Download Festival 2025 delivered one of the year’s most talked about moments, the live debut of PRESIDENT, the masked and mysterious band that’s had the internet buzzing for months.
PRESIDENT Make Live Debut at Download 2025 taking over the Dogtooth Stage on June 13, rolling out a five song set that felt more like a political rally meets cult gathering than your standard festival slot. Thousands packed in to witness the spectacle as the band kicked off what they’re calling their “campaign trail” and they did it with serious theatrical firepower.
PRESIDENT arrived at Download after months of cryptic social media drops, bizarre teasers and relentless fan theories. From connections to Sleep Token (who headlined Download the night before) to wild guesses about Charlie Simpson of Busted/Fightstar, everyone’s been trying to crack the code. The masked frontman’s unmasking in the ‘Fearless’ video only added to the chaos. Was it a reveal or just another layer of misdirection?
Their Download set featured their two released tracks, ‘In the Name of the Father’ and ‘Fearless’ plus three unreleased cuts: ‘Dionysus’, ‘Rage’, and ‘Destroy Me’. Dressed in a suit and that now signature rubber mask, the vocalist delivered eerie mini speeches between songs, backed by bandmates in black masks and pink armbands.
If you missed it, fan shot footage is your only window into PRESIDENT’s darkly dramatic debut.
PRESIDENT Download 2025 Setlist:
1. Fearless
2. Dionysus
3. Rage
4. Destroy Me
5. In the Name of the Father
Next up? A sold out headline rally at The Garage, London, on July 30, with support from Zetra. Expect more surprises.
With PRESIDENT’s identity still a mystery, the hype train isn’t slowing down. If Download was the opening shot, we’re in for one hell of a ride on this campaign trail.
Keep up to date with PRESIDENT here!
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