For me and the people I was camping with Download started on Wednesday evening. I did a half day at work and rushed home so we could have a bro-train up the M1 with the two cars we took. Getting sorted at Donnington was a breeze. As I was driving, I dropped some people off and parked up. The walk from the car park to Black Camp wasn't anywhere near what it was the last year when we camped in Orange (that was 2 miles!). After setting up the tents, gazebo and making a trip back to the car for beer and BBQ we were sorted. My new pop up tent worked great. 

Last year I didn't go on the Wednesday but I wish I had. It was much nicer as there were no queues and plently of choice where to set up camp. Thursday was spent just lazying around and we had a walk over to Castle Donnington to pick up some kindling to keep us warm at night. Clearly the Sonisphere street team had been out as there were Sonisphere posters all over Castle Donnington. Perfect placement with all the metal heads around. Kindling wasn't to be found at the Spa or the Co-op. In the end I wondered to the BP petrol station. Boo I here you say? Yes they've messed up in the Gulf but the USA gave them permission to drill without scrutinising them enough. America let them screw up, just like you did with the banks. Rant over. I forgive them as they had kindling, YEAH! 

Anyway back on track, Friday, bands... that's what you want to hear about isn't it? Here goes. The first band up for me was 36 Crazyfists on the main stage. I've seen 36 Crazyfists at The Corporation in Sheffield a few years again and they were great. Crazyfists' set was really good but unfortunately the vocal weren't loud enough. However, a there was more. The awesome Howard Jones (Killswitch Engage) come on and joined 36 Crazyfists on stage for a song. That was cool. 

Next up was the awesome Killswitch Engage with our friend Howard Jones. Last year these guys killed it and that's just what they did again. In memory of Ronnie James Dio they performed Holy Diver. Next time Killswitch are around I'll be their. 

The penultimate band before the mighty AC\DC were Them Crooked Vultures. This band is made up of Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), and Dave Grohl (Nirvana & Foo Fighters). An incredible line up of immense talent but in reality I couldn't hear any magic. It's such a shame. The music was quality but there was no spark. 

The final band of the night was AC\DC. I had been waiting around the end of their catwalk since before Them Crooked Vultures. Others has been waiting their all day, dedication for the AC\DC. The AC\DC show started with a cartoon of a run-away train and that ended with a giant train crashing through the big screen and fireworks shooting down the catwalk. Angus Young jumped out of the end and they bust into Rock 'N Roll Train. The crowd went crazy. The rest of the show was just as good. Brian Johnson was running around like a teenager, he even jumped on a giant bell roll. Angus was rocking it with his guitar solos, being raised up on a podium, stripping and doing that funny dance with his guitar. It was a fantastic show and they played all the classics. By the end of the set and before the encore I was feeling a bit sick. The same thing happened at the end of Metallica at Sonisphere last year, I think it's from standing around for ages around sweaty rockers. So I made my way out and watched the encore from a far.  There were fireworks and everything thing. It was great.

Friday completely rocked! AC\DC was, unsurprisingly, the highlight.