly with the mud, the stewards were horrifically badly informed, and the entire experience felt like being pick pocketed from start to finish. I've missed maybe 2 downloads out of all of them, and this years was the least enjoyable.

[devilman]

None of that was my experience. Ok so I was in the campervan field so didn't experience the campsite, I never have. Overcrowded? Nope, was able to get from front stage to bar and back no bother. Poorly organised? It ran exactly like every other time I've been bar the friday delay. Honestly if you'd be to T this year then Download's mud would be a non event in your memory. As long as you have tens of thousands of people in a field with heavy rain there will be mud. It is unavoidable and no amount of straw will stop it. Badly informed stewards? Never talk to them, if you don't know where stuff is or how it runs after all the years you've been then what chance do they stand being given a dayglo jacket and 1 day's training? Prices were pretty much the same as last year. You just don't like mud. I'll bet if it had been 28deg sunshine for the whole weekend it would have been the best ever!

[kaosmark2]

The mud didn't bother me so much as the rest of the organisation stuff. Mud happens, it's the rest of it that can reflect poorly on a festival.

[devilman]

But what was all this organisation stuff? It was exactly the same as other years as far as I could see.

[neilloggie]

Maybe i just go places with low expectations so very rarely get disappointed, i didn't think it was that muddy? Our group of 12 ha a great time.

Anyway i don't go for infrastructure i go for music, so fair rides,stalls,sign posts etc are neither here nor there.

Edited October 10, 2012 by neilloggie

[t8yman]

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Edited October 11, 2012 by t8yman

[insideaway]

i went to both leeds and download last year and i have to say i encountered more dickheadedness at download. However most of this was in the campsite and down to unlucky plot picking and then not being arsed to move. I did see more dickishness however at my one day at v(Chelmsford), roses day, then both full weekends at download/leeds combined. The stewards tend to be just as useless no matter which fest you go to and i tend to feel like they take every chance to over change you they get at each fest to. As for varity Download offers varitiy within its genre, its just fest like leeds/T/V etc like to dip into several genres. I personally prefere leeds, more varitiy and less walking meaning trips back to campsite dont take as long just edge it, but chances are i'll be at and enjoying both again this year!

[luckysalt]

Maybe it was the weather and mud and what not, but the general vibe this year was awful, it was all we're out for ourselves rather than the usual, we all love rock music and are here to celebrate this together and have the best time, I think also the crowd was younger than ever before.

Mind you I saw plenty of older blokes acting like pricks.

Even the pub crawl on Thurs lacked atmosphere.

I hope it was a one off, im warming to the idea of returning again, most of my gang aren't going next year and they're going on a lads holiday but theres a group of people I work with who are up for going so that might be a different experience and a great laugh.

[cornucopia]

Maybe it was the weather and mud and what not, but the general vibe this year was awful, it was all we're out for ourselves rather than the usual, we all love rock music and are here to celebrate this together and have the best time, I think also the crowd was younger than ever before.

Mind you I saw plenty of older blokes acting like pricks.

Even the pub crawl on Thurs lacked atmosphere.

I hope it was a one off, im warming to the idea of returning again, most of my gang aren't going next year and they're going on a lads holiday but theres a group of people I work with who are up for going so that might be a different experience and a great laugh.

[sheffieldlady]

The latest announcement has sold it for me - I was toying with the idea before but I am sure there will be enough music to enjoy :-)

Now - to predict good weather...

[thetime]

The latest announcement has sold it for me - I was toying with the idea before but I am sure there will be enough music to enjoy :-)

Now - to predict good weather...

[jordanuk90]

I've heard the "herded like cattle" thing a few times. I don't understand what was different this year. For me it was exactly the same as every other time except there was mud. Signs? The bars are signposted, teh toilets are sign posted and the first aid points are sign posted. there's maps on your phone, on the internet and on the lanyard things, as well big ones up around the place. Not that I need any of these, it's hardly a major nav exercise finding any of these things. As far as I can see the only thing different was MUD making people miserable. Or was it the queue thing on the friday? We were monitoring facebook and enjoying a few cans whilst that was going on but it really does seem to have spoiled a lot of people's weekend.

[AcademicPistol]

Thursday I think we ended up making a little fort out of ground sheets and a broken gazebo. It was brilliant.

[jordanuk90]

We did the same it kept sinking lower and lower

[Lottie81]

Hi. Like the first guy who posted on here i've never been to download either. I may well have to go it alone too , perfectly happy on doing that but would be good to meet up with some others. Is there normally a meet up arranged some place there? Thanks

[AcademicPistol]

There is normally a bacefook group called 'camp loner' that do that or you could start a similar thing on here.

[Lambo_KoRn]

Hi. Like the first guy who posted on here i've never been to download either. I may well have to go it alone too , perfectly happy on doing that but would be good to meet up with some others. Is there normally a meet up arranged some place there? Thanks

[bigstoo]

Been Download twice although I definitely wouldn't class myself as a Metalhead! It's a great festival, the only idiots are mostly harmless, and there is about 5% compared to V festival trust me! recommend it for anyone (unless you like X Factor)

[thejimbola]

My feet haven't been this cold since Download!

[sheffieldlady]

I'm really looking forward to it, there are enough bands I like to warrent the ticket price. Plus, I kind of enjoy being in a festival only world for 5 days!

[atomised]

Returning to download for the first time in about 5 years this year. Looking forward to it but guessing it will have changed a fair but. Was certainly a good festival the few times I went and hopefully it still attracts a decent crowd

[2rare2die]

Returning to download for the first time in about 5 years this year. Looking forward to it but guessing it will have changed a fair but. Was certainly a good festival the few times I went and hopefully it still attracts a decent crowd

[atomised]

I seem to recall walking a fair bit last time

[sheffieldlady]

I've heard about this walk, can it be that bad?!

[Coupe100]

I've heard about this walk, can it be that bad?!