The twin festival returns

Rock am Ring 2024

Hi and welcome to Behind The Noise!

 

On the second weekend in June, tens of thousands of music fans once again gathered at the twin festivals Rock am Ring and Rock in Park. For three days, the crowds cavorted on the festival grounds to experience their favorite bands. They danced, sang, sweated and, above all, laughed a lot.

 

Here are our highlights and experiences from this unforgettable weekend:

 

Guano Apes

 

Our Rock am Ring weekend got off to a brilliant start with Guano Apes, who stormed onto the stage directly after Queerbeat.

Guano Apes, a band that has significantly shaped the genre of alternative rock, are absolute legends for many fans. Their live performance on the festival's main stage was a real highlight. They got off to a powerful and energetic start with the song "You Can't Stop Me". The audience pogoed, danced and sang along at the top of their voices. Sandra Nasić, dressed in a pink raincoat, wowed the audience with her powerful voice and a performance that radiated pure passion. Her interaction with the audience was particularly impressive during "Lose Yourself", when she rapped the lyrics together with a member of the audience and kissed her forehead goodbye.

The concert ended with the anthem "Lord of the Boards", during which the entire audience went wild. Loud, boisterous and authentic, Guano Apes showed why they are one of the most influential bands of their genre.

 

Royal Blood

 

This grandiose opening was followed by the performance of Royal Blood. The duo, consisting of Mike Kerr (singer/guitarist) and Ben Thatcher (drummer), impressed with a mix of their best songs and dynamic instrumental parts. The fans were particularly enthusiastic about the song "Loose Change", which is also one of my favorites from their eponymous record.

 

Enter Shikari

 

The highlight of the evening, however, was Enter Shikari.

The Utopia Stage quickly filled up for the band, who impressed with an intense performance and profound lyrics. Singer Rou Reynolds opened the gig with an a cappella version of "Meltdown" that gave goosebumps. Enter Shikari often address social and political grievances in their songs, which was also evident during this performance. The introduction to "Bloodshot" was particularly impressive, with Reynolds climbing onto a project cube and hammering on it, accompanied by a suitable animation.

Scene Queen

 

Another highlight was Scene Queen's performance on the Orbit Stage. The musician, known for her revealing lyrics and outfits, put on a dynamic show. Her song "Milf" and the humorous performance in particular left a lasting impression.

 

After these energetic concerts, it was time for some culinary refreshment. The diverse range of food on the festival site offered something for every taste: from vegan food, Italian and Vietnamese to pulled pork and burgers, you really could try everything. A clear recommendation from us: fresh kibbeling from Holland, which was not only attractively priced but also incredibly tasty.

Skindred

 

In the evening, we happened upon the Skindred concert, which was a real party. The song "Gimme That Boom" got the crowd going wild and several mosh pits formed, which merged into one big one.

Die Ärzte

 

The first highlight of the festival, however, was the performance by Die Ärzte. With a set of 27 songs and a two-hour show, they showed why they are one of the best live bands in Germany. Bela B greeted the audience with the words: "Unfortunately, we are still the best band in the world." With hits such as "Deine Schuld" and "Demokratie", the Ärzte got the audience celebrating and provided unforgettable moments, especially when the entire festival site switched on their flashlights during "1/2 Lovesong".

 

But the band was also definitely up for partying and provided what was probably the biggest wall of death of the weekend! The Ärzte not only offered a lot of humor and critical lyrics, but also delivered a versatile music line-up that promised an incredibly good start to the festival weekend.

Day 2: A day full of surprises and highlights

Still excited from the first day, the second day also promised some surprises and highlights, which we were able to experience in sunny weather in the Green Hell.

Dogstar

 

Saturday began for us with a mixture of alternative rock and indie, performed by Dogstar. This band, founded by Hollywood star Keanu Reeves and his colleagues, has been around since 1991. Their story began classically in a garage before they decided to play in front of large audiences. Dogstar has not only toured with David Bowie, but also with Die Toten Hosen and has now taken to the Mandora stage. Their warm, slightly melancholic sound delighted the audience. The musicians clearly felt at home and took the audience with them with a summery mix of old and new songs. Dogstar created a real feel-good atmosphere by singing about everyday worries and problems that were simply washed away with their music.

After Dogstar, we set off to chat with you and explore the various offers. Once again this year, we saw a colorful mix of young and old, crazy and less crazy people who didn't want to miss out on the spectacle. This diversity was also reflected in the concerts, where many musicians embraced individuality and freedom. The diverse range of food on offer and the numerous opportunities to while away the breaks between your favorite bands also contributed to the colorful atmosphere. Whether piercing, funny stage-dive photos of Pringles, clothing for children or adhesive tattoos - there was plenty to discover. The newly introduced seating areas were particularly pleasing, allowing visitors to relax and enjoy their favorite band.

