Linkin Park becomes first female-fronted headliner at Download Festival

Linkin Park closed this year's Download Festival at Donington Park, Leicestershire, becoming the first female-fronted band to headline the festival in its history, a milestone for the event and its predecessor Monsters Of Rock. Despite controversy surrounding the band's decision to continue after the loss of Chester Bennington, Emily Armstrong delivered a stunning performance, giving classics like Numb and Papercut new life and showcasing harmonies with Mike Shinoda on Overflow from the band's latest album. The festival opened Friday with Cypress Hill and Limp Bizkit, whose frontman Fred Durst maintained high energy and stopped My Way early to assist a crowd member needing medical attention. Saturday featured a last-minute set by The Wildhearts following Ginger Wildheart's cancer diagnosis, Babymetal's choreographed performance, and a headline set by Guns N' Roses, who opened with Welcome To The Jungle and closed with anthems. Dogstar, featuring bassist Keanu Reeves, played to a packed second stage on Sunday. Download introduced sensory calm spaces with weighted blankets and noise-cancelling headphones, reflecting ongoing mental health support. Improved drainage prevented the flooding seen a decade ago.