Surrey superstars YOU ME AT SIX make their SONISPHERE debut at KNEBWORTH this year.
“We are really excited to play Sonisphere!” says frontman Josh Franceschi. “It’s going to be a lot of fun performing at such a great rock festival.”
In just a few short years, Josh, Chris, Dan, Matt and Max have gone from hitching low-fare rides on the megabus to get to their shows up and down the UK, to traveling across the globe in tour buses supporting the likes of Angels & Airwaves, Fall Out Boy and Paramore in huge arenas, as well as packing out clubs and theatres at their own headline shows, including two sold out nights at the Hammersmith Apollo. When debut “Take Off Your Colours” was released in 2008, the album propelled YOU ME AT SIX into the UK Top 30 (number 25). That their second album peaked at number 5 just two years later is testament to the band’s meteoric ascent, which shows no sign of slowing down on the road to SONISPHERE, where we look forward to fan faves such as “Save It For The Bedroom”, “Finders Keepers” and “Underdog”.
Baltimore, Maryland’s ALL TIME LOW join the SONISPHERE festivities, bringing with them a bag of hook-laden, guitar driven party tricks. ALL TIME LOW has emerged as one of the most popular new bands in recent memory, beloved by an increasingly fervent fan following for their fast-paced and fizzy brand of pop-punk. Currently on a sold out tour of the UK, the ALL TIME LOW of 2011 pay little resemblance to the covers band that formed in high school, with a catalogue of their own hits such as “Weightless”, “Lost In Stereo” and “Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don’t)” with which to dazzle the revelers at KNEBWORTH.
Canadian alt-punks SUM 41 make their way from Ajax, Ontario to deliver a plethora of infectiously catchy pop-laden punk. Having spent nearly all of last year on the road, including their 4th headlining run on the 2010 US Vans Warped Tour, SUM 41 are gearing up to release the most long-awaited new studio album of their career, “Screaming Bloody Murder”, at the end of March. If the first single of the same name is anything to go by, fans are in for a treat, as the multi-platinum, multi-million selling four-piece showcase brand new songs to UK festival goers for the first time this summer at SONISPHERE, as well as old favourites like “Fat Lip”, “In Too Deep”, “Still Waiting” and their homage to metal, “Pain For Pleasure”.
Reforming in celebration of their 20 year anniversary, it is with great excitement that SONISPHERE welcomes HOUSE OF PAIN to 2011’s event, as part of a worldwide reunion tour. It’s hard to believe that the rowdy Irish Americans got started way back in 1991, but for the past 20 years the group has maintained a high profile – topping the Billboard charts as a group and with solo efforts. It was the turn of a new decade when HOUSE OF PAIN changed the face of hip-hop with their self-titled debut album, going multi-platinum and launching one of the most memorable songs in hip-hop history with “Jump Around”. Now, Everlast and Danny Boy bring their fiery live show to get the masses at KNEBWORTH to jump up and get down, with hits like “Shamrocks & Shenanigans”, “Top O’ The Morning To Ta”, and, of course, THAT song.
Also joining the 2011 line up are melodic extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY, one of the leading lights of the death metal scene. Starting life as something of a side-project, in their 15 years ARCH ENEMY have battled their way out of the underground to become one of extreme metal’s most prolific acts, achieving numerous chart positions across the globe, including the prestigious US Billboard charts. High profile tours and festival appearances showcasing incredible musicianship and fiercely aggressive live shows have made ARCH ENEMY a favourite amongst fans at the heavier end of the music spectrum, who can expect an shred-tastically impressive set at SONISPHERE.
PERIPHERY has set the metal world alight with their self-styled “Djent” metal, injecting a new sense of excitement around this buzzing new sub-genre. Combining the complex atypical rhythms and technical precision of math rock with the sensational brutality of progressive metal, PERIPHERY is a band that is constantly pushing the envelope, and are bound to impressive any who witness what will be a stunning display of musical and technical mastery. Says the band:
“To say that we are pumped to play Sonisphere in the UK is an understatement. Not only do we get to come back and play for some of the best fans anywhere, but we get to do it at the UK’s premier summer music festival!”
Australian alternative-rockers GRINSPOON announce their inclusion at SONISPHERE 2011, hot off the back of their UK tour which ended in London this last weekend. With no less than 13 Australian Recording Industry Association awards nominations – including a win – to their name, as well as numerous platinum records in their home country, find out what the fuss is about at their SONISPHERE debut this summer.
Wrestling and rock have a long history together, a natural partnership that led to pro-wrestler Chris Jericho teaming up with Stuck Mojo guitarist Rich Ward to create FOZZY, who join this year’s cast. Existing solely to rock hard, be that playing popular metal classics or their own material, FOZZY’s reputation for powerful and energetic live shows make their appearance at SONISPHERE 2011 one that promises to be a fun-packed celebration of good old heavy metal.
