News Sonisphere Guide 2010

Whilst for many years the biggest festival in the world of rock music for British people has undoubtedly been Download, there has recently been a new contender challenging for the throne. Only in it’s second year but already pulling in massive acts and audiences around the world, Sonisphere is the world’s largest touring rock festival, and it’s only one week away. We take a look at some of the bands that any self-respecting rock fan must catch at this year’s Knebworth bash.

Friday 30th July

The friday is an introductory day, with only two stages open it’s a small-scale affair, but in size only, as it makes up for it in flair and style.

Europe

Festivals are about having fun, right? Well then, enjoying one of the most popular guilty pleasures of all-time (‘The Final Countdown’, in case you didn’t know) in a field with thousands of similar fun-loving people is possibly the best way we can think of for starting a festival. If you can’t take your nose out of the air and enjoy the simple things at a place like Knebworth then we truly pity you, as you’re missing out on one of the best starts to a festival in years.

Gary Numan

Whilst this may strike the casual fan as another one hit wonder set, this is not the case, as the audience will be pleasantly surprised to hear. Numan’s recent work has actually been inspiring and influential, and if anything may run the risk of outshining 80s classic ‘Cars’. But even if they don’t, like Europe, like the Rocky Horror theme the Friday night has, this is very much about having fun and starting the festival off with a bang.

65DaysOfStatic

Fancy a break from the light-hearted feel, but want to keep the good music? In that case we strongly suggest heading to the Bohemia tent to catch 65DaysOfStatic, an incredible post-rock band riding the heights of their genre for years to a point where they have almost, if not completely, perfected their art. Not a band to be missed, although they may dampen the party slightly, for quality music on the Friday 65DOS are undoubtedly the best choice.

Alice Cooper

The man closing the night runs very much in the ‘Rocky Horror Show’ theme of the night (which includes a world record attempt for most people doing the Timewarp at one time) and that is the extraordinary and very unique Alice Cooper. Whilst his songs on record often fall slightly flat, when it comes to the live experience you can’t get much better than the grotesque freak show of Alice’s ‘Theatre Of Death’, the extremely popular stage show which he is taking in it’s entirety for his 90-minute headline set at Knebworth!

Saturday 31st July

Lacuna Coil

Lacuna Coil tend to split people down the middle, and they have an awfully bad reputation with people who sit on the wrong side of the fence. This is because they are grouped in with dull bands such as Evanescence and Within Temptation, which is simply not the case. Yes, like these bands Lacuna is blessed (or one could argue cursed, from a credibility viewpoint) with a highly attractive lead singer in the form of Christina Scabbia, but the band play exciting, intense music that needs to be heard to be believed.

Anthrax

Speaking as someone who is not a fan of thrash music, I still very much consider Anthrax a ‘must-see’ band for anybody attending Sonisphere next weekend. They have went through multiple lineup changes and multiple music styles but they adapted wonderfully and each style sounds distinct yet similar. They are a fantastic band and are guaranteed to have some material for everyone in the crowd, so this band are definitely someone who every festival go-er should check out on the Saturday afternoon.

Rinoa

Rinoa are plagued with the same problem a lot of smaller bands at rock festivals have and that is there seems to have been an irate teenager wandering over the microphone and screaming into it. However, behind that Rinoa are by far superior to their counterparts in the ‘screamo’ genre in that their music has clear depth, skill, tunefulness, lyrical quality and raw emotion. For any fan of screamo music, or someone who may be slightly prejudiced about the genre, Rinoa are a perfect example of Screamo done right, and there set in the Bowtime tent is certainly not one to be missed.

Apocalyptica

There always needs to be method amongst the madness. The beauty in between the hardcore and the metal at this festival comes in the form of 3 cellists who make up Apocalyptica. Most known as a Metallica-covers band, but actually having far superior original material, this band have been seeking to break out of their early gimmick for years and their recent work seems to be achieving that brilliant. A band truly on the cusp of worldwide success, Apocalyptica are definitely not a band that should be snubbed. Especially when the main alternative is Papa Roach.

Tim Minchin

You read that right, within the craziness of Sonisphere Festival is squeezed rapidly rising comedic superstar Tim Minchin. Australian-born, dreadlock-sporting, he is hard to miss, and even harder to keep a straight face with. A hilarious man and a brilliantly skilled musician at that, he has recently announced a massive O2 Arena date so this is very much the last opportunity to see Tim in such a small venue, and shouldn’t be ignored.

