Heavy metal fans have enjoyed camping - singing their hearts out and even moshing as Britain's first music festival since Covid-19 in UK took place.
Thousands of concertgoers attended the three-day Download Festival from Friday at Donington Park, central England.
According to Binghamton Homepage, the music festival is a part of U.K.test events to see if mass gatherings can continue without becoming super-spreader events. About 10,000 people gathered - a tenth of its usual attendance.
More than 100,000 attendees usually gather. More than 40 U.K.-based bands took the stage for this year's festivity - including Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Enter Shikari and Bullet for My Valentine.
However, before watching the performances, attendees had to take Covid-19 tests and secure negative results. From there, they were allowed not to wear masks or follow the social distancing rules.
The BBC said organizers told crowds moshing would also be allowed after tallying minimal Covid-19 cases after the government started public events, like the Brit Awards. The country's biggest rock and metal event received the go signal May 26 after a series of small-scale test events succeeded.
The weekend event started June 18 and ended June 20. However, as it was strictly a camping-only concert. Participants weren't allowed to leave the venue, Nottingham Post reported.
Leicestershire Police didn't have problems. Highway England was ready to respond to traffic accidents.
Attendees were warned of heavy thunder and showers over the weekend. But as promoter Andy Copping put it: "It wouldn't be Download unless there was a bit of rain."
He also said there was a "real sense of euphoria" at the event, despite the heavy rain after a sunny few weeks. Concertgoer Alexander Milas added rain and mud couldn't stop them and even helped to better the concert.
"It is amazing how that brings people together. The sheer misery and joy of being around a lot of like-minded, really wonderful people," he said. "I feel like it is perfect because it's like 'Weather be damned, we are going to have a great time.' "
