Only Heavy Metal

Recently festival director Stuart Galbraith admitted their bill announcement came “too late” and the difficult financial climate meant tickets were slow to sell. He added: “We’re determined to return to England” – but now his firm have confirmed it won’t happen in 2013.

In a statement Kilimanjaro explain: “The three Sonisphere festivals to date at Knebworth set a very high standard – and indeed, 2011 was voted the best festival line up by The UK Festival Awards.

“We think it is really important that the event only runs when it has a lineup that sets it apart from the competition, whilst also carrying a ticket price that allows us to offer real value for money to the music fans.

“We were hoping to do that in 2013 but unfortunately it wasn’t possible to fulfill both aims.”

Kilimanjaro say their main challenge was a lack of high-profile headliners, adding: “We made offers to over a dozen major artists but for various reasons none of these led to securing a strong bill.”

Sonisphere events in France and Italy are already on sale, and the firm promise more news in the coming weeks.

Main rival Download, who won the best lineup award this year, has revealed Slipknot, Iron Maiden and Rammstein as bill-toppers for 2013, with 12 other acts already detailed.

SONISPHERE 2013

La quinta edición de Sonisphere en España contará con los legendarios Iron Maiden como cabezas de cartel en un festival itinerante que tendrá lugar el viernes, 31 de mayo, en el recinto del Auditorio Miguel Ríos de Rivas Vaciamadrid y el sábado, 1 de junio, en el Párc del Forum de Barcelona.

Esta es la primera ocasión en sus cinco años de vida en la que Sonisphere tiene lugar en dos ciudades diferentes.