U.K. metal festival Download is to stream performances from its main stage live and free on its Web site during the weekend of June 12-14.
The initiative was brought in during the 2007 festival by promoter Live Nation. The streamed bands that year included Iron Maiden during the three-day event. Although streaming was not on offer last year, a spokesperson for the festival says all the acts on the mainstage line-up have signed up to have their performances shown online. This year’s bill includes Faith No More, Slipknot, Limp Bizkit and Def Leppard.
Download is “striving to deliver a unique experience for its global fanbase,” said Mark Yovich, executive vice president and general manager, international digital at Live Nation, in a statement. “We are creating a continuous 24-hour stream that will begin on Friday and run through the weekend until Sunday night, providing fans in all time zones the ability to tune in and enjoy some of the Download experience.”
In addition to performances, the festival Web site (www.downloadfestival.co.uk) will also feature exclusive behind-the-scenes news reports and interviews from Kerrang! Magazine’s Katie P and Download Festival 2008 Music TV Presenter competition winner Rhodri Thomas. Highlights from these reports will be broadcast on VH1 Classic and MTV Palladia.
