Download Festival Founder Andy Copping Defends SLEEP TOKEN‘s Surprise Headlining Slot: ‘It’s Time. It’s SLEEP TOKEN’s Moment’

SLEEP TOKEN‘s surprise announcement as a headliner for next year's Download Festival took many by storm. While the enigmatic British band has been around since 2016, their relatively short career pales in comparison to the legendary status of fellow headliners GREEN DAY and KORN.

After surprising many with their announcement as a headliner for next year’s Download Festival, SLEEP TOKEN have received support from the festival’s founder for the decision.

Following the announcement, some questioned whether SLEEP TOKEN were ready to headline the festival, especially in comparison to the legendary status of fellow headliners GREEN DAY and KORN. However, the band’s dedicated fanbase quickly rallied behind them.

Now, Download Festival founder Andy Copping has spoken about the decision in an interview with NME.

“I think it’s important for the festival to bring new bands through to headline,” Copping said. “Back in the day, I did it with SLIPKNOT. I did it with AVENGED SEVENFOLD and BIFFY CLYRO. In 2023 we did it with Bring Me The Horizon. Now, every one of those bands across the world is perceived as a festival headliner.

“That’s what I felt this time with Sleep Token. It feels like we’re the first major festival that’s taken the bull by the horns and gone, ‘OK, it’s time. Its SLEEP TOKEN’s moment’. I know it’s going to be amazing for them, amazing for the festival and amazing for the fans.”

He continued: “The festival has to evolve because people’s tastes and people’s expectations evolve all the time. The festival will die if we don’t move with the times, so we have to be innovative. We have to see what’s going on across social media and analyse the way people are consuming music in the TikTok age.

“All of that is super important. Luckily, we’ve put together a very wide and varied young team who are giving input into what they feel the festival should be. We also talk to the fans all the time and ask them what they want to see. We seek out feedback on what we’re doing right and what we’re doing wrong. From that, we’ve found a formula that’s been working for us.”

Check out the full lineup for next year’s edition of Download in the flyer below.

Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.