Confirmed: Download heading to Australia says Live Nation

Live Nation’s President of UK touring Andy Copping has confirmed to IQ magazine rumours that UK heavy metal Download is heading to Australia in 2018.

It will be a combined effort by Live Nation through its affiliated Secret Sounds and Unified, and that it is only going to stage in Melbourne.

Download was orally ear-marked to make its Australian debut this year.

The story has been circulating for the past 12 months. This week US-based Pollstar magazine noted that a fake website popped up last Friday with an “Australian lineup” and the words “We’re coming for you, Melborne” [sic].”

The site was taken down almost immediately.

News of the buoyancy of Australia’s festival circuit has seen international brands as City Limits and Storm head to Australia.

The huge vacuum left by the collapse of the hard rock Soundwave festival (which at one time was reaching a total attendance of 250,000) has also lead to plans by Legion and (reportedly) Sonisphere and Wacken Open Air to stage here.

The UK version of Download in June saw 80,000 turn out to see Aerosmith in their final UK show as well as System of a Down, Biffy Clyro, Rage, Good Charlotte, Sum 41, Machine Gun Kelly, AFI and Simple Plan.

Other highlights included a full-size WWE NXT wrestling arena, the Wall of Death with vintage motorcycles, a silent disco, a cinema and a mobile tattoo studio.