Rock Up & Play at Download 2007

United Kingdom | | 09 June 2007

Compered by legendary TV presenter and rock journalist Krusher, the Rock Up & Play Stage this year not only gave Download punters a place to put their feet up and have a few beers in their own chilled out rock haven, but the Q&A and live acoustic sessions provided a chance to see your favourite bands up close and personal. And if that's not intimate enough for you, how about being the band? With the chance to pitch up with the house band throughout the day and test out your own metal chops, Rock Up & Play provided the ultimate compliment to the Download festival experience. 

It's 6pm and the mighty Slayer are obliterating the main stage, but the Nokia Rock Up & Play tent is rammed to the gills, with tonnes of disappointed punters left standing outside as Bowling For Soup start their Q&A session. The opportunity for Download punters to ask their favourite bands what they've always wanted to know, the sessions saw bands from Within Temptation to The Zico Chain answering questions on everything from song lyrics to their favourite underwear. Fans were also treated to live acoustic performances after the sets, the highlights of the weekend including Reuben's stunning set, and the riotous Bowling For Soup playing Slayer... acoustically!

"It was brilliant," beamed Bowling For Soup fan Sean, from Plymouth, after the set. "I like the way you can go straight up go towards the front and shake their hands and they're really cool guys. It was just awesome!"

Aiden even took the opportunity to showcase new material from their forthcoming new album 'Conviction' in their acoustic slot, and hell, where else this weekend could you have seen wiL Francis answering questions on the meaning of life and wearing fairy wings? 

When the bands weren't around, it was time for the fans to take over the stage. While house band Head Crusher brought the mosh with renditions of classic anthems, from Pantera to Nirvana, Download punters were offered the chance to do the same, by either strapping on their chosen instrument or getting on the mic with the house band to rock the crowd.

From full bands to Borat lookalikes, punters even came from as far away as Poland to be able to say that they had played Download Festival. Sebastian, who chose playing bass on Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' as his Download debut, reveals, "I had some experience before with playing on a big stage, but this is Download Festival - it's a completely different story! The people around you and the crowd responding to music, that's the best thing about it."

Even Head Crusher have had a whale of a time.“It's been wicked, absolutely brilliant," agrees Paul from the instrument-swapping house band. "I’m surprised how much talent there is from the people who have just got up and sang with us. They just utterly love music.”

You can't play? Big deal. With daily Air Guitar Championships, even if you didn't have the skills, you could certainly prove you had the moves. Compered by Krusher, the crowd got the chance to 'rock up & play' their own way, throwing shapes like the legends to Green Day and Metallica tracks, before the merciless Rock & Play crowd decided their fate... 

If you didn't fancy the tunes and air guitar isn't your thing, well, Rock Up & Play had that covered as well; whether you wanted a quiet drink from the tent's own bar, or just lounging around on the sofas at the back. Download punters could chill out at any of the Nokia listening posts dotted around the tent, equipped with the latest Nokia phones, such as the nifty N73 music edition with its integrated stereo speakers; the perfect opportunity to relax in your own little world. Alternatively, you could record your Download experience for posterity at the Nokia bluetooth points. Simply by sending in your mobile phone shots by bluetooth, punters could end up with free copies of their best - and worst - Download moments in print. With the chance to win a guitar signed by bands appearing at Rock Up & Play, this was one stage you could not afford to miss 

With DJ sets until the wee small hours of the morning and Krusher's terrible rock jokes (just don't ask him about Kurt Cobain's blue eyes), Nokia Rock Up & Play was the only place to get down and dirty with the Download experience. Whether you're into meeting the band or being the band, whether you want to chill out or rock out, Nokia Rock Up & Play had it all. Save us a cold one, and we'll see you at Reading and Leeds for more of the same.

For more information, visit www.nokia.co.uk/rockupandplay