What’s on #listings for Greater #Peterb

What’s on #listings for Greater #Peterborough for the week ahead: music, theatre, arts, local events http://ow.ly/2CoHk

In other news: If you missed it – Google

In other news: If you missed it – Google’s bouncing ball logo evades your mouse http://ow.ly/2BC27 Flash version http://ow.ly/2BC3f

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/inpic

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/inpictures latest photos and scenes from in and around Peterborough: submit yours

Free bag of bulbs: get your bag in Thurs

Free bag of bulbs: get your bag in Thursday’s Peterborough Evening Telegraph – take it to Van Hage and fill it for free!

TRAVEL ALERT: Report of burst water main

TRAVEL ALERT: Report of burst water main causing delays on A605 near Oundle. More soon. Anyone in the area got any information?

SONISPHERE 2010: Head full of memories!

WITH a head full of highlights, it’s hard to truly describe exactly what it’s like to be at major festival such as Sonisphere.

For me, last weekend’s festivities began with a calm hour-long drive down the A1 to Knebworth on Friday afternoon. And after that, it was akin to stepping onto a moving train for a non-stop three day ride to metal and rock heaven.

Stereotypes would dictate that a festival of this kind would be full “grungers” dressed from head-to-toe in black. But Sonisphere is no ordinary metal extravaganza and this year’s event began on a Friday, full of colour.

Thousands of people, dressed in a vast array of clothing inspired by Rocky Horror, attempted the world record for the most amount of people doing the time warp dance at the same time. Although no-one was actually counting, it’s estimated that 4,000 people took part and it sure was a sight to be seen.

The spectacle set the tone for the rest of the day as legends including Gary Numan and Alice Cooper took to the Saturn stage. Elsewhere, Deaf Havana played an awesome set at the Bowtime Bar, while Sylosis proved a highlight in the Bohemia tent.

It’s testament to such a good line-up that Cooper and Numan were the starter for the stunning main course to fellow.

And you don’t get much more special than a UK festival first with Rammstein taking the headline spot on the Saturday night. In front of a vast crowd, the German metallers put on a remarkable performance, which included fire, fireworks and plenty of theatrics.

However, they weren’t the only ones to a huge audience on the Apollo stage that day – as Papa Roach hogged the daytime limelight.Lead singer Jacoby Shaddix roamed the stage like a man possessed with the aim of enjoying his band’s occasion, resulting in a musically tight set which prompted a raft of audience participation.

Meanwhile, Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor brought the pace down with a fantastic acoustic set in Bohemia, before Gallows ramped it back up again with a typically raucous show. Over at Bowtime bar, While She Sleeps and Bury Tomorrow certainly impressed.

If Saturday was the main course of the festival feast, then Iron Maiden provided the perfect dessert to bring Sonisphere to a close on Sunday. The age-defying British legends played a stunning set on the Apollo stage in front of around 50,000 people.

They were warmed up by rock/drum ‘n’ bass band Pendulum, who played a high-octane set which included a cameo from In Flames singer, Anders Friden. Once again, the talent was not confined to the main stages as The Worldonfire and A Ghost Of A Thousand rocked the Bowtime Bar.

Sonisphere has now completed two successive years and is firmly established on the UK festival scene. However, it inevitably has to compete with Download festival for the title of the best metal festival. So, my advice to you? If you can’t afford to attend both, I can strongly recommend Sonisphere next year.

SONISPHERE 2010: Fitting finale!

BRITISH rock powerhouses Iron Maiden brought Sonisphere to a stunning close with a barnstorming set in front of more than 50,000 people.

Taking to the Apollo stage to headline today’s festivities, Maiden showed they’ve still got it after all these years with one of the best performances of the whole three-day festival.

The seemingly ageless band performed a whole range of their enormous back catalogue, much to the delight of the crowds, who grabbed every available spot to catch a glimpse of the metallers.

However, the plaudits of a hugely entertaining day can’t solely lay on the shoulders of Maidan – as there was a plethora of top performances which signed of Sonisphere in style.

Pendulum's set was watched by thousands of people.

And it was the Apollo stage which also played host to a simply brilliant set from Oz rock/drum and bass band Pendulum.

Watched by a massive crowd, easily one of the biggest of the weekend, Pendulum whipped their baying audience into a frenzy with a fast-paced set, non-stop set, which even featured a cameo from In Flames vocalist Anders Friden.

Having tipped them as the festival’s surprise package, I have to say I’m feeling pretty smug right now!

Another ageless act, Iggy and the Stooges, also put in a sterling performance on the Saturn stage, while there was pretty more action – as always – to be seen on the smaller stages.

Security at Bowtime were certainly kept busy.

Over at Bowtime Bar - a venue which I have to say has been quite possibly my main highlight of the weekend – performances from FireBug, Straight Lines, The World On Fire and The Ghost Of A Thousand were memorable.

In all, it’s been one hell of a weekend, and far too much to take all in right now. So, until the full review hits the newstands in next week’s Guide, I’ll leave you with this quandary.

Sonisphere, having just completed its second year on these shores, has now fully established itself on the UK festival scene.

So, when the tickets go on sale next year, will it be Download or Sonisphere where you spend your money? If you can’t afford both, I would strongly recommend Sonisphere.