The man behind UK heavy music event Download Festival has just bestowed hope upon thousands of Australian heavy music fans. In a series of tweets, Download Festival booker Andy Copping suggested fans should not give up hope about the fate of heavy festivals in Australia.

After a Twitter follower suggested UK punters should be grateful for this year’s mammoth Download lineup, which features Rammstein, Black Sabbath, and Iron Maiden, Copping responded, “Don’t give up hope, Marky – watch this space.”

After another eager tweeter suggested that Copping’s single tweet just gave Australian metal fans reason to “hold on to the last shimmer of hope”, Copping sent the rumour mill into overdrive by writing back, “…and so they should.”

It’s not too surprising that Download would be eyeing an expansion into Australia, as the timing could not be more perfect. Soundwave Festival collapsed late last year and heir apparent Legion Festival has had widely publicised troubles in getting off the ground.

It also wouldn’t be the first time that the FOMO-inducing heavy metal festival would be expanding. The festival launched in England back in 2003, calling Leicestershire’s Donington Park home, but will this year see the debut of a France instalment.

Whilst no plans have been confirmed and everything is speculative at this point, you can forgive Australia’s heavy metal community for jumping with excitement at the potential for an Australian Download Festival leg.

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