Haldern Holds Its Head Up

Haldern Pop maintained its reputation as one of Germany’s taste-making indie festivals by drawing 7,000 per day to the banks of the River Rhine at Rees Aug. 8-10.

Photo: Haldern Pop / C. Buckstegen

The crowd size may not appear impressive, but that’s as many as the small site on the Dutch border can hold.

This year’s gathering was sold out in November. Despite the limitations of the size of the event, promoter Stefan Reichmann has made it in to one of the country’s foremost taste-making festivals over the last 30 years.

“It was fantastic and unbelievable with hundreds of brilliant moments,” Reichmann said of the 30th anniversary bash.

The acts helping to keep Haldern at the cutting edge of emerging talent included Balthazar, Efterklang, Kettcar, Regina Spektor, and Sophie Hunger.