Festivals

SONISPHERE FESTIVAL KNEBWORTH has revealed another 28 names for its 2011 line up.

BAD RELIGION come to KNEBWORTH for a rare major outdoor UK festival appearance. The punk rock revivalists have been a huge inspiration to countless bands with their catchy, politically charged songs, not to mention guitarist Brett Gurewitz giving birth to the hugely prolific Epitaph record label. With over 5 million albums sold worldwide, BAD RELIGION are one of the most successful independent punk bands around, and it’s not hard to see why. With songs such as “21st Century Digital Boy”, “Punk Rock Song”, “American Jesus” and “Los Angeles Is Burning” to treat audiences with, their set at SONISPHERE is not to be missed.
 
The legendary duo of MAX and IGGOR bring their CAVALERA CONSPIRACY to SONISPHERE’s APOLLO ARENA stage to dish out a healthy dose of high-speed, aggressively powerful and intense metal in the way that they know best. Formed after a decade long silence between Max and Iggor, the two brothers who created the legendry trailblazing heavy metal band Sepultura as teenagers together, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY is a punishing reminder of just what a magical chemistry these two have. Max promises a show mixed with favourites both old and new at their only UK festival appearance this summer:
 
“I’m fucking super excited to be part of the Sonisphere Festival in the UK with Cavalera Conspiracy.  We have a new album out, Blunt Force Trauma, and me and Iggor are on fire.  We are gonna play stuff from the first CD, Inflikted, new stuff, some Sepultura and Nailbomb classics, so it should be a storm of metal coming to Sonisphere UK. I can’t wait!”

One of the hottest bands on the UK metal scene right now, Reading thrashers SYLOSIS return to SONISPHERE to open the APOLLO ARENA STAGE. Having recently sold out venues up and down the country on the Metal Hammer Razor Tour, the band look forward to stepping up and showing the world why they deserve the honour of kicking off proceedings on SONISPHERE 2011’s second day:

“We are beyond thrilled to be back at Sonisphere again this year.” States frontman JOSH MIDDLETON. “To be on the main stage is an absolute dream come true for all of us and will be our biggest show to date. Knowing that we will be the first band on that stage after Metallica the night before kind of blows my mind. It’s an honour to play on the same stage as so many influential bands.”

On the SATURN ARENA stage, America’s loudest lounge singer RICHARD CHEESE will perform swingin’ Vegas versions of rock, rap, and metal hits, “swankifying” contemporary songs into traditional pop vocal standards, in a way that can only be described as genius. Having sold more than 175,000 CDs since 2000, CHEESE is one of the most successful covers artists out there and a listen to albums like “Lounge Against The Machine”, “Tuxicity”, “I’d Like A Virgin”, “Aperitif For Destruction” and “The Sunny Side Of The Moon”, leaves you in no doubt as to why. The perfect mix of music, martini, and madcap, SONISPHERE is in for a treat as RICHARD and his band,LOUNGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, dish out their own take on popular chart toppers.
 
Over on BOHEMIA, another eight fantastic acts will join the already impressive line up. Northern Irish rockers THE ANSWER, who release their  ‘412 DAYS OF ROCK‘n’ROLL’ DVD next month – which includes an hour long rockumentary of their time on the road with AC/DC – look forward to showcasing some new songs especially for the KNEBWORTH crowd. Says frontman CORMAC NEESON:
 
“It’s a great feeling to be asked to play at Sonisphere where we will be rubbing shoulders with the elite of the rock and metal world. This will be our first real opportunity to road test some of our brand new songs. The Answer are looking forward to getting up there and shaking our rock n roll asses with the best of them. Bring it on!!!” 

Joining them will be Canadian hardcore heroes CANCER BATS, York metal-mob GLAMOUR OF THE KILL, bluegrass mentalists HAYSEED DIXIE, sludge metallers KYLESA, dance-punk rockers MY PASSION, alt-rockersPULLED APART BY HORSES, and Britain’s gloomiest goth-metallers PARADISE LOST, all of whom are very much looking forward to what is undoubtedly the hottest weekend in the UK rock calendar:
 
“We’re all majorly looking forward to being part of Sonisphere 2011.” Says GOTK’s Chris Gomerson “Just by looking at the line-up you can tell Sonisphere is going from strength to strength bringing more and more great bands into the UK music scene. It’s a good time to be a British band when we have festivals like this on our home turf!”

His sentiments are echoed by MY PASSION’s LAURENCE RENÉ, who reckons, “Sonisphere is a festival made for My Passion to perform. Not only is it on our doorstep being Hertfordshire men but we are also ready to follow the footsteps of our new label mates Rammstein who played one of the most phenomenal shows my senses have ever witnessed in 2010. This one will be a huge homecoming for us with our new line up, & we are ready to entertain and exhilarate Sonisphere and then join the party for the rest of the weekend. Slipknot and Biffy are hugely influential and just a taste of the diversity!”
 
“It’s really great to be added to the Sonisphere bill.” Agrees PARADISE LOST frontman NICK HOLMES. “It’s a top line up this year and I intended to go along anyway, only now I don’t have to blag my way in ;) Look forward to seeing you all there for a monster weekend of metal!”

