The final line-up for the Hard Circle Festivals has been confirmed: DIRKSCHNEIDER, EISBRECHER, AXEL RUDI PELL, THUNDERMOTHER, GRAVE DIGGER and FREEDOM CALL!Following the huge success of last year’s events, this December will once again see three major indoor festivals taking place across Germany - upholding the proud tradition of making the Metal Heart beat faster just in time for the loudest Christmas parties in the country!
The initiator and organiser of all three festivals is, as always, the Karlsruhe-based agency Bottom Row - www.bottomrow.com
Festival Dates 2025
Friday, 5 December - Pott Out Festival, Bochum / RuhrCongress
Presented by Radio BOB!
Doors: 16:00 | Start: 17:00
Info: pottout-festival.de
Tickets: https://tidd.ly/4mUp4G1
Friday, 12 December - Rock Out Festival, Augsburg / Schwabenhalle
Presented by Rock Antenne
Doors: 15:30 | Start: 17:00
Info: rockout-festival.de
Tickets: https://tidd.ly/46OFrzp
Saturday, 13 December - Knock Out Festival, Karlsruhe / Schwarzwaldhalle
Presented by Radio BOB!
Doors: 15:30 | Start: 17:00
Info: knockout-festival.de
Tickets: https://tidd.ly/3WzMEgx
The Hard Circle 2025 Line-up
Dirkschneider
The iron voice of Heavy Metal! If one voice has defined German Heavy Metal like no other, it’s Udo Dirkschneider. With ACCEPT, U.D.O., and now with his own band DIRKSCHNEIDER, he delivers classic Heavy Metal forged from raw power, melody, and attitude. This isn’t just a tribute to the past - it’s a ferocious metal force, proving why Dirkschneider’s unmistakable, gravel-edged voice remains one of the genre’s most iconic sounds.
As co-founder and frontman of ACCEPT, Udo is already a living legend in German Metal history - and yet he continues to be a vital part of the scene today. At the Hard Circle Festivals, DIRKSCHNEIDER will perform an exclusive “Balls To The Wall” set - a show that has already sold out venues earlier this year.
“I’m incredibly excited to pay tribute once again to the most successful album of my band ACCEPT,” says Udo Dirkschneider. “Performing ‘Balls To The Wall’ in its entirety on stage - together with longtime ACCEPT bassist Peter Baltes - will definitely be one of the highlights of my career!”
Fans can also look forward to plenty of surprises beyond the album set during these three unforgettable nights.
Eisbrecher
Prepare for an arctic shockwave: EISBRECHER are full speed ahead and heading straight for the Hard Circle Festivals! Masters of the Neue Deutsche Härte, they’ll unleash crushing riffs, icy precision and the unmistakable voice of Alex Wesselsky. Expect a storm of steel with hits like ‘Sturmfahrt’ and ‘Was ist hier los?’ - a relentless sonic blizzard that shakes every stage to its core.
EISBRECHER’s sound combines pounding guitars, thunderous beats, and razor-sharp production - pure adrenaline for headbangers and Metal fans alike. This isn’t a warm-up gig; it’s a full-throttle ice storm. Hold on tight, lose yourself, sing along - EISBRECHER are coming.
Axel Rudi Pell
A true icon, a guitar wizard, and one of Germany’s last great Rock romantics: AXEL RUDI PELL brings his epic hymns and majestic riffs to the Hard Circle Festivals. For decades, his name has stood for melodic hard rock filled with soul, passion and power. With his latest album ‘Risen Symbol’ (2024), Pell once again proved that classic Hard Rock is alive - louder, prouder, and more authentic than ever.
Expect timeless tracks such as ‘Mystica’ and ‘Fool Fool’ alongside powerful new material. Backed by an exceptional band - including vocalist Johnny Gioeli (one of the finest voices in rock), ex-RAINBOW drummer Bobby Rondinelli, keyboardist Ferdy Doernberg, and bassist Volker Krawczak - Axel Rudi Pell guarantees a performance of pure melodic thunder.
Thundermother
If any band captures the wild spirit of AC/DC, MOTÖRHEAD and AIRBOURNE in today’s Rock world, it’s THUNDERMOTHER. This Swedish all-female powerhouse delivers high-octane hard rock bursting with attitude, energy and grit. Expect searing riffs, pounding drums and raw, unapologetic vocals - the essence of Rock’n’Roll distilled.
Fronted by the unstoppable Filippa Nässil, THUNDERMOTHER bring a show that’s loud, fiery and utterly irresistible. Leather jackets on, beers up, volume to 11 - THUNDERMOTHER are ready to rock!
Grave Digger
With their new album ‘Bone Collector’, GRAVE DIGGER - one of Germany’s Metal flagships - return to their roots: raw, uncompromising Heavy Metal for the true believers. For over four decades, Chris Boltendahl and his crew have been a cornerstone of the German Metal scene, with classics such as ‘Heavy Metal Breakdown’ and ‘Tunes of War’ setting the standard.
Their live shows deliver everything fans expect from a metal institution: roaring riffs, anthemic choruses, and a timeless stage presence that still hits as hard as ever. When GRAVE DIGGER take the stage, the ground shakes - pure, old-school Heavy Metal at its best.
Freedom Call
The Nuremberg-based “Happy Metal” heroes around Chris Bay bring a dazzling mix of melodic power, double-bass fury and euphoric choruses. With anthems like ‘Warriors’, ‘Power & Glory’ and the immortal ‘Metal Is For Everyone’, FREEDOM CALL turn every hall into a temple of light-speed energy and pure joy.
Tickets
Tickets are available from €79.90 via www.LB-EVENTS.de, by phone on +49 (0) 234 / 947 19 40, and at all recognised ticket outlets.
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