Waldbühne Hardt, Wuppertal, Germany28th to 29th August 2015
12th Feuertal Festival with Saltatio Mortis, Versengold, Corvus Corax, Rapalje, Punch'n'Judy, Schandmaul, Fiddler's Green, Mr Hurley & Die Pulveraffen, Das Niveau, Harpyie
The dozen is full. 12 years ago, the Feuertal Festival opened its gates for the first time for fans of every form of medieval rock. Since then, the list of bands which thrill thousands of fans on the Waldbühne Hardt every year offers the who is who of the scene: Subway to Sally, Saltatio Mortis, In Extremo, Schandmaul, Letzte Instanz or Corvus Corax – all of them have already played the Feuertal Festival and most of them more than once. The Feuertal Festival has gained an excellent reputation within the scene, the date “last weekend in August” is marked on the calendars of many medieval fans.
Also in 2015 a special feast is going to be celebrated, two days then the Waldbühne Hardt is going to be characterised by mead, shawn, and beautiful coats with bat sleeves. On Friday, the 28th August the festival opens its gates – like every year the way to the stage leads through the medieval market which will be as big as never before in the year of the dozen anniversary. The area has been enlarged so that more stalls can find space, furthermore there will be a stage on the medieval market again on which fire-eaters, jugglers and other artists can show their skills including the already obligatory fire show. In the end, it means once again a distinct plus of medieval atmosphere than in the preceding years.
Those who want to take up the offer of camping in the Mirke can look forward to an improvement: Due to the pool in the pool the opportunity has finally arisen to make use of the function of the pool in 2015.
The line-up of the festival is worthy of the expectations of its anniversary: With Schandmaul and Fiddler's Green, two long-time companions of the Feuertal Festival are ready, on Friday evening they are joined by another top act, Saltation Mortis, who will play their only NRW show of the festival summer on the Feuertal Festival. For the first time then, songs of the new record which will be released in August can be heard! One should be excited. Getting an early bird ticket for the festival pays off since it is usually sold out early.
Friday, 28th August – Line-up
Those who were guests of the Feuertal Festival in 2012 know what is expecting them with Punch'n'Judy as the first act of the festival 2015: The five musicians from Recklinghausen who started in 2003 – precisely in the year of the first Feuertal Festival and who can also celebrate their 12-years long existence– offer a crossover of rock, metal, medieval and folk. The title of the second record ‘punch on!’ which was released in 2007 has become the battle cry of their fans long ago and rings out on every show since then. An appeal to dance, and to the joy of playing which makes for an ideal hotbed for jumping people and shaking grounds. In 2013, Punch'n'Judy released their latest studio record ‘cross!ng over’ but in August 2015 singer Sascha & co. Will surely provide some brand-new songs.
After Punch'n'Judy, Rapalje enter the stage as newbies. Even though the Dutch Celtic Folk band has existed since the middle of the 90s. The quartet surrounding musician Dieb, William, Maceal and David perform traditionally in kilts and have thrilled fans for almost two decades with their Celtic rock which they present with instruments like the fiddle, tin whistle, accordion, mouth organ, bag pipe, bodhran and a tea chest bass. But Rapalje have become legendary because of the gitouki, a long-necked lute instrument which was designed and built by them. The mix of acoustic guitar and Irish bouzouki exists only three times worldwide, two copies are in the possession of Rapalje, another one got stolen some years ago and is considered as lost since then. Rapalje is a live band most of all and exactly the right act in order to keep the moods up before Corvus Corax, the self-proclaimed kings of the minstrels, offer their services to the crowd.
Corvus Corax are probably the longest-lived medieval band which has ever performed on the Feuertal Festival. Founded in 1989 already, the band owe their name to a northern raven which the founding members Wim and Castus had to leave behind for their flight from the GDR in 1989. In the shortly reunited Germany Corvus Corax became quickly the style-defining icons of medieval music and enjoy the reputation of being the idols for a whole generation of medieval bands around the globe. In their 27th year of existence Corvus Corax will surely build on the spectacular shows of their 25-years-tour from the year before on the Hardt.
Versengold deserve the privilege of playing between the medieval legends Corvus Corax and Saltatio Mortis especially because of their incredible performance in Wuppertal's LCB in March 2014. The show had to be relocated to the big venue because of the high demand and there the Northern German quintet showed why the tickets were so coveted. The ensemble surrounding frontman Snorre Snoerkelfrey that has existed since 2013 manage to make the whole venue dance within a short amount of time. After the third song at the latest nothing can keep even the technicians on their seats and also the knees of the toughest doorman cannot keep quiet. Six records are witness to unstoppable creativity, Versengold will present their medieval folk in a smashing manner on the Hardt 2015.
