Sonisphere

A MASSIVE announcement about the 2010 Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth will be made tomorrow (Wednesday).

ROCK fans are set to find out tomorrow evening which acts will be appearing at next year’s Sonisphere Festival.

A major announcement about the two-day rock and metal event will be made on Wednesday at 6pm.

And music websites are rife with rumours British heavy metal legends Iron Maiden will be revealed as one of the show-stopping headliners.

American metal giants Metallica and nu-metal favourites Linkin Park headlined the inaugural UK leg of Sonisphere at Knebworth.

The festival will return to the Hertfordshire stately home next year on Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1.

A statement on the festival’s website says: “There will be a massive Sonisphere 2010 Knebworth announcement posted here at 6pm (GMT) on Wednesday, December 9.”

This is expected to confirm Maiden’s top of the bill appearance and a string of other big name surprises.

Even Iron Maiden’s own website states they will be making an annoucement at the same time tomorrow.

With a new album due out in 2010, Maiden – who won Best British Live Act at this year’s BRIT Awards – have repeatedly been linked with Sonisphere since the last camper left Knebworth back in August.

The fact that Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain attended the festival as a guest of promoters Stuart Galbraith and John Jackson to sample the atmosphere only adds fuel to the rumours.

Interviewed at Knebworth, Nicko said: “I got to be honest boys and girls, I think this will outdo Donington!

“The organisation of the event is fantastic, it’s a great place to have it.

“It’s a beautiful location Knebworth House.”

Lauren Harris, the daughter of Iron Maiden bassist and songwriter Steve Harris, also played the first Sonisphere at Knebworth with her group, as did Rise to Remain, whose members include vocalist Austin Dickinson, the son of Maiden lead singer Bruce Dickinson.

German metallers Rammstein are another group heavily rumoured for Knebworth next year.

They are notorious for their incendiary live performances and over-the-top stage show featuring plenty of pyrotechnics.