How do you run two festival stages and still find time to play in your own band? Meet the Reading Rising team in our Festpod feature: - InMe memories - LASTELLE's journey to headlining - What's coming to The Facebar on 7–8 November. Read here: www.festpod.uk/news/festpod...

Reading Rising 2026: InMe, LASTELLE and The Facebar | FESTPOD

Reading Rising 2026 returns to The Facebar on 7–8 November with InMe and LASTELLE. Festpod 93 covers the line-up, two-stage setup and organisers' plans.

festpod.uk

25 years as an independent festival, through a family, and a fan community. At @bloodstockopenair.bsky.social 2026, director Rachael Greenfield joined us to talk about protecting the festival’s independence, taking 14 years to break even, and an emotional return to live music after the pandemic.

Bloodstock at 25: Rachael Greenfield on family and fans | FESTPOD

Bloodstock director Rachael Greenfield talks family ownership, fan-led change, the festival’s post-pandemic return, and plans for 2027.

festpod.uk

Defences have teamed up with Skindred frontman Benji Webbe for new single ‘More Of Us (Than There Are Of Them)’ The vocalist, Cherry Duesbury, says the protest track grew from frustration with political and institutional systems. Read the story on Festpod: www.festpod.uk/news/defence... #newmusic

Defences team up with Benji Webbe for ‘More Of Us’ | FESTPOD

Defences team up with Skindred’s Benji Webbe on ‘More Of Us’, a protest single released through Long Branch Records ahead of UK live dates.

festpod.uk

For the bands at the bottom of the festival poster. Waterlines are back with ‘Giant Killers’, a love letter to the underground bands giving it everything, even when the bigger opportunities don’t come. Read the story and watch the new video on Festpod: www.festpod.uk/news/waterli...

Waterlines release new single Giant Killers | FESTPOD

Waterlines return with 'Giant Killers,' a tribute to underground bands, alongside a new bassist announcement and autumn UK shows.

festpod.uk

Sleep Token. Warhammer. Nail bars. A crowd surfing Cookie Monster. Somehow, that all makes perfect sense at RADAR Festival. We spoke to co-founder Catherine Jackson-Smith about how RADAR became the metal festival it is today and how its audience helped shape it. www.festpod.uk/news/catheri...

Catherine Jackson-Smith on RADAR Festival’s Community | FESTPOD

RADAR co-founder Catherine Jackson-Smith talks inclusivity, Sleep Token, the Music & Gaming Market and how fans help shape the festival.

festpod.uk

At @downloadfest.bsky.social 2026, we caught up with the @rockfit.bsky.social team to find out how a rock and metal fitness class has grown into something much bigger. “The music gets them in, but the people make them stay.” Read the full interview on Festpod now: www.festpod.uk/news/rockfit...

RockFit on community, inclusion and Download Festival | FESTPOD

RockFit founder Hannah Hawkey and her team tell Festpod how rock and metal fitness grew into an inclusive nationwide community.

festpod.uk

🗞️ NEWS: Bloodstock Festival has added another 18 bands to its 2027 line-up, including Make Them Suffer, Carnifex, The Acacia Strain, DVNE and Calva Louise. www.festpod.uk/news/bloodst...

Bloodstock 2027 adds 18 more bands to line-up — FESTPOD

Bloodstock has announced 18 more bands for 2027, including Make Them Suffer, Carnifex, The Acacia Strain, DVNE and Calva Louise.

festpod.uk

I think it’s easy for us as fans - and even as media - to see The Takeover as just another event at Download Festival. But if you stop and think about it, for the bands playing it, it’s the biggest moment of their lives. In this clip, Arran talks about what it meant to him. youtu.be/QAeXvLzT1Rc

Imagine 300 musicians performing rock classics together on one stage. That's exactly what's heading to the Manchester AO Arena. Rockin’1000 founder Fabio Zaffagnini joined us to explain what fans can expect, and how ordinary musicians become part of the show. Interview: youtu.be/gsTV3FEvyds

When small, unsigned bands get chosen to play the Takeover at Download Festival, it can be a big shock. They’re going from playing small rooms to playing a massive festival stage in front of thousands of excited rock fans. Watch them live their dreams here: youtu.be/QAeXvLzT1Rc

