Like nearly each year, also this time a visit at the self-proclaimed "King Of Heimorgel" may not be missing. Wildly thrown together a colorful bouquet of great classics in a very unconventional interpretation was presented like Rammstein's "Engel" or Scooter's "Maria (I Like It Loud"). For this no large show on stage was mounted.
Last year the men from northern Germany were the biggest surprise of the festival. All shows were more then well attended and so it was only consequent to invite them also for this year especially as there is a successor with "Mit den Gezeiten" to the extremely successful debut "Bis ans Ende der Welt".
After starting with medieval sounds now the first visit to the large tent followed which is a little bit smaller than last year. Nevertheless there were two stages inside (W.E.T. and Headbanger Stage) on which the Metal Battle bands could show their skills during the first day.
The first day on Wacken always starts somehow more relaxed than the others. On the one hand the large stages on the main area are not yet in use on the other hand the arrival traffic is still ongoing. Nevertheless some already gathered in the afternoon in front of the Wackinger stage to listen to the sound of the band Fejd.
Already for the 10th time (the fifth time as open air festival) the FortaRock was taking place at Nijmegen and due to this it should take place as XL version. This meant that not like the years before only two stages are used but instead even three and of course more bands are playing. Below you find impressions of the festival.
Monday evening at the train station Langendreer Humppa was the order of the day as the guys of Eläkeläiset were passing by. The stage scenery: barren. Only two tables with two synthesizers, a few microphones and a drum set. And in the background a reindeer formed out of wire, the band logo.
Until The Beauty Of Gemina entered the stage some more people gathered compared to their supporting act Me.Man.Machine. Still it was a very small and intimate concert in front of approximately 80-90 persons although it was not seeming empty at the Kulturfabrik.
Towards half past eight Me.Man.Machine entered the stage of the Krefeld Kulturfabrik in front of which only very few had gathered. Roughly 50-60 persons were waiting agog for the gig of the Swiss around front men Roland Häusler. And they should not be disappointed.
This gig of Within Temptation was largely announced beforehand. It was at least not less than the jubilee show to their 15th year of existence. That should be celebrated largely and so at the Belgium Antwerp an appropriate big stage was built. Of course again a big screen had to be installed there but in front of it additionally a complete symphonic orchestra and a big choir.
After Xandria had left the stage it was enlargened for the highlight of the festival. As no other band is so connected to the Metal Female Voices Fest than the band Epica. Not less than 8 gigs they played there (only during the last year the paused). Who else would have been more predestinated to headline the festival?