Fans of rock music in the UK are in for a disappointing summer after the announcement on Thursday (29th March) by organisers that Sonisphere Festival 2012 is officially cancelled.

The festival, held in Knebworth Park, Stevenage, would have been the fourth year that this touring musical festival had taken place in the UK however organisers said in a statement on the website that “circumstances have dictated that we would be unable to run the festival to a standard that both the artists and that Sonisphere’s audience would rightly expect”.

Headline band, Queen, first revealed the shocking news on Wednesday night on their website, stating “It is with very heavy hearts and much regret that we announce the cancellation of Sonisphere Knebworth 2012”.

Organisers have reassured ticket holders of the UK event that they will be entitled to a full refund from their tickets agents and thus far it seems that the other events across Europe will still be going ahead.

The full statement from the organisers is available at: http://sonisphere.co.uk/news/sonisphere-knebworth-is-cancelled/

Words by Amy Mallett