Wacken Open Air set for bumper comeback
German metal festival Wacken Open Air (W:O:A) is set for a banner comeback after last year’s weather-related struggles.
The 2024 edition kicks off today in Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, and features performances from the likes of Scorpions, Amon Amarth and In Extremo.
All 85,000 tickets to the festival were snapped up in just four-and-a-half hours in August, smashing the existing record of six hours set for 2023’s event.
With a historic on-sale behind them and a clear weather forecast ahead, organisers are excited to get back to business.
“The gates open and a flood of fans rush onto the Holy Ground,” W:O:A co-founder Thomas Jensen tells IQ. “Starting the W:O:A festivities on the main stages in the main area is always a very emotional moment for us, still, after all those years. We’re excited about this year’s festival and very much looking forward to it. The weather is great, the fans are celebrating, there are a lot of cool bands coming up… what’s not to like?”
“Starting the W:O:A festivities on the main stages in the main area is always a very emotional moment for us”
Last year, Superstruct-backed promoter International Concert Service was forced to run the 85,000-cap event at a reduced capacity after the festival site was hit by rain and thunderstorms in the days leading up to it, leaving the camping areas “impassable”.
Around 61,000 people entered the site before no further admissions were allowed, meaning close to 25,000 ticket-holders were denied entry. Jensen estimated that the capacity reduction caused a revenue shortfall of more than €7 million.
Ticket-holders denied entry in 2023 were given first refusal to buy Wacken 2024 tickets priced at €333.
This year, organisers have introduced an extra arrival day for campers with a limited number of access passes, priced €66.60 per vehicle for the Sunday before the festival – meaning that areas of the campsite are open for a whole week for the first time.
Wacken Open Air proper runs between 31 July and 3 August under the banner of Witches & Warlocks.
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Wacken Open Air adds extra arrival day for 2024
German metal festival Wacken Open Air (W:O:A) is introducing an extra arrival day for campers in 2024 in a bid to help avoid a repeat of the scenes that marred this year’s festival.
Promoter International Concert Service was forced to run the 85,000-cap event at a reduced capacity back in August after the festival site was hit by rain and thunderstorms in the days leading up to it, leaving the camping areas “impassable”.
Around 61,000 people entered the site before no further admissions were allowed, meaning close to 25,000 ticket-holders were denied entry.
“We had to leave a third of our family standing in front of the door. That was almost emotionally unbearable.” says the Superstruct-backed event’s co-founder Thomas Jensen.
In a message to fans, W:O:A says: “In 2024, we want to do everything we can to avoid a similar situation.
“What many of you have wanted for a long time, we will implement next year: we will open some camping areas on Sunday, 28th of July 2024 from 8am, including Bauer Uwes Garten, Camper-Park and of course the heart of our camping areas, the W:O:A Campground.”
“Our team have developed a system that’ll allow us even more precise planning and can help to optimise the traffic situation for everyone”
It will mark the first time a limited number of access passes, priced €66.60 per vehicle, will be made available for the Sunday before the festival – meaning areas of the campsite will be open for a whole week.
People arriving by car must register online in advance for an exact day of arrival, with a welcome party for early arrivals to be hosted by Wacken boss Holger Hübner, aka DJ Hübi.
“In order to be best prepared for the upcoming edition, we and our team have developed a system that’ll allow us even more precise planning and can help to optimise the traffic situation for everyone,” says Jensen. “We would therefore like to thank the metalheads in advance for their support in this matter with their pre-registration – and look forward to spending a whole week on the field with some of them,”
Artists announced for next year’s event, which runs from 31 July to 3 August, include Scorpions, Amon Amorth and In Extremo. All tickets sold out in just four-and-a-half hours. Ticket-holders denied entry this year were given first refusal to buy tickets for Wacken 2024.
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