Rock Im Rain

The German festival season kicked off in style with the twinned Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park pulling a combined crowd of 145,000 fans who displayed amazing resilience in some filthy weather.

Hit by the same cold front that had nighttime temperatures at Sweden Rock hovering around freezing point, both the Nuerburgring and Nuremburg sites were wet and icy cold.

“At one point you could barely see beyond the mist and rain, but then suddenly the mainstage area started filling as thousands of people poured in,” festival promoter Marek Lieberberg told Pollstar. “We were up against the elements all weekend but the fans really enjoyed themselves. If the rest of the German festivals can do as well, then everybody will have a good year.”

Daniel Lieberberg, who programmes the events, felt the bands and the crowd had both worked hard to contribute to the success, naming Slipknot, The Prodigy, Limp Bizkit, The Killers, and Placebo for outstanding performances.

Other acts refusing to let the weather spoil successful festivals June 5-7 included Billy Talent, Kettcar, Killswitch Engage, Mando Diao, Peter Bjorn & John, Scouting for Girls, White Lies, The Kooks and The Subways.