Funeral For A Friend will be replacing Bad Omens at Download Festival next week.
Bad Omens were supposed to headline the second stage on the first day of the Donington Park festival but announced on May 23 that they were pulling out due to frontman Noah Sebastian suffering from “extreme burnout”.
“While all the touring and work that we’ve put into this album cycle the last several years has been so rewarding and gratifying, it has also pushed me to the limits of my mental bandwidth,” he said in a statement. “Putting my mind and body in conflict with one another in ways that are becoming detrimental to my health on the road.”
“This decision is in the best interest of my health and wellbeing, and of the long term sustainability of Bad Omens.
“We need to protect and restore all of the energy that will be demanded of us again soon as we transition into the next chapter.”
Now, it has been confirmed that Funeral For A Friend will be taking their place. Last month, they performed for the first time since the departure of vocalist Matthew Davies-Kreye at Newport’s Corn Exchange and Slam Dunk Festival with Lucas Woodland of Holding Absence on vocals. He will be joining them again for Download and will perform with Holding Absence the following day.
“So it seems like folks quite enjoyed seeing us last weekend with @Lucaswoodland on the microphone,” the Welsh post-hardcore band said on social media. “So much so, that we’ve been asked to do it again, this time at @DownloadFest, headlining the Opus Stage on Friday night June 14th!
“We were blessed enough to play the very first Download Festival back in 2003, so to be invited back over 20 years later for such a prestigious slot is pretty incredible. We’ll make the most of it.”
We were blessed enough to play the very first Download Festival back in 2003, so to be invited back over 20 years later for such a prestigious slot is pretty incredible. We’ll make the most of it.
If you haven’t got your tickets yet, head to the Download website to grab ‘em.
— Funeral For A Friend (@ffaf_official) May 31, 2024
In other news, Download boss Andy Copping revealed last week that a “big band” will perform a surprise set at this year’s edition of the festival.
Copping recently hosted an hour-long show on Planet Rock called Andy Copping’s Secrets of Download during the bank holiday (May 27), where he revealed that fans should look out for a secret set this year.
“One thing’s for sure, you’ve got to keep your eyes and ears peeled for this year at Download because, yes, we have an another band coming in doing a secret set. Something very, very special. Big band. So look out for that.”
The music festival will return to Donington Park for its 21st edition from June 14-16. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.
The post Funeral For A Friend to replace Bad Omens at Download Festival appeared first on NME.
