We asked a few of our bands to write Download blogs for us. Hearts Under Fire contributed yesterday, and now here's a report from the boys of You And What Army. It transpires they had quite a good time!

"Ever since You And What Army were tiny children rocking out in their awesome neon nappies the dream has always been Download festival.

"Growing up when people had always asked Kieran (YAWA’s guitarist) “Hey there, you handsome devil, are you going to Download this year?” the slightly egotistical reply was always “The first time I go, I’m playing it”  This year that oh-so-frequently used sentence became 100 percent true!



"Camping together in a small circle of immense power, YAWA enjoyed watching experiences from the momentous occasion of AC/DC playing the 30th anniversary of monsters of rock down to the dirty raw tones of Lamb Of God.

YAWA took great advantage of being VIPs and were given plenty of free donations including: Red Bull (tonnes and tonnes in every variety), T shirts, Hoodies, Ponchos, Headbands, Wristbands, A coat hanger (or “Kottanga” as the slightly wasted donator called it), and - perhaps the main highlight - Zak (drummer) receiving an amazing tattoo courtesy of Woody’s Tattoo Studio.

"YAWA were starstruck! They met people that we have spent our entire lives watching on T.V, kissing on our posters before we sleep and listening to the music of 24/7. Among the highlights were Dave Grohl, Josh Homme, Porcupine Tree, Coheed And Cambria, Steel Panther, Bullet For My Valentine, Unearth, Killswitch Engage, Lamb Of God, Funeral For A Friend, Slash and of course Andy Copping, legendary organiser of Download.



"You And What Army came together to watch Deftones and Rage Against The Machine play on the second day and as the night turned dark and we had Red Bull pouring out of our ears we experienced one of those moments to tell the grandkids as we watched two of our favourite bands perform amazing sets!

"Backstage in the RBBJ tent, the atmosphere was positively electric. All the preparation in the world can’t quite equip you for playing Download itself.

"And so it was that YAWA walked out on stage to a rapturous applause from a tent that had to be closed off because there were so many people rocking, raving, hip-hop bouncing and generally completely losing their minds to You And What Army.

"Good Times."