Excited about The Vengaboys at Download Festival? Here are nine more non-metal acts that should play Donington.

Walk across any campsite at a festival, and you will be bound to hear the majestic sound of the Vengaboys. Something about the combination of not washing for a week and good drinks makes the average metalhead go truly feral as soon as the opening bars of to ‘We Like to Party’ get started.

With the announcement of the Dutch party animals playing Download's District X, this cements a lifelong friendship between metalheads and Europop. Imagine the record-breaking circle pits as everyone prepares to board the ‘Vengabus’. Download is already one big party, and frankly everyone is already playing them while in camp, so this announcement is potentially one of the most raucous and exciting decisions Andy Copping has ever made.

Download has been known as the home of metal in the UK for many years now, and it seems like with a push to book three brand new headliners every year - perhaps it’s time to look outside of metal for new acts across the board. There's only so many metal bands left who haven’t played the festival, so they need to look outside the genre to find new acts who can appeal to the most battle-hardened moshers and may even bring in a new crowd, introducing them to one of the world’s greatest festivals. 

1) Pitbull

No one else brings the party like Mr Worldwide. With Pitbull finally touring the UK again with great levels of success, he would help Download shift those extra tickets with how dedicated his fanbase is. You will always see his fans donned in the ceremonial bald cap, suit and sunglasses in honour of the icon that is Pitbull. His shows are known for high energy and no other group of people brings more energy to a gig than metalheads. Pitbull brings hits that people can actually sing along with rather than just experience the intensity of metal. Pitbull would prove that Download is a festival for everyone, not just those wanting to go to battle in the pit.

Mr Worldwide

2) Paramore

Paramore have been asked by fans to play Download for many years now, and they did in 2007. But the call for Hayley and the gang to headline the festival would be something else. So much about their infectious melodies and Hayley Williams’ energy appeals to emo's who just want a little dance or a cry. Their emo friends in Fall Out Boy headlined last year - who share a relatively similar fanbase - and it went down an absolute storm. There is no doubt Paramore would give Download everything, even if they did support Taylor Swift last year. Imagine the firework show they could bring during ‘Hard Times’ - and this time no one will be getting fired!

3) ABBA

ABBA are one of the most legendary bands of all time. Metal fans seem to have this strange love of ABBA - invite them to any party, and they will always add some ABBA bangers to the playlist. Although the band have not toured since the 80's, they have created a virtual version of the band, like a boomer version of Hatsune Miku. A secret set from virtual ABBA would be the stuff of legend - imagine hearing ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Gimme Gimme Gimme’ while surrounded by some of the biggest ABBA fans under 50. You could even make it into a late night set on the Dogtooth stage, as the band wouldn’t exactly need to sleep then.

4) Jedward

For some reason metalheads absolutely love Eurovision, and Jedward are one of the most legendary acts to stem from the contest. Jedward’s name comes from a creative blend of the two member’s names, John and Edward. This creativity extends beyond their name and into their classic songs. Their legendary track ‘Lipstick’ is a true Europop classic at this point and would be one of the highlights of the weekend for sure. Even for those attending who aren’t as familiar with Jedward would still enjoy seeing them cover - and arguably improve - other people's songs, such as their version of ‘Ghostbusters’. They would be one of the best bookings the festival ever had.

5)  The Wiggles

The Wiggles are one of the first band’s people ever hear. They are the gateway into metal for many young moshers. Bringing out the wiggles to play a set at Download would be one of the best ways the scene could say thank you back to them. Although ‘Fruit Salad’ is nowhere near the heaviest song in the world, it still has that level of power through nostalgia, taking you back to a simpler time where there was no genre, no scenes, no -cores, just bloody good music. The band could arrive on stage in their iconic big red car and take everyone on a journey with them. Sometimes all you need for a good festival act is a bit of nostalgia and positive vibes.

6) Jane McDonald

What are metalheads known for? Being dramatic, so why not give them someone to bring actual theatre. Jane McDonald is known for covering a variety of classic musical theatre bangers. Imagine on the main stage seeing our Jane covering ‘Memory’, it would be such a great emotional catharsis for the crowd, letting them know it’s okay to express emotions through crying, not just being violent in the pit. Her range of styles is huge, she could also bring the party vibes with her legendary versions of ‘Jai Ho’ and ‘Cake By The Ocean’. She cut her teeth in the industry entertaining drunken crowds upon cruise ships, so she can definitely handle 100,000 metalheads running off nothing but beer and good vibes.

7) Corey Feldman

Corey Feldman is an actor turned greatest musical genius of the past 100 years. No one else can craft a song exactly like him. It was of no surprise when Nu Metal gods Limp Bizkit brought him on tour to open for them. His music is challenging at times which when paired with the lyrical genius of Fred Durst created the true intellectuals gig. This gives him credit in the metal world so he would be a safe choice and would not be rejected by the crowd. Even if people don’t initially accept him for his music they will soon truly fall in love with him due to his choreography on stage, which unbelievably he plans himself. A little culture would help make the lineup more welcoming to academic types, as we all know no one else could write ‘Angelic 2 The Core’

8) The Cheeky Girls

Keeping up with expanding the party feel why don’t Download book and book another cheesy act. The Cheeky Girls are a Romanian pop duo best known for their classic ditty ‘Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum)’. They were a fixture of every bad party of the 2000s due to the camp nature of their music and how catchy the simple phrase of ‘Touch my bum, This is life’. They would work well opening for the Vengaboys soon-to-be legendary headline set, bringing everyone back to the 2000s.

9) Crazy Frog

Nostalgia based acts seem to dominate the modern festival scene. Those who were around for the dawn of the legendary Crazy Frog are now old enough to be able to afford their own tickets! Crazy Frog has not performed in public in any capacity for a while now, so getting him as a booking would be the stuff of legend. Imagine the staging he could have, as the lights go out and then you hear over the speakers his legendary battle cry ‘Bing Bing Bong’ while he appears from the smoke on stage. Although not as loved in the metal scene as other acts, he still has his fans and they are dedicated.

Words: Will Freeman