Weil am Rhein: The long wait is over – Weil am Rhein

Question: Recently there were some line-up changes. Do band cancellations pose a major challenge, or do you always have a “plan B”?

Hamel: It always depends a little on the time of the cancellation. We are now very well networked with some agents and booking agencies, but even with that it is sometimes quite difficult to find an adequate replacement quickly if the cancellation is rather short-term. In this case, however, our network worked very well. In the case of “Carnation” it fits well insofar as they drive from Belgium to a festival in Slovenia on the festival weekend and Weil am Rhein doesn’t mean a big detour here. lucky for us!

Question: It will be a home game for “Destruction” – and then the band will also be celebrating their 40th anniversary. What can fans expect?

Hamel: Since the last home game in 2014, a lot has happened with “Destruction”, on the one hand there have been personnel changes in the band structure (instead of original guitarist Mike Siffringer there are now two guitarists at the start) and on the other hand the last two albums belong to the strongest material what the band has released so far. Especially the current disc “Diabolical” sounds so fresh and sweeping that it’s a joy. The audience can expect a very varied setlist with one or the other surprise, there will certainly be one or the other song unpacked that doesn’t belong to the standard of a “Destruction” set. In addition, one or the other familiar face is expected, but I don’t want to reveal too much at this point. It will definitely be impressive.

Question: How are tickets sold?

Hupka-Merle: We are very satisfied. Luckily we managed to boost advance sales with online advertising so that we can hold the festival without hesitation. Other, mostly smaller festivals had to struggle with low advance bookings to such an extent that they had to pull the ripcord and were cancelled. Many down payments have to be made during the organization phase. This year there is of course a large oversupply of events, which are now being made up for due to the pandemic. The fact that ticket sales went well also speaks for the “Baden in Blut” festival: Despite this large offer, the fans want to come to our festival. That’s a great thing.

Question: The tickets from 2020 are still valid. How many metal fans kept the tickets they had already bought back then?

Hupka-Merle: We only had a few returns. Our fans are very loyal and have kept the tickets. That was of course a great stroke of luck for us, since reversals on a larger scale would definitely have presented us with problems. Many thanks to our fans and the metal scene for the great trust and solidarity.

Question: Many things are currently becoming more expensive. Did you also have to raise prices?

Hupka-Merle: This year we can largely keep the prices the same, apart from a few minor adjustments. The beer, for example, still costs 3.50 euros. This is enormously cheap for concert events these days. Ultimately, this is only possible because we organize the festival on a voluntary basis and as “by fans for fans”. If we had to make a profit, it would look very different. After the pandemic, however, inflation is the next very big challenge. The price increases are sometimes enormous. Festivals depend on logistics. Prices have gone up incredibly in this area. Looking into the future actually worries me: With this rate of inflation, fewer and fewer visitors will be able or willing to afford a ticket for all events in the future. It will definitely be selected. We definitely have to adjust to this and adapt accordingly. Fortunately, with Switzerland as our neighbor, we have a wealthy clientele that is currently benefiting from the weak euro and is generally not so shaken when it comes to inflation. Overall, I see the current developments as very problematic for the industry.

Question: What do you wish for the “bathing in blood” 2022?

Hupka-Merle: A smooth process, despite all the very difficult external circumstances. In addition to inflation, the chaos at the airports is a constant risk that bands have to cancel at short notice and we therefore have to rearrange. This brings unrest to the entire organization. Unfortunately, we have already received a cancellation at short notice due to very expensive flights. In addition, the rate of illness with Covid-19 is currently very high. This is also a big risk, since bands could cancel at short notice due to an infection. It’s not easy as an organizer at the moment. I hope that we won’t have to accept any more cancellations at short notice. So that we can finally celebrate all the bands we’ve had to wait for for so long in good weather (no thunderstorms) properly and exuberantly! Here’s to a great concert weekend!

Friday, July 22:

3:30 p.m.: Toward The Throne 4:20 p.m.: Destinity

5:20 p.m.: Body farm

6:30 p.m.: Disaster

7:55 p.m.: Rotting Christ 9:35 p.m.: Destruction

Saturday, July 23:

11.45am: Vanish

12:35 p.m.: Strikers

1:30 p.m.: Khors

2:30 p.m.: Carnation

3:40 p.m. Suicidal Angels 5:10 p.m. Long Distance Calling 6:45 p.m. Necrophobic

8:20 p.m.: Primordial

10:25 p.m.: Soil work

The festival area in the Dreiländergarten opens at 3 p.m. on Friday and at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Tickets are still available, including online at https://shop.metal-maniacs.eu. Tickets already purchased for 2020 are valid for “Baden in Blut” 2022. The food and drink stands are accessible without an admission ticket.

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