The metal and rock festival, which has always marketed itself as an event that will not occur if it fails to secure a good enough experience, cited an over-saturated market as the reason for the cancellation.

“Team Sonisphere reluctantly confirm that Sonisphere will not take place in the UK in 2015,” reads a message on the festival’s homepage. 

“We’ve been working hard to get a line-up that we felt was good enough but also on a weekend which would avoid other events that we know rock fans would want to support. Unfortunately our last irons in the fire have just been extinguished and it’s clear that we won’t be in a position to run the event this year. We’ve said in the past that Sonisphere will only go ahead if we feel it is going to be good enough and that hasn’t changed.”

However, the message also stated that organisers intend for the event to go ahead in 2016.

Sources close to the festival have told Access that competition from the likes of Download Festival and the high price that headline acts command made it tricky for the festival to guarantee it can operate in its niche market.

The Knebworth-based Sonisphere was cancelled in 2013 and 2012, the latter of which was down to the event facing “a very challenging year”. 

The Switzerland branch of the event will still go ahead, headlined by Muse, who also top the bill at Download 2015, held at Donington Park. 

Last year marked the Knebworth festival’s 40th birthday, and played host to Metallica and Iron Maiden as co-headliners. The line-up for this year’s event had not yet been released.

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The metal and rock festival, which has always marketed itself as an event that will not occur if it fails to secure a good enough experience, cited an over-saturated market as the reason for the cancellation.

“Team Sonisphere reluctantly confirm that Sonisphere will not take place in the UK in 2015,” reads a message on the festival’s homepage. 

“We’ve been working hard to get a line-up that we felt was good enough but also on a weekend which would avoid other events that we know rock fans would want to support. Unfortunately our last irons in the fire have just been extinguished and it’s clear that we won’t be in a position to run the event this year. We’ve said in the past that Sonisphere will only go ahead if we feel it is going to be good enough and that hasn’t changed.”

However, the message also stated that organisers intend for the event to go ahead in 2016.

Sources close to the festival have told Access that competition from the likes of Download Festival and the high price that headline acts command made it tricky for the festival to guarantee it can operate in its niche market.

The Knebworth-based Sonisphere was cancelled in 2013 and 2012, the latter of which was down to the event facing “a very challenging year”. 

The Switzerland branch of the event will still go ahead, headlined by Muse, who also top the bill at Download 2015, held at Donington Park. 

Last year marked the Knebworth festival’s 40th birthday, and played host to Metallica and Iron Maiden as co-headliners. The line-up for this year’s event had not yet been released.

Got a story for Access All Areas? Email Tom Hall
Follow us @Access_AA
Or on Facebook and Instagram (AccessAllAreasUK)
Read the latest Access All Areas here.