As we begin to emerge in to a part of the tunnel which reflects a glimmer of light, the big news from the live events industry continues to roll on today as Download Festival announce they will be staging a three day camping festival, limited to 10,000 capacity, as part of the Government Research Programme.

Commenting on this announcement, Festival Republic's Melvin Benn noted, "Following the huge success of our Sefton Park event, we are delighted to contribute to Phase II of the Government's Events Research Programme with the creation of the first three-day camping festival which will be the Download Pilot at Donington Park. This massive next step will help us understand and study the safe return of large-scale festivals with no social distancing or facemasks over a full weekend... the return of the full festival experience we have all been waiting for and a much needed return to work for musicians, backstage crew, caterers and many more that form part of the UK's exemplary live music industry."

Here is a summary of the info so far:

- Tickets will go on sale 1st June for any ticket holders who rolled over from 2021 to 2022.
- General Sale for any remaining tickets will go on sale 3rd June.
- Full band line-up will be announced 28th May.
- Tickets will be priced at just 120 quid (plus fees). There will be no day tickets of any kind.
- This will be the first major camping event of it's kind and will officially form part of the Government's scientific Events Research Programme.
- Capacity limited to 10,000.
- Attendees will not be required to socially distance or wear face coverings once on site.
- Attendees must have proof of a negative lateral flow test result to enter the festival. Alongside this all attendees on site will be required to take a PCR test before and after the event and also provide contact details for NHS Test and Trace.

Huge, very welcome, amazing news coming from the Download Festival camp and we would like to congratulate everyone in that team who have been able to work on putting this together.

Don't forget also that across 5th and 6th June, Sky Arts will be showing a very special set of programmes, DOWNLOAD RELOADED. This will feature footage of performances from years gone by as well as exclusive interviews with some of those involved. JUNE IS DOWNLOAD.