DATES for the 2011 Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth have been announced.

The three-day rock and metal event will take place in the grounds of Knebworth House from Friday, July 8 to Sunday, July 10.

This is three weeks earlier than this year’s festival headlined by veteran shock-rocker Alice Cooper, German metallers Rammstein and British heavy metal legends Iron Maiden.

No headliners have been confirmed for 2011 yet.

However, John Jackson, who created the international touring event with Stuart Galbraith, let slip that Slipknot’s Corey Taylor could well return to Knebworth for a third year in a row.

When asked at a press conference during the 2010 Sonisphere who might headline next year, he said: “We can’t say just yet, but we have some ideas.”

He added: “Corey Taylor announced that he’d see everyone next year.

“Now he’s got two other bands [Slipknot and Stone Sour]. I’ll leave that for you to guess... or it could be both!”

Sonisphere is up for a number of gongs at tonight’s (Thursday’s) UK Festival Awards, including best major festival and best headliner for Rammstein.