Sonisphere Festival 2014 line-up: Saturn stage headliners announced

The Sonisphere Festival 2014 line-up for Knebworth (Image: Sonisphere)

The three-day rock and metal event returns to the grounds of Knebworth House from Friday, July 4 to Sunday, July 6, and will help celebrate the historic venue’s 40th anniversary.

Fort Hope (Image: Archant)

Progressive metallers Dream Theater will headline the Saturn second stage at the Hertfordshire stately home on the closing night, appearing before thrash legends Metallica.

Of the addition of one of the biggest-selling prog bands around, organisers said: “Sonisphere is thrilled to announce Dream Theater as Sunday’s headline act on the Saturn stage.”

Also announced today (Wednesday) are Devil You Know, featuring ex-Killswitch Engage frontman Howard Jones, The Cadillac Three, Yashin, Glamour of the Kill, Palm Reader, Broken Hands, Fort Hope, The One Hundred and Collibus.

Sonisphere’s two main stages alternate, meaning festival-goers can see everyone appearing on Apollo and Saturn over the weekend.

As previously announced in the Welwyn Hatfield Times – Sonisphere’s local newspaper in Knebworth – The Prodigy, Iron Maiden and Metallica will headline the Apollo stage.

In the known day splits, The Prodigy will top the Sonisphere bill on the opening Friday night, with special guests Limp Bizkit supporting them.

British heavy metal legends Iron Maiden will bring their acclaimed Maiden England world tour to an explosive climax at Knebworth on the Saturday, retiring some classic songs in the process.

The second day of the international touring festival will also include an exclusive appearance from Deftones.

Metallica will return to Knebworth with their ‘By Request’ setlist to headline the Sunday night, with Alice in Chains sub-headlining the main stage. Dream Theater will now close the Saturn stage on the Sunday.

Also appearing at the fourth UK edition of the festival are Devil You Know, the creative union of former Killswitch Engage frontman Howard Jones, Francesco Artusato from All Shall Perish, John Sankey of Devolved and ex-Divine Heresy, and Ryan Wombacher from Bleeding Through.

Sonisphere Knebworth will be the band’s first UK festival appearance.

Having just played Soundwave in Australia, the group said: “We are beyond stoked to make Sonisphere our first UK festival.

“It’s an honour to be playing such a massive festival alongside some of the biggest names in hard rock and metal.

“What a way to play the UK for the first time. We can’t wait to get over and show everyone what Devil You Know is all about.”

Glasgow heavyweights Yashin will also be stopping by Sonisphere following recent supports slots with Black Veil Brides, Limp Bizkit and Papa Roach in the UK and Europe.

Their performance at the festival will be the first chance for fans to see them play tracks from their forthcoming album, The Renegades, scheduled to hit the shelves in September 2014.

Vocalist Harry Hadford said: “It’s a huge, huge thrill and a massive honour to be added to this year’s Sonisphere line-up.

“Maiden, Metallica, Limp Bizkit, Deftones. It’s like we’ve been put in the middle of our record collections, so many of our heroes in one place.”

Making their way from Nashville, The Cadillac Three will give Sonisphere a dose of their very own country rock.

Returning to Knebworth are Yorkshire’s Glamour of the Kill, who have just unleashed their infectious new single Freak like Me.

Frontman Davey Richmond said: “We’re really excited to get back to Knebworth for this year’s Sonisphere.

“There’s something special about Sonisphere that you don’t seem to get from any other festival and we’re happy to see it making a bold comeback.

“It must be the history associated with Knebworth and all the greats that have stood on stage there throughout the years.

“The line-up for this was already incredible, but it just got a whole lot better.”

Also appearing will be UK-based hardcore quintet Palm Reader, who draw on influences from The Dillinger Escape and Gallows.

Drummer Dan Olds said: “Bands such as Deftones and Mastodon have always been close to Palm Reader’s hearts. It’s the first festival I ever went to, so it’s gonna be a special moment.”

Canterbury’s Broken Hands will bring their particular brand of retro-rock fused with psychedelic blues and garage influences to Sonisphere this summer, having supported the Rolling Stones in Hyde Park last year.

Rising from the ashes of Hitchin’s My Passion, Fort Hope – Johnathan Gaskin, Ande D’Mello, Simon Rolands and Jamie Nicholls – will also pitch up at Knebworth for a home county festival.

Mixing an eclectic combination of crushing guitars and infectious electronica, and incorporating elements of metal, hip hop, rock and dance, The One Hundred will play Sonisphere 2014.

Also added to the festival’s line-up are Manchester’s Collibus, who made history by becoming the first metal band ever to play the House of Commons.

Weekend tickets for Sonisphere are available from the festival’s official website at http://sonisphere.co.uk/

Sonisphere day tickets have not yet gone on sale.

* For the latest festival news, visit the Welwyn Hatfield Times’ Festival section.