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.
Hailing from New Zealand, alt rockers Rival State arrive at Download with a CV that continues to become even more impressive. Having received praise from numerous outlets as well as an impressive appearance at the recent Camden Rocks festival, the rock ‘n’ roll five-piece are set to release their second EP, ‘Gutter Mouth’, a five-song collection that is reminscent of bands lke Silverchair and Stone Temple Pilots. Tracks like ‘Keepsake’ and ‘Modern Living’ ooze with swagger and confidence with thick, huge riffs throughout.
Even though they will be opening up the Zippo Encore stage on Friday, it seems Rival State will provide the perfect start to a jam-packed weekend.
Guitarist Jo Einarsson recently spoke to Already Heard to share his thoughts and expectations on this weekends mayhem.
AH: Why should fans check you out at Download?
Jo:
If you like your music loud, and need a kickstart to get the blood flowing, then come and check out our set at Download.
AH: What can we expect from your set?
Jo: We have put together an action packed set and we want to keep the energy up so everyone gets into the right buzz for the rest of the day. Being first on the bill, we feel obliged to get the party started.
AH: What other bands are you looking forward to seeing?
Jo: There are so many bands I want to see over the weekend; Slipknot, Muse, Marilyn Manson, Every Time I Die, and the list goes on. I’m going to try make a good weekend out of it and catch as many bands as I can, plus see some new bands I may not have had the pleasure of seeing/hearing yet. I’m just going to walk the site and stand where ever feels good!
AH: What are your memories of previous Download Festivals?
Jo: My first Download was last year and I loved it! Got to tick a few bands off the bucket list which was awesome, and seeing Linking Park play ‘Hybrid Theory’ in full took me right back to being a teenager. Another band that was a highlight for me was Marmozets, they put on such a killer show and I became a fan instantly after seeing their set.
AH: What advice would you give to people attending Download Festival?
Jo: Use ‘protection’ people! Unless you want to conceive your first child at Download 2015…. it would be a great story to tell the grand-kids one day.
AH: Do you have anything else you’d like to say?
Jo: We have a new EP coming out June 8th titled ‘Gutter Mouth’ thought id throw that in there, and we hope to see yah at the Zippo Encore stage @ 1pm Friday!
Rival State will be appearing on the Zippo Encore stage at1:00pm on Friday June 12th.
‘Gutter Mouth’ EP by Rival State is out now.
Rival State links: Website|Facebook|Twitter
View more of Already Heard’s coverage of Download Festival 2015 here.