Maleface

Everyone needs a little rage and anger at a rock festival, and the best quality for that this weekend is probably Malefice. Playing on the shockingly tiny Jagermeister Stage, this brutal five-piece are significantly more exciting than those surrounding their genre. Whilst they might be a jarring change from Tim Minchin, a little variety never hurt anyone (mind you, the crowd at a Malefice show can make no such promise.) and if that’s what you’re looking for, the Jagermeister Stage is the place to go.

Motley Crue

Yes, whilst they are hardly musical technicians, a significant proportion of people at Sonisphere are likely to love Motley Crue’s antics and especially their undeniably legacy in rock music. The fact they have had such an impact (and the fact that half of them seem likely to die at any moment) is reason enough to see them, but when you’re in the crowd you may be surprised at just how many good songs they have, and how many you’ve heard before from television shows, or at the ‘rock night’ at clubs up and down the country.

Rammstein

Take a look at any pro-shot footage of Rammstein live and it will instantly become clear as to why they are a must-see band at Sonisphere this year. Closing out the Saturday in what is sure to be explosive (and very hot) fashion, this traveling German insane asylum simply must be seen to be believed. With 8 trucks of pyro being shipped especially for use at the festival, it is an extremely rare outdoor appearance for the band and I promise that if you miss it, you will sorely regret it for years to come.

Sunday 1st August

Henry Rollins

Still got a hangover from last night? Well no worries, as you can laugh the blues away watching Henry Rollins doing one of his spoken word gigs in the Bohemia tent. What raised a lot of eyebrows when it was announced has now become a pleasant surprise for those browsing through the bill. The ex-Black Flag man is opinionated, but in an intelligent fashion and is very skilled at making any point he’s making very entertaining. One of the best non-musical acts at the festival without a doubt.

Skindred

Now we get back to the music just in time to see Skindred, thankfully playing the massive Apollo Stage. Sure to attract a big crowd, these guys are very friendly with their fans and the crowds at their shows, always personable and instantly likable, they are sure to get the crowds jumping early, a happy warm up to the slightly darker tones of Slayer playing after them. Festivals are primarily about having a good time and enjoying the experience, and there’s not many better ways to do that than going to see Skindred.

Dir En Grey

Dir En Grey are definitely a live band. They are often baffling, intimidating and confusing in various doses throughout their albums and EPs, live everything seems to fit together, even if it still a tad confusing as to just how this Japanese band came to make music that sounds quite like this. Definitely a unique experience musically, they are masters of getting the crowd immersed in their gig despite the obvious language barrier and are something unlike anything else at the festival this year.

Slayer

Obviously, anyone going to this festival has to see Slayer. Even if you aren’t a fan of their music, if they’re at a rock festival, by law you have to go and see them. Live they are a force to be reckoned with, and this is speaking from someone who has never even been in their infamous mosh pits. This is simply because they put their heart and soul into their performance wherever they’re playing, and at Knebworth that will definitely be no different.

Army Of Freshmen

However, if you want a change from the heavy feel that is overshadowing Sunday afternoon, a quick hop over to the Bedroom Jam tent is all that is required to see some fun, upbeat jams from America’s unashamedly pop-punk Army Of Freshmen. Cruelly forgotten amongst bands like Good Charlotte, Sum 41 and even Blink 182, they have been going for many years, still as happy to be playing as ever, and deserve your support, which will be duly rewarded with some incredibly fun songs.

Converge

We’re getting close to the big one now, but before we get there we must stop at the only band who may rival Slayer in terms of the infamous crowds at their gigs. The brutal, insane, and altogether terrifying Converge take to the Bohemia tent bizarrely around teatime. This may throw people off, as when you are used to sitting around watching The Simpsons you will instead be being thrown and tossed around, battered and bruised whilst listening to some of the most exhilarating and horrifying music to come out in the last twenty years. Just make sure you save some energy for…

Iron Maiden

This festival is one three-day buildup to the arrival of Iron Maiden at Knebworth, for their only UK show of 2010. Whilst that is not anything on the bands that played before them, to say anything different is simply false. One of the biggest bands in history, they command audiences across the world like no other, and they do this by enjoying themselves, not being detached from their crowds, and playing some of the best rock music heard since it’s creation. There is physically no better way to end a festival than by watching Iron Maiden at Knebworth.