“We thought the Download email was a scam!” After finding the invitation sitting in their junk folder, Black Water County nearly missed the email that changed everything. Now they’ve headlined The Takeover at Download Festival 2026 after 13 years of graft. Interview in full: youtu.be/S0Xd8K1uyiE

“It felt religious.” RXPTRS had just stepped off stage after their first ever Download performance and told us what it was really like. Intense heat of the pyro, trying to sing when you can’t breathe… Full interview on our YouTube channel! youtu.be/EFUpCQw81x4

“It felt like home.” Deadwax reflect on playing the biggest stage of their career at @downloadfest.bsky.social 2026 - and seeing a sea of heads bouncing back at them from The Takeover stage. Watch the full interview now on the Festpod YouTube channel: youtu.be/nS_ilyAST88

"This is the best moment of my life." Pryma had only just got off stage when we caught up with them. Adrenaline still pumping, emotions still raw, and they had plenty to say about pyro, circle pits and finally making their Download dream a reality. Watch in full: 🤘 youtu.be/k--t6YQ2U_Y

There's a lot more to RockFit than you might expect. We caught up with the RockFit team at @downloadfestival.bsky.social to find out what it's all about, and it's much more than just fitness! Watch the full interview on YouTube: youtu.be/KayqU7o4LLU

Overwhelmed at #DownloadFestival? Find the Sensory Calm Space! Festivals can be overstimulating and loud, and not just for people who are neurodivergent, autistic, or who have ADHD. So here’s the solution: Full interview: youtu.be/MIWgSGWGomc More: www.diverseuk.org/sensory-calm...

Welsh band Celavi just played @downloadfest.bsky.social! It’s the biggest gig they’ve ever played “Growing up there wasn’t a Welsh metal band we could relate to - we wanted to be that band” Full interview here: youtu.be/noohVFfWfrc%...

This unsigned band just played at @downloadfest.bsky.social Interview: youtu.be/Mibq-IvjTA4

RXPTRS tease new music at Download Festival! youtu.be/BeNFPf6CE00

RXPTRS tease new music at Download Festival!

YouTube video by Festpod

youtu.be

The Moshpit Mime says “Listen to Festpod!”

In episode 87, we’re getting you ready for Download 2026! * We examine the map and take a virtual tour * District X lineup breakdown * Wheelie bins banned on the train! * Why can’t you bring glass to RIP? * Our lineup picks! Listen on your podcast app or watch the full video: youtu.be/F_d9Y_AQM3I

Ep87. Download 2026 Map Explored, Glass ban, Bin ban, & Our Top Lineup Picks!

YouTube video by Festpod

youtu.be

TONIGHT AT 6:30 It's here! Find out which six unsigned bands were chosen to play the Takeover at Download 2026! We'll chat to Trish and John from the panel to ask WHY they chose these six lucky bands! Join us for the chat and the announcement tonight from 6:30, here: youtu.be/m7xgKnxOuCc

Ep86: REVEALED! The 6 unsigned bands playing Download '26

YouTube video by Festpod

youtu.be

The panel has selected the final six bands for this year’s Takeover at Download! Join us on YouTube - this Sunday at 9pm, where we’ll reveal those lucky bands playing first at @downloadfest.bsky.social www.youtube.com/@festpod #downloadfestival #metalband #metalfestival #festpod #podcastclips

You get ONE metal album for the rest of your life. That’s it. No cheating. What are you picking? 👇

Here’s the entertainment lineup for District X at @downloadfestival.bsky.social , including performances from Five, Electric 6, All American Rejects+ LOADS more over the whole weekend!

Theocracide gets their first play at Bloodstock Open Air Festival in 2025! But how did it go? Watch in full: youtu.be/dAijZj8__MI

Download Festival: This years fancy dress theme is Legends of the Page. Who you going as?

If you’re in an unsigned band, here’s your chance to play the Takeover at Download Festival. Submissions open on the 1st of March. Check the Takeover at Download Facebook page for details of how to apply: www.facebook.com/TakeoveratDo...

New names have just been announced for DLXXIII, including A Day To Remember, Daughtry, Creeper, Hot Milk, Marmozets, Frozemode, Silly Goose, BAND-MAID, Conjurer, THE PRIMALS & more

The funfair won’t be returning to @bloodstockopenair.bsky.social this year! There’ll be some nice site upgrades instead. Will you miss the funfair? ___________________________________________ #festpod #podcastclips #metalfestival #metalfest #bloodstock