Download Festival 2010 – Sunday

Saturday night might have proved a little too much fun and it seems that while some of us are getting up to deal with our bangovers others are only just finding their way to bed after a very heavy night. With this in mind it’s unsurprising that it takes a little while to get moving on the last day. Breaking ourselves into things gently we start the day at the Jägermeister stage to watch Ricky Warwick and are rewarded with an acoustic version of The Almighty classic Free N’ Easy. If that doesn’t recharge your rock batteries nothing will. Continuing the classic rock theme it’s only a short jaunt to the main stage for Cinderella. It’s safe to say that opinion is divided on them and our merry band splits up for at this point. Those that remained are rewarded with a real Monsters Of Rock set that culminates in the excellent Gypsy Road and Nobody’s Fool.

The main arena is starting to fill up with people eager to see a guitar hero back in the ascendancy and Slash isn’t here to disappoint. With a set evenly mixed from Slash’s recent solo album and a older material from his excellent pedigree Slash turns his mid afternoon show into a headline slot. Miles Kennedy performs vocal duties on stage and his powerful yet versatile voice is the icing on the cake. But Kennedy is not the only singer as Lemmy Killminster arrives on stage to reprise his vocal role on the song alibi. There are a few Guns N’ Roses classics but it is the sets closing songs that blow us away. The Velvet Revolver song Slither (although it’s maybe too much to hope that Slash and former VR vocalist Scott Weiland can share a stage together just yet) leads us into Paradise City. There is something amazingly moving about hearing this song at Donington Park and as the Familiar Les Paul fills the giant video screen you can’t help but search in vain for that Dunlop Bridge in the background or the grainy black and white footage of years gone by. A little tip of that oh so familiar top hat to the history and heritage of this rather special venue.

Having seemingly escaped the predicted light showers through the weekend the weather wreaks it’s terrible vengeance. Billy Idol comes on to a torrential downpour and a slowly diminishing crowd seeking refuge from the rain. Aside from some technical issues as rain starts to interfere with sound, Billy Idol seems to revel in the adversity. Classics like Dancing with Myself, a partially acoustic rendition of White Wedding and the awesome Rebel makes it all worthwhile.

The remainder of the crowd seems to adopt a siege mentality, hell if we’re not going to get any wetter we may as well do some rocking and who better to provide the soundtrack for our rocking than the legendary Motorhead. They deliver a solid Rock and fucking Roll set with a return appearance from Slash during Just ‘Cos You Got The Power and culminating with Killed By Death, Ace Of Spades and Overkill for the big finish to their set.

The once green field has degenerated into a quagmire and it’s still raining. The main arena is practically deserted but those absent are missing a treat. Stone Temple Pilots come out strong and sound fabulous, opening with Vasoline, Wicked Garden and Crackerman gets the depleted crowd moving. The band throw in some newer material but the real highlight of the show is Big Empty and then Plush into Interstate Love Song, a trio of their finest material. Finally during Lounge Fly we get a glimmer of hope, on the horizon we see a little blue sky and the rain slackens off, Stone Temple Pilots are scientifically proven to fix the weather. The band closes their excellent set with Sex Type Thing, Dead and Bloated and Trippin’ On A Hole In A Paper Heart. It will take quite a performance from the next band to top this.

Fortunately the next band is Aerosmith and as the last of the evening sun returns to the main stage so do the crowds. The mud is still problematic and the pit is treacherous we keep our fingers crossed that everyone stays safe tonight. The show is big and the performance brassy, Steven Tyler’s voice is amazing while Joe Perry oozes guitar hero cool and that’s not to take away the precision and musicianship of the rest of the band. It’s difficult to tell how comfortable the two are together as some of their niggles play out on the giant screens above the stage. But they are together here and now, so what else is there to do other than stand back and enjoy the show. With such an extensive back catalogue there is something for everyone tonight. After a strong opening including the likes of Mama Kin, Eat The Rich and Livin’ on the Edge there are a couple of occasions where set seems to meander (during blues interludes and the more recent mainstream radio hits). But the band sparkle and deliver some of their finest material Sweet Emotion and Dream On finally finishing with the surprise of the night Toys in the Attic. Aerosmith Draw to a close an excellent and eclectic festival so it’s back to the bar to raise a glass in celebration of a brilliant weekend. Download Festival has certainly laid down a marker for all other UK festivals this year.