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Sonisphere 2011: 10 Moments Not To Miss

Here's our rundown of 10 things you need to witness next weekend at Knebworth...

This time next week, we’ll all be nursing Knebworth-sized hangovers and trying to remember just how good the Sonisphere weekend was. Anticipating a collective loss of memory in advance, here are Rock Sound’s 10 moments not to miss next weekend. Probably.



1. Weezer Will Play Nothing But The Hits
Here’s the thing, their latest album ‘Hurley’ may not have taken the world by storm (we’re still fighting in the office over whether it’s solid gold or a solid gold turd), but 17 years into their career, they have an arsenal of massive crowd-pleasing hits up their sleeves.

If you were at Reading / Leeds last year, you’ll know to expect the unexpected (Rivers in a Lady Gaga wig singing ‘Poker Face’, anyone?) and we’ve got a hankering that they’re only planning on topping that next weekend.

If you’ve got any sense, you’ll be at the Apollo Stage at 18.30 on Saturday July 09 to see what unfolds…



2. Bill Bailey Will Prove His Rawk Credentials
If, like us, it took you by surprise that Sonisphere decided to put a comedian on as Sunday’s Saturn Stage headliner, then we expect to see you down there, holding your sides together as Bill Bailey brings an entire field of rockers to their knees with laughter.

For the uninitiated, Bailey’s wonderfully surreal comedy tallies exactly with the warped sense of humour everyone develops after three days at a festival. Sandwiched between Limp Bizkit and Slipknot, expect there to be all sorts of musical hilarity and as much shredding as there are jokes.

So, want a giggle or two? Catch Bill on the Saturn Stage on Sunday July 10 at 19.55.



3. You Me At Six’s Festival Return Will Be Massive
It’s been a long time since You Me At Six have played an outdoors show on UK soil, so expect their return to Sonisphere next weekend to be nothing short of triumphant.

In a few months’ time, they’ll be unleashing their third album unto our patient ears, and if it is to make them the global rock force that they want to be, it’s on stages like the Apollo Stage that they’ll be making their name.

For the record, we reckon they’ll kill it. Come join us at 16.35 on Saturday July 09 in front of the Apollo Stage to find out.



4. Mastodon Will Introduce New Material
Everybody loves it when bands pull out new tracks at festivals right? RIGHT? Well, even if you don’t, Mastodon aren’t just any band and having been holed up in the studio in Atlanta, we’re expecting them to unleash a monster or two.

They’ve described their forthcoming fifth album as being more stripped-back and direct than the proggy ‘Crack The Skye’ and they’ve been adamant to get it all finished before they head over to tear Europe (and specifically Knebworth) a new hole. Expect metal to be redefined all over again and the beard-count among the crowd to be grizzly.

Want to find out if they bash out some newbies? Get yourself down to the Apollo Stage on Sunday Jul 10 at 14.50.

5. Black Breath Will Shred Your Face
OK, so there may be a lot of loud, fast, aggressive bands playing over the weekend (the architects of thrash metal, anyone?) but Black Breath are some of the nastiest bastards around.

Expect their ridiculous tooth-grinding brand of intensity to leave lots of people wandering around dribbling and gibbering during their set. For our money, they’re one of the most exciting and invigorating live bands around and you will lose your mind. Probably.

Black Breath play the Jagermeister Stage at 19.00 on Friday July 08. Do NOT miss them.



6. All Time Low Will Induce Hysteria
All Time Low are a phenomenon. There’s no denying that from their astronomical rise to pop-punk royalty over the last few years, and, they’re also one of the tightest and funnest live acts around. If you saw them at Reading last year, here’s your chance to (hopefully) catch them without getting drenched and for everyone else it’s a chance to sing and drink at the same time, aka sink. But remember, don’t sink and drive.

All Time Low hit the Saturn Stage at 17.40 on Saturday July 09. Singing, drinking, and partying will all happen, we assure you.



7. Four Year Strong Will Come Out Swinging
Having parted ways with keyboardist / occasional shouty-man Josh Lyford back in April, FYS have been keeping things reasonably quiet as they’ve been busying themselves working towards a new album, their first as a quartet.

Nevertheless, their return to the UK will be explosive and they’ll be bringing the good-time vibes and singalongs without any breathing space. These lads never disappoint live and we’re expecting their set in the Bohemia tent to be one of the busiest, sweatiest and most enjoyable of the weekend.

Catch Four Year Strong on the Bohemia Stage at 20.10 on Sunday July 10.



8. Expect Gallows To Play Some New Tracks
Yeah alright, we might be repeating ourselves with these a little bit, but if Gallows are threatening to pull a couple of new songs out of the bag next weekend, who are we to tell them otherwise?

We’re not allowed to tell you exactly what they’ve got in store for their forthcoming third album just yet, but take our word for it, it’s going to blow your mind. The word gamechanger isn’t an exaggeration, and any nuggets they’re prepared to give away at this stage may or may not hint at what’s coming next. Best to just get circle-pitting and enjoy the ride, eh?

Gallows hit the Saturn Stage at 12.45 on Saturday July 09. Expect the unexpected…



9. Parkway Drive Will Incite Mayhem
The fact that Parkway Drive can turn any venue – big or small – into a frantic mess of sweaty flying arms and roundhouse kicks isn’t in doubt; they command a crowd like the best of them. So, give them the chance to do so in front of tens of thousands in a field, and, well you get the idea. Any idea what 30,000 people doing a Wall Of Death looks like? It’s a bit like World War I, except with better T-shirts, more booze and fewer French people.

To see what sort of chaos ensues, get yourself to the Apollo Stage on Sunday July 10 for 13.20. Those of a weak disposition should probably stand a little to the back…

And finally…



10. Limp Bizkit. All Of It.
Who could have predicted that Fred Durst and his comrades would become the early-evening festival band that we all love to love? Put simply, even if you don’t like this lot (and to be honest if you don’t, then you’re lying), there is no better band to enjoy with a beer in hand and the sun shining than the Bizkit.

Expect a couple of new ones from ‘Gold Cobra’ (we’ve got our fingers crossed for ‘Douchebag’) but primarily, you should expect the best collection of rap-rock anthems from the last decade-and-a-half, all in one tasty package. Oh, and a suitably ridiculous outfit from Wes, as per.

The Bizkit hit the Apollo Stage at 18.45 on Sunday July 10. Do it for the Nookie, or something.

Download the official guide to Sonisphere 2011 by clicking on this link!