The First Wave Of Download Melbourne Sideshows Has Arrived!
So many shows, so little time and money.
In news bound to stress out punters and injure their wallets deeply, the first row of Download Melbourne sideshows were announced today! With the Australian debut of Download happening at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse on March 24th, 2018, all of these sideshows will be taking place mainly in Sydney and Brisbane, with the odd Adelaide stopover (all to help drive the festival's ticket sales up in Melbourne/Victoria, no doubt). Now, because I am just such a nice person, I've put all of the newly revealed sideshows in one cohesive listicle for you cause I'm just that fucking great. Take a look below and plan out what Download sideshows you'll be skipping or scoring tickets for!
Prophets of Rage's self-titled LP is arguably one of the worst rock records of 2017, but due to who is in the band, their respective legacies and their own branding, this supergroup is easily one of the biggest drawcards of Download Melbourne. Well, alongside Korn and Limp Bizkit, of course. Let us all just hope that POR are a much better live band than what they offer on the record.
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For all further info and ticketing (if you're, for some reason, into this band) can be found over here.
Okay, this next one is an odd but solid mix. You've got pop/rap/trap newcomers Chase Atlantic opening; once-shitty-metalcore-turned-kickass-hook-legends Issues, (here's hope they have a better mix this time around); the controversial and divisive yet actually incredibly tight live act of Falling In Reverse (fronted by you know who); world-beating U.K. pop-punk heroes Neck Deep; and one of pop-punks/rock's biggest bands of the previous decade, Good Charlotte? Goddamnit, that's actually a pretty good bill.
All ticketing info for what is actually a pretty solid lineup of mid-tier and ever-growing international bands and some much-loved nostalgia can be found right here.
What's more epic than Viking death metal merchants Amon Amarth doing some sideshows? Sabaton joining them for said shows, of course! Now, I'd say something like "horns up \m/" here, but as I'd like to retain some sense of whatever dignity I have left, all I'll say is: ready your best face paint, prepare your liver for the flowing beers, learn the words, and get ya tickets here, nerds.
Look, The Story So Far's next album will most likely just be another Story So Far record to add to the pile (as newish single 'Out Of It' hints at), but stepping out of recruiting Neck Deep or other pop-punk bands to fill the void, promoters have offered for something slightly different. One of my favourite Melbourne indie-rock faves, Slowly Slowly, and one of UNFD's most recent signees, the young melodic hardcore lads in Easy Life, are both being put to the task for these sideshows. Not the first two bands I'd jump at for such a support slot, but I'm glad they've been chosen regardless.
Get your dated angst and inner emo on with this show.
Neck Deep are one of pop-punks biggest bands right now, and while supporting Good Charlotte would indeed be a great slot for them (not just as a band but as fans), they're now at the level where they could headline their own sideshows. Which is where this lineup comes in. Featuring fellow Hopeless Records act, Between You And Me, as well The Away Game and Bearclaw Camp (who are also supporting Knuckle Puck and Roam tour in Adelaide in January), literal pop-punk for days now awaits you.
Finally, Nails - alongside their festival spot - are finally touring Australia and it's about damn time! Especially considering how good last year's killer third LP, 'You Will Never Be One Of Us' was. However, there are two injustices here. First, there are no sideshows for Melbourne, meaning that I'll probably have to go Download festival itself just so I can properly mosh to 'Savage Intolerance' or 'Violence Is Forever'. Secondly, why the absolute fuck are Cursed Earth (who are also apart of the Download lineup, mind you) not supporting Nails for these sideshows is utterly beyond me. That line up would have basically sold itself!
Anyway, nab your tickets for Nails first-ever Aussie headline shows here.
Get tickets for Download Festival Melbourne here.
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