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.
Sonisphere
Limp Bizkit return for Sonisphere Knebworth 2011
Armed with new songs off of the forthcoming “Gold Cobra” album, the appearance marks the first opportunity for fans to hear the new songs live in this country, as well as smash hit singles like “Rollin”, “Nookie”, “Break Stuff”, “My Way” and many more.
The last time THE SISTERS OF MERCY played at an outdoor UK festival, shell-suits were being swapped for baggy jeans, home taping was the biggest danger to the recording industry and the world wide web had just been made publicly available on the internet for the first time. A lot has changed since then, but the unclassifiable blend of rock, pop, punk, dance and psychedelia that THE SISTERS OF MERCY are famous for has stood the test of time, becoming classic in its own right. It is with huge pride and excitement that we welcomeTHE SISTERS OF MERCY to SONSIPHERE for this rare festival appearance – their first in the UK in 20 years – and the midnight outing of unforgettable songs such as “Dominion”, “Temple Of Love” and “This Corrosion”.
Welsh rockers KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES join the SONISPHERE line up this year. As an unsigned band, KIGH garnered a huge amount of support from the rock press and media, more than many established bands could hope for. Having played alongside the likes of Lostprophets, Manic Street Preachers, 30 Seconds To Mars and many more , demand for the band was stratospheric by the time their debut album was released in 2008. In the few short years since then, their ascent shows no sign of slowing down and with work on a new album set to commence in the near future, there’s a chance fans at SONISPHERE could be hearing some brand new tracks alongside favourites such as “Me Me Me”, “Easy Tiger”, “Give Me What I Want” and “Matters At All”.
GALLOWS are no strangers to SONISPHERE, having lain waste to BOHEMIA last year. It’s been quite a year for the Watford punks; performing at RATM’s victory parade in London, secret sets at Reading and Leeds and revisiting their roots on the “Back To The Dives” tour, culminating in an extremely moving and emotional set at London’s Electric Ballroom at the end of last year. In 2011, the beast is being freed from the cage, with GALLOWS leaving the tent behind for the great outdoors. Guitarist Lags comments:
“Now we’re playing outdoors which means there’s even more space for you, yes YOU, to get wild with us on the Saturday.”
Towards the end of 2003, the UK lost one of its most prized possessions when ONE MINUTE SILENCE announced they were taking an indefinite break. With a fanbase built largely on the reputation of their live shows where anything could (and did) happen, where roofs were once raised and walls shook with the raw energy of OMS’s politically charged alt-metal their absence was felt in venues across the country,. Now, after an eight year hiatus, ONE MINUTE SILENCE return to fill the void at SONISPHERE. Frontman Yap warns:
“Been too long. Missing the pit, missing the vibe, missing the fans. Time for round two. Unfinished business. Expect mayhem.”
Having performed at numerous shows on the European leg of SONISPHERE 2010, VOLBEATmake their KNEBWORTH debut this year after being forced to cancel last year’s scheduled UK tour. Frontman Michael Poulsen can hardly contain his excitement:
“We’re delighted to be at Sonisphere in the UK this Summer; we did appear at some of the Sonisphere events in Europe last year, playing on the same bill as The Big 4, which was an amazing experience. And now we feel like spoilt kids cos we’re getting the chance to do it all over again in the UK! This show means a lot, because we had to cancel the UK tour we had lined up late last year. We were really upset not to be able to come over, but I saw the doctor after a show in Hamburg and he advised me not to continue with the tour – I was having terrible pains in my chest and down the left side of my body, I could hardly breathe… Anyway, we’re back on track now – see you at Sonisphere!”
Making their only UK festival appearance of 2011, French metal powerhouse GOJIRA join the line up at SONISPHERE KNEBWORTH. With sonically dense sounds and bludgeoningly heavy rhythms, GOJIRA have let their music do the talking, working their way through the underground while prolific contemporaries champion their cause, resulting in tours alongside the likes of Lamb Of God, Children Of Bodom and even being hand-picked by Friday night headliners METALLICA to support them on their US tour in 2009. Their set at KNEBWORTHpromises to be one of the hardest hitting of the weekend, and one not to be missed.
Homegrown heroes InMe return to SONISPHERE this year, after having had such a blast last year. “We’re honoured and absolutely over the moon to be returning to Sonisphere!” say the band, who ended 2010 performing all four studio albums in their entirety at four separate sold out shows. “The show last year was easily one of the best times we’ve ever had as a band and we hope to step things up even more in the Bohemia Tent this year. People overuse the word ‘epic’ but last year’s Sonisphere weekend was exactly that, in capitals. EPIC! Colossal love to all of the Sonisphere team from InMe!”