“Bad things happen when Hayseed Dixie plays Sonisphere” warns frontman BARLEY SCOTCH ”Our bodies are Rock & Roll temples, and we will sacrifice them on the altar of Sonisphere.”
 
The RED BULL BEDROOM JAM stage returns to SONISPHERE again this year, and has another six acts to add to this year’s line up. Sheffield noisemakers ROLO TOMASSI will perform on the Friday, followed by electronica duo TEK-ONE - who return after performing in BOHEMIA last year – and Djent metallers TESSERACT on the Saturday, who reckon “Sonisphere is without a doubt one of the coolest festivals on the planet, and this year’s lineup looks incredible. We feel privileged to be representing the new sound emerging on the scene and be playing the same festival alongside the legends.”

The RBBJ stage line up is completed by alt-rockers ARCANE ROOTS, and Preston Pop-Punks ME VS HERO who perform on the Sunday, fresh from their upcoming tour with Skindred. Vocalist Sam Thomson says:
 
“Knebworth is like our second home and Sonisphere a mecca for all things rock and punk. We are honoured to be back and playing with many of our favourite bands and friends such as Four Year Strong, All Time Low, and You Me At Six”.

Since its inception, the JAGERMEISTER stage has showcased some of the coolest bands on the scene, both up and coming future stars and cult faves and this year is no exception if these ten additions are anything to go by. 
 
After winning the SONISPHERE sponsored “Global Metal” award at last year’s Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards, DEMONIC RESURRECTION make their UK debut at KNEBWORTH on Sunday, which the Mumbai five piece are more than a little excited about:

“We are at a loss for words to describe how we feel confirming to play Sonisphere, just the thought of watching the Big 4 let alone be playing the same festival as them is enough to give us goosebumps. Not to mention the insane lineup of bands like Opeth (who we’ve opened for in India), Arch Enemy, Periphery and many others who we can’t wait to see. DR fans can expect a blistering performance from us, it is our first gig in the UK and we intend to make it a memorable one.”

Also appearing on the JAGERMEISTER stage across the weekend will be Essex rockers HOUNDS who perform on the Friday, with the Saturday boasting appearances from hotly tipped blues-rock future superstars SAINT JUDE, rock’n’rollers THE VIRGIN MARYS, plus UK rockers THE CRAVE and JETTBLACK, who both look forward to the weekend:
 
“We were lucky enough to play Sonisphere in its very first year here in the UK in 2009” says THE CRAVE’s frontman/guitarist RYAN BURNETT. “It was a great atmosphere and a great show from what we can remember, but it was the Jager stage, so we don’t remember that much. We look forward to not remembering much from this year’s great performance too. Be there to remind us.”
 
JETTBLACK bassist TOM WRIGHT enthuses “To be playing one of the biggest metal festivals is one thing, but to be on the same bill as four of the biggest metal bands of all time is fucking amazing!”
 
On the Sunday, in addition to DEMONIC RESURRECTION, Manchester power trio AMPLIFIER, Welsh thrashers ANTERIOR, and FLETCHER will perform alongside the mighty ORANGE GOBLIN. Frontman BEN WARD (who was recently spotted guesting with Kyuss Lives at their recent London Shows) reckons:
 
“Orange Goblin are delighted and honoured to be a part of Sonisphere 2011. This festival marks the first ever ‘Big 4’ shows on British soil so the weekend will go down in the annuls of metal history! Although, now Orange Goblin are playing I guess it should be re-named the Big 5!!!”

SONISPHERE KNEBWORTH takes place 8th – 10th July 2011 at KNEBWORTH HOUSE. For tickets and more info go to www.sonispherefestivals.com <http://www.sonispherefestivals.com> 

Line Up So Far

THE BIG 4 – METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX
BIFFY CLYRO
SLIPKNOT
 
BAD RELIGION
AIRBOURNE
ALESTORM
ALL TIME LOW
AMPLIFIER
THE ANSWER
ANTERIOR
ARCANE ROOTS
ARCH ENEMY
ARCHITECTS
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
BLACK TIDE
CANCER BATS
CAVALERA CONSPIRACY
THE CRAVE
DEMONIC RESURRECTION
DIAMOND HEAD
FIREWIND
FLETCHER
FOUR YEAR STRONG
FOZZY
GALLOWS
GLAMOUR OF THE KILL
GOJIRA
GRINSPOON
HAYSEED DIXIE
HOUNDS
HOUSE OF PAIN
IN FLAMES
INME
JETTBLACK
KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES
KILLING JOKE
KYLESA
LIMP BIZKIT
THE MARS VOLTA
MASTODON
ME VS HERO
MOTÖRHEAD
MY PASSION
ONE MINUTE SILENCE
OPETH
ORANGE GOBLIN
PARADISE LOST
PARKWAY DRIVE
PERIPHERY
PROTEST THE HERO
PULLED APART BY HORSES
RICHARD CHEESE
RISE TO REMAIN
ROLO TOMASSI
SAINT JUDE
SIX HOUR SUNDOWN
SUM 41
SYLOSIS
TEK-ONE
TESSERACT
THE SISTERS OF MERCY
THE TREATMENT
TITLE FIGHT
THE VIRGIN MARYS
VOLBEAT
WATAIN
WEEZER
YOU ME AT SIX