Buckle up for an avalanche of Download coverage from Team LOUD WOMEN's dynamite duo – the hardest working/rocking photographers in the pit – Alise Elberga and Artemi Falzon! Here's day one ...
Bimbcore artist Scene Queen opened Download Festival 2026 by turning the main stage pretty pink! Quite the statement at a festival with a main colour theme of black but whilst you may have doubts, the fans were there to support and intrigued festival goers quickly joined in. Proving that first impressions should not be trusted the American singer Scene Queen broke out in mosh pit worthy metalcore hits which call out problematic artists and men taking up space whilst lifting up women and queer individuals with a special shoutout to trans rights. It’s the type of messaging we need to hear more as the world has recently felt like it’s going backwards.
Whilst I can’t confirm for sure, I am pretty confident that we also witnessed the first mosh pit of the weekend as Scene Queen called out to the audience to get the famous twerkle pit going for her song “Pink G-String” which is iconic and gets you moving whilst pointing out the objectification that women have been facing in media for decades. This is the second Download Festival Scene Queen has played, with the first one being back in 2024, and we hope to see her again with hopefully a later set time so those who are not early risers can join in to the fun whilst being educated on serious issues our society is facing.
Next up in our day was Lake Malice! Just before her set at the Dogtooth stage Alise was lucky to catch Alice, vocalist of Lake Malice, for a quick interview. We got to hear from her a year ago at 2000 Trees Festival and have continued loving her music and performances ever since. She looked phenomenal, with energy that radiated kindness and comfort that was definitely needed to start off the weekend.
On stage Lake Malice gave us their all with a phenomenal vocal range, amplifying riffs and lyrics that help you heal through connection. For some this healing was definitely done through a mosh pits as one opened up not long into the set and matched the energy that Lake Malice was giving on stage perfectly.
We also need to point out the thought that had gone into the overall performance at Download Festival. It’s not often that you will see a fully choreographed set with back up dancers adding an extra creative outlet that kept us captivated to them, and a backdrop that visually matched Lake Malices brand and hinted at the upcoming album ‘I Wanna Know If It’s Real’ being released in September!
A special one for Artemi, Halestorm opened up with confetti, pyro and cryo (and thats just in the first two songs), Halestorm show themselves to be future main stage headliners with an electrifying set full of rock and roll, big drum sticks, twiddly guitars and Lzzys huge vocals as they headline the first day of the second stage.
Treating the crowd to not just one, but two songs not yet played in the UK, they play the song they released with I Prevail, ‘Can You See Me In The Dark’, and their cover of Lady Gaga’s ‘Bad Romance’. Arejay Hale, Lzzys little brother and Halestorms drummer, gets his moment to shine two thirds of the way through, launching into a drum solo before bringing out the huge drum sticks he is known for playing part of his solo with. How does he manage to get such perfect sound with those?
A setlist heavy on tracks from new album Everest and their second album ‘The Strange Case Of…’ where a lot of their best known songs come from, the crowd was always singing along. While sole song from Into The Wild Life, ‘I am the Fire’ brings back the pyro as both Lzzy and Joe get out 12 string guitars for a song many resonate with as a coming out/being yourself song, perfect for pride month!
To end the night in a rush we had to sprint between stages as competing with titans Halestorm, Cypress Hill and Feeder on the other three stages, Band Maid was starting to attract a crowd. This was never going to be an easy slot to play in, but Band Maid clearly knew what they were doing! With only being one of three bands playing this weekend from Japan the participation from the crowd was incredible, many on the front row (and deeper) sang along whilst a large mosh pit opened up in the middle. They’re over in the UK for the first time since 2019 with just one warm up show at Electric Brixton in London the day before, but they were made and belong on the stage! Opening with ‘Ready To Rock’, a song off their latest EP Scooooop, they quickly dispel any thoughts that with their cute aesthetic, they wouldn’t fit in at Download by opening with heavy guitar riffs and double kick drums.