By Christian Sylvester
If it was the last Taktraum festival, many would regret it. The venerable Reduit Tilly has once again become a spectacular party fortress. After a long break, 7,000 visitors celebrated all the more exuberantly on Friday and Saturday – and very peacefully.
No one really cares about a little rain here. In 2019, Reduit Tilly was last busy. After dreary and culturally dry years, the fortress is shaking again. Let it pour quietly – it doesn’t matter. Thousands of people rock their bodies with happy faces in rousing rhythms or romp to the driving beats – 120 beats per minute minimum. Carpets of sound sound confusingly interwoven across the party area, which is well worth seeing – and everything is bathed in beguiling light. Welcome back to the beat room.
Rain can’t spoil the mood on Friday
When the constant dripping got stronger around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, hardly anyone took cover in the mighty, well-filled oval of the Reduit. Otherwise you would miss the Trio Blond! Nina, Lotta and Johann put on one of the best and funniest shows in the ten-year history of the festival on the main stage. The sisters assure that in their hometown of Chemnitz they order baked goods non-verbally, just with moves in the shop that are already known there. You show that. Dozens of people dance happily after the figures.
The last Taktraum festival?
Only rarely does Ingolstadt appear really metropolitan. Just like at this festival with its appeal far beyond the region. It’s taking place for the sixth time at Reduit Tilly. This year for the last time? The organizers posted “Last Edition” on Facebook. Whoever you ask in the audience, everyone says: It would be a great loss. Everyone wants lots of extras. “The climate here is great! You can feel carefree,” says Monika, who strolls around with artistic make-up. They love the rhythm room, say Thomas (37), Eva (32) and Marcel (37) from Ingolstadt. “The feeling is just great! You meet a lot of friends.” Numerous female and male visitors appear extravagantly dressed in alternative, casual festival chic.
The sophisticated, artistic style of the Rhythm Room can also be seen at the stands. Commercial junk has to stay outside. Katharina Hierl and Sarah Schlecht sell handmade, useful goods made from old materials: glasses cases, purses and handbags. The artists also like to deal with upcycling. “A large part comes from the art and culture Bastei,” says Katharina Hierl. The demand is encouraging. As is the mood. “People celebrate very boisterously. You feel like it again!”
On Saturday evening, a conspicuous number of representatives of the city are seen here, above all Mayor Christian Scharpf and cultural advisor Gabriel Engert. Don’t you want to miss the “Last Edition” of a cult event in Ingolstadt? Or do the lights not go out for the last time after midnight? You will see.
Balance sheet of the organizers
Sold out. 7000 visitors. Record. And no unpleasant incidents. “Everything went smoothly. It was really nice,” reported Chris Britt on Sunday. He organizes the festival (in a GmbH) together with Phil Schmid and Diego Richter. “The Taktraum just creates an atmosphere that makes people want to stay peaceful. We’ve never had a fight.”
The organizers have mobilized a lot of staff. Security was very present, friendly, discreet – and always vigilant. Thanks to well-staffed serving stands, getting drinks went relatively quickly even when there was a large rush. “The Narrwalla gave us great support,” says Britt. “I would also like to say a big thank you to our bar chefs!”
And? Was that the last Taktraum festival? The “Last Edition” announcement is “not set in stone,” says Britt. “But it is in the stars whether it will continue.” He gives the reasons for this quite bluntly: The years during the pandemic “were difficult, although we received bridging aid”. The clock room has “never been an event that has thrown off a lot financially”. One always wanted to keep the ticket prices moderate. “49 euros for two days with 35 internationally known artists – that’s really cheap!” But in connection with the “love of detail” in decoration and lighting, the whole thing becomes expensive for the organizers. With extensive preparation: “Diego, Phil and I have put over 1000 hours of work into this festival.” Organizing it “just for fun” will soon no longer be possible.
And save on effort? Absolutely no way! “That would no longer be our clock space. It was always a heart project.”
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