Returning for its second year after a successful inaugral event Sonisphere will once again bring some of rock’s premier talent to the UK’s true spiritual home of rock, Knebworth.

Over 100 major artists have played Knebworth since its inception in 1974 – it has been the scene of the greatest outdoor extravaganzas in musical history. The legendary venue is synonymous with live music and has been home to some of the greatest, most memorable, history-making concerts of all time. From the world’s biggest rock and roll band The Rolling Stones to rock legends Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Genesis to Queen who performed their last show before the death Freddie Mercury, to Oasis who’s two shows made the biggest demand for concert tickets in British history.

Sonisphere is restoring Knebworth as the rightful home of rock and it has also become the first and only rock festival to tour internationally. 

“We are thrilled to be hosting the Sonisphere Festival and bringing more classic rock to Knebworth Park.  Knebworth is synonymous with music, we are looking forward to welcoming the fans and having such a fantastic event in the region.  We hope it’s the beginning of an annual event.”
Martha Lytton Cobbold - Managing Director

Sonisphere pitches itself as aiming for quality, rather than squeezing as many bands as possible onto multiple stages and forcing fans to choose between performers with bands  performing on just two alternate stages. This should mean that you won’t have to miss out on any of the bands you've come to see, organisers hope this will go some way solving a recurring complaint from rock fans at other events.

Of course an event like Sonisphere will also have all the usual festival madness, stalls, fun fairs, jugglers, fire eaters and  general rock debauchery - all the things you'd expect for a full on rock festival and the festival will also have camping.

Sonisphere comes from the creators of the legendary Monsters of Rock and Download Festivals.  Their decades of experience in the organization and execution of quality concerts and music festivals will help ensure that their intention to make Sonisphere a cut above the rest can be met. In his earlier career Stuart Galbraith was the man behind the original Monsters of Rock and the Download Festival. Kilimanjaro is a joint venture with AEG, and are also involved in Bloodstock, Big Green Gathering.

“There have been many successful rock festivals around the world, but this will be the first time that one will tour internationally.  Metallica’s involvement makes this THE event of 2009 and we can’t wait to get started and welcome fans to Sonisphere.  This is just the beginning, from 2010, we will extend the dates from Europe to the globe.  It is a truly unique festival.
Stuart Galbraith – Sonisphere series producer and Director and CEO of Kilimanjaro Live