| Event: Summer Breeze Open Air |
| Date: 16th -19th August |
| Location: Dinkelsbühl, Bavaria |
After long years of “not being able to go”, with the kind support of Covid, university thesis and private stuff, it’s finally time for me to go to Dinkelsbühl again this year. And as with every festival, no matter how big, you are sometimes faced with the running order like a duck in a thunder storm: what should you actually see, apart from the well-known? That’s why I’d like to leave you with a few recommendations from my side.
Wednesday, 16th of August
Vorga – Wera Tool Rebel Stage (22.40 – 23.20 p.m.)
Vorga was a recommendation from Arpad a few months ago, on the one hand because he thought it suited my taste, on the other hand because he likes to push weights at the gym. The German Atmospheric Black Metal band makes it into my rotation every now and then with their melodic interpretation of the genre, so I’m very curious to see how they feel live.
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Thursday, 17th of August
Kanonenfieber – Wera Tool Rebel Stage (21.35 – 22.20 p.m.)
One of the most beautiful discoveries I’ve made in recent months, also on a recommendation, this time from Roman. The treatment of the theme of
World War I in Black, Doom and Death really blew me out of my chair. Not only their debut album is a recommendation, but also the singles that followed. While pretty much everyone else will be watching Trivium in parallel, my place will certainly be in front of this stage.
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Amenra – T-Stage (22.25 – 23.25 p.m.)
Amenra is a band I like to listen to deliberately at album length. Those who know my taste in music know that they fit relatively well into my musical taste, as they are not only known for the usual heaviness of the genre, but also like to enhance it with softer interludes. I’m also very curious to hear how they sound live and I’m really looking forward to the gig.
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Groza – Wera Tool Rebel Stage (01.25 – 2.10 p.m.)
Groza came into my rotation quite recently, blame it on a generic Summer Breeze playlist on Spotify that had all the bands in it. Since then, these Germans have been a permanent fixture in my daily musical feed with Elegance of Irony, among others. If you don’t have any other Black Metal band to watch at the time, I can only recommend this band.
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Friday, 18th of August
Skalmöld – Main Stage (12.55 – 13.35 p.m.)
I am a Skalmöld fan. This will be my fifth or sixth live performance that I will watch. Even though they are getting more and more famous and their very first European headlining tour is coming up, there are still enough people who do not know them. Live an absolute blast, wonderful poetic Viking Metal, new album about to be released. If you don’t mind the early time, you have to listen to it.
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Gaerea – Wera Tool Rebel Stage (23.30 – 00-15 p.m.)
The newcomers from Portugal, who play a wonderful modern interpretation of black metal, came to my attention through the playlist, just like Gorza. I can’t describe it any other way than that I’m just very curious to see how they do on stage. I hope the sound system is set up appropriately for the sound.
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Long Distance Calling – Main Stage (01.00 – 02.00 p.m.)
Long Distance Calling and my taste in music is a match made in heaven. The time of the day rather not. I hope I’ll still have the energy to see the band live by then. My visit to the Junkyard concert 2021 was one of the few highlights of the Corona phase. An absolute must for every post-rock fan, as well as for a musically beautiful end to Friday.
Samstag, 19th of August
Knorkator – Main Stage (15.00 – 15.45 p.m.)
Germany’s “Most Band in the World” may not be what you’d call “metal”, but they’re still an integral part of the scene. Clever lyrics, crazy stage shows and a likeable demeanour make this show a must-see for me on Saturday.
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Tankard – T-Stage (18.35 – 19.35)
Tankard actually passed me by for the most part, only recently did I run across them by chance on my In Ears. My colleague Arpad commented on my astonishment as follows: “German thrash bands are generally much better than many of their big American counterparts. Tankard are basically the precursors to municipal waste and that party crossover stuff.” And with exactly this reasoning I say, must-see show.
Zeal & Ardor – Main Stage (01.00 – 02.00 p.m.)
THE MUST-SEE SHOW FOR ME! So far, every album by this band is top shelf in terms of quality, the music varied and moving. Their last album was also one of the highlights of the past year for me. The mixture of gospel and black metal has managed to hit a musical bullseye with me. I will leave the festival with this band as a highlight. I’m really looking forward to it here.
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