- Finally, the metal fans are back in the open air.
The basses thunder, guitars screech: Schleswig-Holstein's village of Wacken is once again at the center of the heavy metal scene. The lineup for the main stages of Wacken Open Air 2024 has been announced. "It's great that you're all back," says festival co-founder Holger Hübner. "Fortunately, a year goes by so quickly."
There's plenty of time for metalheads to party until Sunday morning, Hübner says. "Take care of each other, have a great time." The event kicked off with established music legends Extrabreit and Suzi Quatro, although Extrabreit is known more for their punk and Neue Deutsche Welle styles, and Quatro's hits are rarely associated with heavy metal.
85,000 fans expected in Wacken
Tickets for the festival have been sold out for nearly a year. Wacken is considered one of the largest heavy metal festivals worldwide. Thousands of fans transform the village of 2,000 inhabitants into the scene's hub for several days. Last year, due to weather issues, only 61,000 fans attended instead of the expected 85,000. Despite this, the festival sold out in just four and a half hours.
Following the 2023 issues, organizers have made changes such as allowing Sunday arrival and improving route guidance for access.
Headliners for 2024 include Scorpions. Other expected acts include Korn, Blind Guardian, and Gene Simmons, the singer and bassist of Kiss, who is now performing with a solo band.
Keeping the excitement high, Holger Hübner encourages the crowd, "Remember to keep it up and enjoy yourselves throughout the festival!" As the festival approaches, he reassures attendees, "Rest assured, we've made improvements to accommodate more fans and make your Wacken Open Air 2024 experience even better."
