Police instruct Download Festival goers to take off smart watches
Attendees of the renowned Download Festival were recently urged by law enforcement authorities to power down their smart watches and other similar devices to prevent false emergency alerts during high-energy mosh pits. Download Festival, an iconic rock event in the UK that draws in approximately 75,000 enthusiasts to Donington Park to revel in the sounds of top-tier alternative music acts, has historically been a hotbed for kinetic moshing and circle pit activities. This exuberance has led to a surge of nearly 700 erroneous 999 emergency calls over the festival weekend in previous years.
Recognizing the potential for a repeat occurrence, Leicestershire police took to social media to inform festival attendees that the sheer density of crowds at Download could trigger devices to mistakenly detect a collision. This could trigger the crash detection feature on smart devices and inadvertently dispatch an alert to emergency responders. Should a device inadvertently make a 999 emergency call, festival-goers were advised by the police to either remain on the line or respond to callbacks to confirm their safety.
In other headlines from Download Festival, American pop-punk band Green Day electrified the audience with a spirited performance on the opening night, where frontman Billie Joe Armstrong took aim at the Trump administration, cautioning against what he described as a slide into fascism. “We are slipping into fascism. Donald Trump and his administration are a fascist government,” Armstrong proclaimed, rallying the crowd to resist authoritarianism.
The festival faced criticism over a restroom policy that initially restricted trans women from using female facilities and trans men from using male facilities. In reaction to a backlash, Download Festival assured the public that the majority of toilets on the site would be gender-neutral, accommodating all attendees. However, this stance led to the dissolution of a partnership between the festival and beauty brand Lush, which stood in solidarity with the transgender community.
The musical lineup at Download Festival featured Sleep Token headlining on June 14th, followed by Korn headlining on June 15th. Other notable performers that graced the stages at Donnington Park included Bullet for My Valentine, Spiritbox, Boston Manor, and Shine Down. The festival promised a diverse range of musical acts to cater to the eclectic tastes of its attendees, embodying the spirit of inclusivity and celebration of music across genres.
In conclusion, Download Festival continues to captivate audiences with its unique blend of live performances, energetic crowds, and immersive music experiences. Despite challenges, such as managing false emergency alerts and addressing restroom policies, the festival remains committed to providing a platform for artistic expression, social commentary, and community engagement through the power of music.