Electric Callboy

 

"All aboard" according to Ozzy Osbourne, but Electric Callboy are more about partying on the "Tekkno Train". The band wowed the crowds in front of the Utopia stage with their own style of metalcore and influences from electro, techno and pop. With songs like "MC Thunder II (Dancing Like a Ninja)", they built up a huge wall of death, launched the "Tekkno Train" with confetti and shook the stage with "Spaceman". The band was visibly happy to be playing on the big stage of the twin festival, which they emphasized several times. Electric Callboy not only stood out with their well-balanced mix of new and old songs, but also with their humor, which sometimes had a few critical words for the stands. They took the opportunity to sing a spontaneous birthday serenade for a fan and perform their new song "Ratata" together with Babymetal.

If you think that was the highlight, you haven't heard Electric Callboy's quieter songs, where they also like to cover other songs, such as "Let It Go" or "I Want It That Way", some of which they sang a cappella with the crowd. A nice, amusing memory, during which the boys once again showed that their music is just right.

Babymetal

 

We also had a little time to experience Babymetal's performance before moving on to Billy Talent. Babymetal may not be to everyone's taste, but their interpretation of metal is a must-see. The sophisticated choreography that the women in their costumes perfected in sync, the impressive range of their main singer Suzuka and the band that supported them with a sophisticated metal arrangement were simply worth seeing. For the Rock am Ring Festival, the band took up the concept of the Fox God, in which three metal icons, represented by Suzuka, Moa and Yui, act as messengers of the Fox God. With music as a universal language, the Fox God asked the crowd right at the beginning: "Are You Ready To Headbang?". Of course, their song with Electric Callboy was not to be missed, and all-time favorites such as "Gimme Chocolate" were also played.

Team Scheisse: Unser Highlight

 

One of our absolute highlights and a recommendation that we would like to repeat is Team Scheisse. This band may be a little different and a little crazy, but their music shows a touch of German poetry that is sometimes missing in the music industry. With their lyrics, they describe life, emotions and everyday situations, which can also be directed against authorities in punk style, but always remain humorous.

A band that introduces itself with stories such as singer Timo challenging Keanu Reeves to a fight backstage (he has a green belt) and the latter having to tell him that he has an iron plate in his neck, which is why he unfortunately can't take part in the fight. As a joke, he told his fans that this was his miracle point if they ever had to fight him - you could only smile and join in the celebrations.

 

Team Scheisse played a colorful mix of songs such as "Edeka", "Vorratskamer" or "Frank", but didn't miss the opportunity to perform songs like "Karstadtdetektiv" or "Schmetterling", in which some audience members dressed up as butterflies. In a timeslot in which Green Day, Babymetal and Marsimoto (Materia's alter ego) played, it was hard to decide, and yet so many people gathered around Team Scheisse's stage that a large cluster formed around the Orbit Stage.

When the entire crowd sang "Ich bin ein Schmetterling, flatter, flatter, flap, flap", the goosebump moment was perfect and the band couldn't help but grin. In addition to funny anecdotes and jokes, there was also a particularly strong moment from the guitarist, who performed one of her songs "Elfmeterschießen" (penalty shootout) and liked to use her stage decorations, plastic plants, to help her and swing them around. Simply insane!

An absolute highlight was the performance of the announced recorder world star, Danger Dan from the Antilopen Gang, who joined in on the recorder playing during the song "Dudelsack". Team Scheisse is not just for themselves, but also for the big stages, and their vulgar performance is one of our absolute ring highlights.

 

Antilopen Gang

 

After Team Scheisse, we were looking forward to Antilopen Gang, who also played in the timeslot of Green Day and Marsimoto. Nevertheless, many fans of Team Scheisse remained there, and their own fans quickly gathered around the Orbit Stage when the band started to play. Too bad more people didn't see this gig!

 

The Antilopen Gang offered a welcome change of pace that would certainly have delighted fans on the Mandora or Utopia stage.

The Antilopen Gang not only provided good hip-hop, but also an exquisite selection of songs and stories to accompany you through the evening. Some of their songs, which are familiar from their records, were rearranged and adapted so that even fans who might not be into rap were drawn to them like bees to honey. But it wasn't just the arrangements that made the Antilopen Gang's performance so special, but also the choice of songs, such as "Army Parka", in which the band looks from a different perspective at people who sometimes leave something in the store. An absolute highlight for us was the "Pizza" song, which they underlaid with punk and played faster. Simply incredible! The Antilopen Gang not only offered a nice mix of rap, pop and rock, but also gave you the feeling of being part of a large community at the concert, which was underlined by their dynamic, rousing performance. An absolute recommendation at this point is their new album "Alles muss repariert werden", which will be released on September 13 in two editions (one rap, one punk).

