Sonisphere Festival 2011

COMEDIAN Bill Bailey will perform the biggest live comedy show ever at a British rock festival at Knebworth this summer after being confirmed for the 2011 Sonisphere Festival this morning (Monday).

The multi-instrumentalist and comedy master will take to the Saturn open air stage as the Sunday night headliner on July 10.

As revealed last week by the Welwyn Hatfield Times, the award-winning Bailey will perform before the mighty Slipknot close the three-day Knebworth festival.

On Twitter, the comedian tweeted last week: “@sonisphere is on. Sunday night, on the Saturn stage, I will attempt to rock as I have never before, just before Slipknot.”

Following the official confirmation today, the Hot Fuzz and Chalet Girl actor and star of cult sitcom Black Books will join the likes of Metallica, Limp Bizkit, Slayer, Weezer and Motörhead at Knebworth.

On playing Sonisphere’s first outdoor comedy set, the former Never Mind the Buzzcocks team captain said: “I am utterly stoked to be playing Sonisphere alongside some of my heroes of metal. Unleash the wild dogs of rock!”

Also joining the Sonisphere comedy line-up in the grounds of the Hertfordshire stately home will be Jackass star Steve-O presenting his debut UK stand-up performance.

Other comedians on the bill include Andrew O’Neill, Bob Slayer, Jason John Whitehead, Jason Rouse and Jim Breuer.

Kiwi comic Jarred Christmas will once again return as compere for the Saturday afternoon.

The comedy element at Sonisphere also expands this year with Bohemia hosting comedians from the Thursday through to Sunday.

The likes of Tim Minchin and Sean Hughes played the Bohemia tent at Knebworth last summer.

Sonisphere’s UK leg at Knebworth takes place from Friday, July 8 to Sunday, July 10.

For tickets and more info go to www.sonispherefestivals.com (see Sonisphere Festival link above).