Music festival - Wacken organizer: 'The mud is always changing'
With a new travel concept, the organizers of the Heavy-Metal Festival in Schleswig-Holstein, Wacken (July 31 to August 3), aim to avoid problems related to the weather conditions of the previous year. "We learned in 2023 that mud is always different," said Festival co-founder Thomas Jensen to the German Press Agency. "We took hundreds of thousands of Euros to pave the agricultural land with recycled gravel paths."
Due to muddy conditions, the organizers had to implement an entrance stop for the first time in the history of Wacken Open Air (W:O:A). Instead of the expected 85,000 metal fans, only 61,000 attended the "Holy Ground," as they call Wacken's fields. Many others went elsewhere. "People, especially in the southern part of the state, have supported the festival insanely," said Jensen.
Scorpions to Headline
The three-day event is considered one of the largest heavy metal festivals in the world and officially starts on a Wednesday. One of the headliners at the 33rd W:O:A are the Scorpions. The German rock band performed in Wacken in 2012. Anticipated acts also include Korn, Amon Amarth, In Extremo, Blind Guardian, and Knorkator.
There have also been rumors about a Wacken gig from AC/DC. "I have to take that hope from the fans," said Jensen. A performance of this magnitude would be a logistical challenge. "That's not the concept of the festival."
Losses in the Previous Year
Due to the weather issues, the organizers incurred losses in 2023. "We exhausted all possibilities and managed to save a few things with the help of insurers," said Jensen. The strong support of the metal community was particularly helpful. "We noticed how strong this festival, how strong this brand is. In the end, the loss stayed within acceptable limits for us." Jensen did not provide an exact figure.
The 85,000 tickets for 2024 were sold out in less than five hours. Fans will come to the camping grounds for the first time already on Sundays. "We have completely redesigned the travel concept," said Jensen. The so-called metalheads will be guided to various access routes. "Our main goal this year is to get everyone there on time, so we can start as soon as possible what we all love: Celebrating Heavy Metal."
"The ticket exchange platform will be well received," said Jensen. "We don't want a black market because we want to protect this community from fake tickets." Before the festival, there is usually an oversupply. "It's quite normal if, a year after the ticket purchase, family reasons make travel impossible or if the financial resources are no longer available."
No Retreat for the Founders
In June, the acquisition of the Festival co-owner Superstruct Entertainment by the investment company KKR was announced. The original organizers of the Wacken Festival, International Concert Service GmbH (ICS), entered into a partnership with Superstruct Entertainment in 2019. Superstruct Entertainment is a subsidiary of the investment firm Providence Equity Partners.
"Nothing changes for us," said Jensen. He and co-founder Holger Hübner will remain involved in both Superstruct Entertainment and the festival. "That won't change in the foreseeable future. I just turned 58. Holger is 58, but we're not near the end of the story." Both still own approximately 31% of the festival, planning to reduce their stake "at some point" to five percent each.
We want to continue our engagement in the metal scene, so that it remains the coolest party in Wacken, said Jensen. "That's actually the business goal. Holger and I will not become investment bankers."
- The 2024 Festival in Schleswig-Holstein's Wacken will see improvements, as Thomas Jensen, the co-founder, mentioned to the German Press Agency, aiming to mitigate issues from previous weather conditions.
- Apart from the Scorpions, Korn, Amon Amarth, In Extremo, Blind Guardian, and Knorkator are among the anticipated acts at the Wacken Open Air (W:O:A), one of the largest heavy metal festivals in Germany.
- Despite facing losses in 2023 due to weather issues, the organizers are optimistic about the 2024 event, with 85,000 tickets selling out quickly and expansions to their travel concept to ease attendee access.
- Jensen confirmed that the original owners, ICS, will continue their involvement with the festival, despite KKR's recent acquisition of Superstruct Entertainment, their co-owner, emphasizing their commitment to the metal scene in Wacken.