Day 3: Fireworks for freedom

After partying the night away with the Antelopen Gang, the next day started a little later for us.

Blackout Problems

 

Our path happened to lead us to the Orbit Stage, where Blackout Problems, a promising German newcomer band, were playing. The atmosphere was electrifying and the crowd was getting bigger and bigger. The song "Rome" was already in full swing, and singer Mario was belting out the lyrics while standing on the hands of the audience. With a mixture of electro, pop and alternative rock, peppered with influences from dark pop, the band wrote critical lyrics about politics, social issues and inner demons. Their call to vote that day was particularly impressive, accompanied by their song "Germany, Germany", in which the singer addressed his experiences with exclusion and racism: "Don't go back into history. Your walls, your anxiety. See what they've done to me. Germany. Germany." Blackout Problems swept us away with their dynamic performance, their charm and their profound lyrics - a concert that we will definitely repeat.

From there, we continued to the small market square at the foot of the Ferris wheel. There were numerous stands here, including unusual ones such as the Cointreau stand in dazzling shades of orange and Pizza Wolke in a pink food truck. Particularly clever: the reusable cutlery, which was later returned. The crêpes, which were served on a waffle, left only the napkin as waste - a great idea! The site also provided an opportunity to network with many charitable organizations, ranging from cell donation and coaching to breast cancer initiatives.

We also listened to the sounds of Leoniden, who performed on the Utopia Stage and had set up a piano in the middle of the audience. Their medley of "Take On Me", "Pyrotechnik ist doch kein Verbrechen" and "Teenage Dirtbag" gave us goosebumps!

 

Hanabie

 

A real highlight was the Japanese band Hanabie. They looked like they'd stepped out of a visual kei film, with cute pigtails and colorful clothes. But their music was surprising: the finest guttural vocals and exquisite deathcore. The band brought a crazy mixture of metal and the high-pitched voices familiar from Japanese anime to the stage. Each band member played his instrument perfectly and the entire composition was masterfully coordinated.

Hanabie fired up the crowd again and again and didn't miss the opportunity to get the mosh pit in the middle going. The joy they took in their performance was infectious and they ended their set with the song "Pardon Me".

 

The Ring wouldn't be the same without the Donots. Who would have thought that their concert on the second day of the festival would be continued so quickly?

Donots

 

On Sunday, the band posted a picture of a furniture lifter with a homemade, spray-painted sheet with their logo. The exchange between the festival and the Donots led to a spontaneous action, which Rock am Ring enthusiastically agreed to.

 

During the break between Wanda and Kraftklub, a mini stage was set up in the photo pit, where the Donots played an encore to celebrate their 30th band anniversary. 80,000 spectators sang along with the Donots to songs such as "Song 2" by Blur and "You Gotta Fight for Your Right" by the Beastie Boys. An incredible performance that was rewarded with a final circle pit.

Rock am Ring Festival 2024

Kraftklub

 

Kraftklub, a band that played one of the most beautiful and nostalgic concerts on the Ring, took to the Utopia Stage. From their humble beginnings on a small tour bus on one of the campsites when Kiss was headlining, they have worked their way up to the biggest stage of the festival. The band's permanent grin spoke volumes.

Kraftklub kicked off the evening with "Unsere Fans" and took both new and old fans with them. Confetti got tangled up in taut strings above the audience and created long streaks in the sky - a beautiful picture! The band played a colorful mix of songs like "Mike Skinner", "Wittenberg ist nicht Paris" and old songs like "Randale". A wheel of fortune even decided the song selection at one point, with two women from the audience being allowed to spin.

 

The best part came afterwards: As a thank you for the support, the whole band came into the crowd and played "Kein Liebeslied" while we sat around them and listened. Singers Felix and Karl stood on a concert box and performed the next song, which got the whole crowd jumping and dancing. You could tell how moving the concert was for the two musicians, and even a forgotten lyric didn't detract from that.

Kraftklub gave an incredible performance that was simply perfect in the glow of the setting sun. The band said goodbye with "Songs for Liam" and made way for the next act, which the audience was eagerly awaiting.

 

So ended another unforgettable day on the Ring, filled with great performances, new discoveries and a feast for the senses. We can hardly wait to repeat these experiences.

Concerts, festivals and more

In our BEHIND THE NOISE column we write about everything around the metal & rock scene and take a look behind the spotlights to give you a better insight into the concert. At this concert, too, we were able to collect exciting and new memories, which we will of course not withhold from you. Intense, unconventional and intoxicating. Welcome to the concert!

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