Fresh off a UK tour with Darkest Hour, Canadian prog-metal mentalists PROTEST THE HEROcome to SONISPHERE for the first time, armed with a heap of new songs from the forthcoming “Scurrilous” album, released next month. Guitarist Tim Millar states:
“We haven’t played many festivals in Europe and hear so many amazing things! I’m stoked to be a part of Sonisphere and getting a full European festival experience this summer. Not to mention all the great bands we will be performing alongside”
SONISPHERE KNEBWORTH takes place 8th – 10th July 2011 at KNEBWORTH HOUSE. For tickets and more info go to www.sonispherefestivals.com
Line Up So Far
THE BIG 4 – METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX
BIFFY CLYRO
SLIPKNOT
AIRBOURNE
ARCHITECTS
DIAMOND HEAD
GALLOWS
GOJIRA
IN FLAMES
INME
KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES
LIMP BIZKIT
MASTODON
MOTÖRHEAD
ONE MINUTE SILENCE
PARKWAY DRIVE
PROTEST THE HERO
THE SISTERS OF MERCY
VOLBEAT
WEEZER
Weezer, Airbourne & Architects set for Sonisphere 2011
Flying in from Los Angeles, California, Alt-Rock Superstars WEEZER make their KNEBWORTH debut at SONISPHERE this summer. WEEZER are one of the biggest, most popular bands to emerge from the alternative rock scene of the 90s, with more Gold, Platinum and Silver (records) under their belts than Fort Knox, a string of notable awards nominations – including the prestigious Grammy – and an impressive list of chart positions. All this will come as no surprise to anyone who has had the pleasure of hearing frighteningly infectious power-pop classics like “Buddy Holly”, “Hash Pipe”, “Undone – The Sweater Song”, “Beverly Hills” and “Pork and Beans”, and it is with great excitement that we look forward to hearing these at WEEZER’s only English festival appearance of 2011.
Next up, coming in from Warrnambool, Australia, AIRBOURNE return to KNEBWORTH to deliver a raucous set of potent rock and roll fury. “We love playing the Sonisphere festivals!” States Frontman Joel O’Keeffe. “It’s always a great line up of bands and it’s always a great crowd!“
He should know; in 2009, AIRBOURNE tore SONISPHERE a proverbial “new one”, running wild and free across the SATURN stage, even scaling it at one point so Joel could hammer out a lead on the scaffolding. One can only wonder what AIRBOURNE’s only UK festival performance of 2011 holds in store as they belt out fist-pumping anthems such as “Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast”, “Diamond In The Rough” and “No Way But The Hard Way”.
Making the somewhat shorter journey from Brighton, homegrown heroes ARCHITECTS make their first festival appearance in this country in support of new album “The Here And Now”, which was released one week ago today. Never has an album been more aptly titled, with the band currently on the cover of Metal Hammer magazine while their latest single enjoys daytime play on national radio, and the album receives rave reviews across the rock media, earning it a top 75 chart position (57) in its first week. Frontman Sam Carter enthuses:
“UK festivals are always a massive deal for us because it’s basically the biggest gathering of Architects fans we can play to, and this year you know it’s going to be special because the line up for Sonisphere is INSANE. It’s also a big deal because it’ll be our first UK festival since our new record ‘The Here And Now’ came out and that record was built for festivals! We’ll see everyone at Sonisphere 2011!!!”
Last, but by no means least, heavy metal pioneers DIAMOND HEAD come to KNEBWORTH for the biggest and most exciting show of their thirty-five year career. Hugely influential, to the point that it’s doubtful there would be a BIG 4 without them, DIAMOND HEAD’s appearance will be a special one. When METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX made metal history at SONISPHERE BULGARIA last year summer, they chose DIAMOND HEAD’s “Am I Evil” to jam with all seventeen members, a testament to what a unifying force their music is. Founding member and guitarist Brian Tatler says of the upcoming appearance:
“Diamond Head have been given the fantastic opportunity of opening for the BIG 4 at this years Sonisphere festival, Knebworth Friday 8th July. This will be Diamond Head’s biggest ever show and myself and the other band members are very excited and looking forward to what will be an historic event. Knebworth is one of those venues you only dream of playing. I saw Led Zeppelin there in 1979 and never imagined that one day I would be on that stage, it proves the saying ‘anything is possible’! It also means I get to see my friends in Metallica and Megadeth once again which is always fun; I owe both Lars Ulrich and Dave Mustaine a beer.”
SONISPHERE KNEBWORTH takes place 8th – 10th July 2011 at KNEBWORTH HOUSE. For tickets and more info go to www.sonispherefestivals.com
Line Up So Far
THE BIG 4 – METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX
BIFFY CLYRO
SLIPKNOT
AIRBOURNE
ARCHITECTS
DIAMOND HEAD
IN FLAMES
MASTODON
MOTÖRHEAD
PARKWAY DRIVE
WEEZER