As the road to the Download Festival becomes shorter by the day, we will be speaking to a whole host of acts from this years festival about what to expect from them at Download 2015.
Although Download offers full load of massive and emerging bands from around the world but what are you going to do at the end of the night when all the music is done for the day? Well you can head to one of the festivals many attractions. Speed dating, stand-up comedy, “Bogan bingo” and full band karaoke is just of the attractions has to offer. Then there is Progress Wrestling.
The London-based independent wrestling promotion made its festival debut at last years Sonisphere Festival, now it’s ready to take over at Download for five nights of hard-hitting action and plenty of crowd interaction. Since it’s inception in 2012, their shows at music venues such as The Electric Ballroom have become instant sell outs with the promotion becoming the must-see UK indy wrestling promotion.
Their five-night stint at Download will see Progress bring some of the best independent wrestlers the UK has to offer. From cult favourite Grado to Marty Scurll to The London Riots to Progress Wrestling champion Jimmy Havoc, Progress will be bringing a whole cast of characters and talented performers to Download.
To find out more about Progress Wrestling and what they have in store for Download, we spoke to co-founder and annoucer Jim Smallman. THIS. IS. PROGRESS.
AH: For those who don’t know what Progress Wrestling is, how would would you describe it to someone who hasn’t seen it before?
Jim: We’re punk rock pro wrestling, at least that’s what it says on the back of our t-shirts! We’re based in London at the Electric Ballroom and we put on wrestling shows every couple of months. The style of wrestling that we prefer is known as “strong-style”, so hard-hitting stuff featuring some of the best wrestlers in the world. We’re very proud of being at the forefront of British Wrestling at the moment, and our next London show in July sold out in 21 minutes. Our fans are unbelievable and create the best atmosphere, and we know that there will be a fair few of them out at Download.
AH: Since it started in 2012, Progress has become one of the most well-known wrestling promotions in the UK. Why do you think Progress has been so successful?
Jim: I think we’ve got the right balance between great wrestling for a grown-up crowd and a feisty atmosphere that everyone seems to enjoy. When we started out we were told that you couldn’t promote wrestling in London, and our insane crowd has decided to prove them wrong! I wish we could bottle what has made us a success, I think we’d make a lot of money out of that. We’ve been very lucky to have great fans and a ton of awesome British wrestlers to work with.
AH: Last summer you were at Sonisphere and now you’re doing five nights at Download. What can festival-goers expect?
Jim: Sonisphere was great fun. I’d say Download can expect more of the same: Late night wrestling where it’s fine to chant what you want at the wrestlers and have an awesome time after watching some great bands. We’ve got a great roster coming along to do the shows so there will be five matches a night and we’ve got some cool ideas in the works for our time at the festival as well.
AH: How did you find the Sonisphere experience? Is there anything you’ve learnt from doing that and will change at Download?
Jim: The whole experience was different to our usual shows at the Ballroom as there 700 fans are all there to see wrestling. At a music festival there will be wrestling fans there who know who we are and our product, but then there will be fans who maybe only know the WWE, and then there will be people who don’t like wrestling. You’ve got to bring them all together to have a good time. I think we nailed that at Sonisphere, so fingers crossed we can do it again at Download.
AH: One of the highlights of the weekend is surely going to be the appearance of Grado but who else can we expect to see at Download?
Jim: Grado is a one-off, that’s for sure. I always love seeing him. We’ve also announced (so far): Rampage Brown, Tommy End, Marty Scurll, “Wild Boar” Mike Hitchman, T-Bone, Ali Armstrong, The London Riots, Pastor William Eaver and more to come.
AH: We’re also going to see Progress Champion Jimmy Havoc at Download. He’s going to be joined by members of ‘Regression’. What should our readers know about Havoc and Regression?
Jim:
Well, Havoc has unfortunately been our champion for over a year and half now. Underhanded and devious, Regression is his stable and is completed by the massive Isaac Zercher and the unbelievably weasely Paul Robinson. Swearing at Havoc and his cronies is a pre-requisite for any PROGRESS event. At Sonisphere the crowd chanted “You’re a shit Gary Numan”. He’s threatened to enter the ring to Taylor Swift this time around. He is a deeply unhinged individual (I have the scars to prove it).
AH: Along with Progress. we’ve some UK indy promotions like ICW and Southside grow in recent years. Do you think British wrestling is making a resurgence?
Jim: Definitely. We’ve been really lucky to be a big part of the boom over the past three years, starting out in a venue that holds 350 and moving to our current home which holds double. Independent shows all over the UK are pulling in great crowds and we’re a real viable alternative to the television product from the USA these days. Wrestling fans have known this for ages, now with us being at Download we get a chance to show casual fans what we’re all about.
AH: With Progress appearing at the world’s biggest hard rock/metal festival, do you think there is a strong connection between independent wrestling and underground music?
Jim: Definitely, yes. We deliberately put our shows on in a music venue, and loud music is a big part of what makes our shows so special, both before and during the show. When Rampage Brown comes out to Hatebreed and 700 fans are chanting along with the chorus, that’s pretty bloody amazing.
AH: Besides Progress, there’s the small matter of a shit load of bands playing at Download. Is there anyone you’re wanting to catch?
Jim: I get to be there from Wednesday to Sunday so I’ll try and see as many bands as I can. Slipknot, Faith No More, Eagles of Death Metal, Five Finger Death Punch… plus I want to convince any of the artists there who love wrestling to come and see us. I know that Andrew WK is a fan, I’d love to see him watching one night.
AH: Finally why should Download festival-goers end each day in the company of Progress?
Jim: Look, what else are you going to do between midnight and 2 am? You could try to sleep in a tent, or you could watch a load of awesome wrestlers creating mayhem for your entertainment. I promise if anyone is cynical about wrestling it’ll take them about half of a match before they’re thinking completely differently about it. Plus I want a thousand people chanting “This Is PROGRESS” every single night because it makes me feel all fuzzy inside.
Progress Wrestling links: Website|Facebook|Twitter|Instagram|YouTube