At the end of the first day, a true highlight awaits the medieval fans with Saltatio Mortis. On the 14th August 2015, the new record ‘Totentänzer’ will be released with ‘Zirkus Zeitgeist’. Only two weeks afterwards the visitors can be persuaded at the NRW premiere so-to-say how the new material sounds like on stage. For singer Alea der Bescheidene and his seven minstrels it's the great final rehearsal before they go on rock tour in November. One thing is certain already now: also the new songs will account for the band motto “Those who dance don't die” that has existed since their foundation in 2000.
Sunday, 29th August – Line-up
The Saturday is characterised by new and old companions of the Feuertal Festival then. The Nuremberg medieval rockers Ignis Fatuu who are making their mark in the scene continuously since 2004 break the first ground. Recently, the six-strong idealist band was able to cause a sensation with their new record ‘Unendlich viele Wege’ and the subsequent Germany tour. Ignis Fatuu will celebrate their debut on the Feuertal Festival in 2015, just like the band after them.
The performance of Das Niveau is not only a debut's ball but also a novelty in the history of the Feuertal Festival from an artistic perspective. The comedy-folk-duo from Berlin, Martin Spieß and Sören Vogelsang, serve among the dancing feet also the laughing muscles of the audience. With their mix of folk music and improved stand-up comedy Das Niveau break new ground on the grounds of the medieval festival. In doing so they are brushing topics like homosexual rights, racism, illegal downloads and censorship, working with nonsense like Helge Schneider and singing about beards, Greece's national debt and the goodbye of Steve Jobs.
Mr. Hurley & die Pulveraffen will also be guests of the Feuertal Festival for the first time. A breeze of the Caribbean will blow over the Hardt during their performance since Mr. Hurley goes on a a(rrr!)coustic treasure hunt with his audience into the depths of the Caribbean during times of Blackbeard, La Buse, Guybrush Threepwood or Francis Drake whereby the stage planks become ship planks. They perform in complex pirate costumes and armed with guitar, accordion, flutes, drums and three vocal voices which range between Disney film and Motörhead. Among their folk-y and humorous self-composed songs in German, the programme is complemented by traditional sea farer songs from Irish folk and Shanties. This adventurous mix blurs into the unique style which the Pulverhaffen have called “Grog'n'Roll”.
After the rookies it's time to fire the dozen anniversary with old friends finally. Fiddler's Green can count themselves justifiably that since they will please the Hardt with their Irish Speedfolk for the fifth time in 2015 already. The sextet from Erlangen which will have existed for 25 years in 2015 as well, have always been a guarantee for best live entertainment. A big part of that are the stunts that have become a tradition which make every live set an experience. On the one hand side, there is the traditional donkey riding and on the other hand side, the ritualistic washing by the folk raider which pours water on the crowd in bucketful. Since 1990, Fiddler's Green succeed in the rare feat of forming an audience that comes from different scenes into a homogenous party crowd. May it be Goths that are clothed in black, punks with red Mohicans, grizzled folk fetishists or coat-wearing heavy metal fans – during the square-dance to Irish speed folk by Fiddler's Green everyone wants one thing: endless fun. The fact that they reached position 7 in the top ten of the German charts with their current record ‘Winner's Boozers’ for the first time in 2013 demonstrates that Fiddler's Green haven't lost any popularity after 25 years. Whether they will play new songs among popular tunes like ‘Market Day’, ‘Haughs of Cromdale’ or ‘Blarney Roses’ remains a secret until the show.
One time more often than Fiddler's Green, namely for the sixth time, Schandmaul will be guest on the Waldbühne Hardt subsequently. The sextet from Fürstenfeldbrück operates for the fourth time as the headliner of the festival. The folk rock combo existing since 1998 released with ‘Schandmäulchens Abenteuer’ their first children's project in 2014. The audio book with 10 songs used two years of preparation, in between Schandmaul chalked up the greatest success of their band history with the release of the current record ‘Unendlich’ and their position two in the charts. Enough reasons to transform the Hardt in August 2015 into a proverbial ball paradise not only for children but for all fans of folk rock music.
Festival Details
Line-up
Friday, 28.08.2015: Punch’n’Judy, Rapalje, Corvus Corax, Versengold, Saltatio Mortis
Saturday, 29.08.2015: Harpyie, Das Niveau, Mr Hurley & Die Pulveraffen, Fiddlers Green, Schandmaul
Info
The programme will be led by Subway to Sally's Eric Fish again, the medieval market is only accessible for guests of the festival, the camping area in the Mirke already opens up on Thursday, 27th August at 4pm and is opened until Sunday, 30th August until 2pm. Doors open each day at 13:00 and shows start at 14:00. More info at http://feuertal-festival.de and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Feuertal-Festival-official/165199623573236
Festival tickets
Weekend Ticket: 59 € + pre-sale charges
Day Ticket: 38 € + pre-sale charges
Camping
Possible at open-air bath Mirke from 27th august to 30th august. Camping tickets are 10 € + pre-sale charges. Adress: Freibad Mirke, In der Mirke 1, 42109 Wuppertal
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