Jensen Launches Virtual Wacken

Having sold out his 70,000-capacity festival more than four months in advance, Wacken Open Air chief Thomas Jensen is now selling Europe’s premier metal bash online.

He’s about to launch a new, free, interactive site at www.rockalarm.com that will offer "virtual tickets" for live feeds from festivals.

Details including ticket price weren’t available at press time. CTS Eventim, which will handle the ticketing, was expected to release the details soon.

Jensen said CTS and Tempodome, a new German company working on streaming live concerts online, will trial the idea at this year’s Wacken July 31 to August 2 and decide where to take it from there.

He said he’s still looking to export the Wacken brand and find partners to run versions of the festival in other countries. But apart from saying he’s made most progress in the U.S., he’s staying tight-lipped about which other territories he’s checking out.

This year’s lineup for Wacken, which won "best festival" at this year’s German Live Entertainment Awards in March, includes Iron Maiden, Nightwish, Opeth, Soilwork, As I Lay Dying, Children Of Bodom, Hatebreed and Killswitch Engage.