Downloaders! There’s only 50 days to go until we’re back with the fam in Donington Park and we’ve got some woofingly awesome news for you in the latest edition of The Dog Blog. Firstly, we’re hyped to Mind The Dog – a fully immersive, live music and mindfulness experience -is coming to #DL2019. Secondly, we have new site changes including the Village moving closer to the arena. Thirdly, we’re continuing to up our green credentials with more water points and bringing Co-op back with their reverse vending machines and finally we’ve got some sick Metal Movies news for you.

Mind The Dog Our new Mind The Dog is a fully immersive, live music and mindfulness experience. The Doghouse will transform into Mind The Dog by day, where you can go and channel your zen in free mindfulness gatherings with fellow Downloaders. One in six people in England report experiencing common mental health issues including anxiety and depression in any given week and by 2030. We want to provide a mindfulness haven for you at Download 2019 with Mind The Dog in The Doghouse across the weekend, with meditation, sound baths, and more. Speaking about Mind The Dog, Rou Reynolds from Avalanche Stage headliners, Enter Shikari, said: “We often go through life on autopilot, getting caught up in the stressors, the anxieties, the intensity of it all. We’re rarely consciously in control of our turbulent mind. Mindfulness allows us to regain control as we learn to observe our thoughts instead of getting caught up in them. “It has been an incredible help to me and I couldn’t recommend it more. Not only does it help with anxiety and depression, but it also improves focus, emotional intelligence, compassion, tolerance and objectivity and has even been proven to help boost your immune system. Big up Download for introducing this programme to the festival”.

Mind The Dog will run morning, afternoon and evening sessions in The Doghouse from Thursday and throughout the weekend. Morning meditation will host curated live music sessions to get you ready for the day. Whilst, the afternoon offers a healing sound bath, so you can pause, connect, and tune into yourself. In the evening class you’ll be introduced to a calming focus to elevate your state of consciousness. Designed with conscious breath work sessions, Mind The Dog aims to bring you together in the now, becoming closer to yourself, the music, and each other. Visit the Mind The Dog page for session times across the weekend.

New site changes We’ve made some changes to the site for Download 2019 to make your festival experience rock. Firstly, The Village is moving closer to the Arena so you can go from mosh to party with ease. Secondly, there’s going to be new devoted entrance for day visitors and non-camping weekend ticket holders. Weekend campers, you’ll also have your very own dedicated car park. Finally, the NXT UK Arena is moving closer to the guest area, so you’ll be closer to all the sick high-flying, body slamming action.

Going for Green Sustainability is always a big priority for us Downloaders. At Download 2018, your Car Park parking donations alone raised a whopping £15,811 for Solar to Schools, a project which funds schools with solar roofing panels across the UK, via Energy Revolution. We were also awarded the 4 star Creative Green Result by Julie’s Bicycle for the second year running. Plus, the new Eco Camp saw you being green angels and leaving none of you leaving your tents behind.

But, we want to make Download 2019 even greener so we’ve got even more sustainability initiatives for you to get stuck into this June. More water points You asked and we listened, at Download 2019 there’ll be more water points for you to fill up from in the main arena. Plus, for the first time you’ll also be able to purchase a refillable Download Festival metal water bottles to take a swig from. More recycling Every Downloader’s fave supermarket, Co-Op, are back and they’re once again bringing their Deposit and Return Scheme with their reverse vending machine. And, to continue our festival zero waste to landfill mission we’re also doubling the number of recycling points in the campsite, Bigger Eco Campsite The Eco Camp is back and bigger! We’ve increased capacity by 33% to a total of 2000 campers, so more of you can enjoy a truly green experience at #DL2019.

Metal Movies In case you missed the last announcement (how could you!), Download 2019 has a new open-air cinema with hammocks and lounge areas fit for a Download Dog. But, that’s not all DL’ers as we’re hyped to reveal that we’ll be screening the documentary No Silence: Heavy Metal from Nepal . The documentary features Underside who’ll be doing a Q&A at #DL2019 after the doc. Plus, you’ll also be able to don your horned hat and watch Amon Amarth’s Pursuit Of The Vikings.

That’s a wrap for this month’s Dog Blog! See you in the pit at Download 2019 in Donington Park on 14th-16th June 2019 for Def Leppard, Slipknot, Tool, plus many more awesome acts.