Simon Rushworth
Our crack team of Calum Robson and Louisa Kouzapas will be all over Sonisphere this weekend bringing you the very best in snap reviews and all the best news.
Here the bearded warrior that is Robson sets the scene for what could well be the best UK metal festival since…Download last month!
Come back across the weekend for all the latest from Knebworth – including our verdict on the Big Four!
As we gear up for Soni, our beautiful British weather has blossomed with bouts of heavy rain this afternoon, returning in almost cyclic nature – like this was an inevitability for such an event. And I’m pleased about that too. If a scorching heat was forecast, I’d be equally happy, because the only constant I wish for is extremity. It had better rain down in a monsoon-like apocalypse or beam till I turn lobster. Extreme climates provide the best atmospheres for a festival.
But whatever the weather, Sonisphere’s excellent line-up is unavoidable. We’ve taken you through the Big Four and given you our verdicts, so here are a few others we’re hugely anticipating.
A certainty for Friday, I’ll be staying at the Apollo Stage to soak up a bit of history. The Big Four is the big ‘un but let us not forget British heavy metallers Diamond Head beforehand, who undoubtedly hold a lot of promise with a brief half-an-hour set to warm us up for the night.
Saturday will be an early start though – no lying around especially with the knowledge that London thrashers Sylosis will take to the main Apollo Stage on Saturday morning. While dinner beckons, perhaps a soothing set from soul act Vintage Trouble might suffice.
For the whole of Saturday, there’s a host of amazing acts including brotherly duo formerly of Sepultura – Max Cavlera and Iggor with Cavelera Conspiracy, followed by veterans Bad Religion. Relatively new Leeds metallers Pulled Apart By Horses may well be worth a look too after picking up a forte of support since their conception in 2007.
But two absolute must-sees will be later that night when French groove-meisters Gojira take the stage and Satanic black metallers Watain perform a blood-filled twilight show.
Arch Enemy, Kylesa, In Flames and Motorhead are but a few of the main acts to hit the stages on Sunday. But one of the most exciting prospects comes on Sunday afternoon with mighty prog maestros Opeth. And out of sheer curiosity and comic value, it’ll be worth checking out Alestorm and Bill Bailey afterwards, before Slipknot closes the festival.
As it turns out, there are few clashes. Rolo Tomassi would have been more than worth a watch on Friday night, but clashes with the Big Four make that impossible. We will have to pick between India’s Demonic Resurrection or Mastodon – the latter looking more probable after their top notch performance in Newcastle last year.
All in all, things are looking exceptionally good. Today we head down for an early tent spot and we’ll have more updates for you from the heat of the festival. Watch this space.
Calum Robson