Metal enthusiasts experience damp grassy expanse at Wacken festival
The Wacken Open Air (W:O:A), one of the largest heavy metal festivals worldwide, is currently underway in Schleswig-Holstein's Wacken, Germany. This year's event, taking place from August 1st to August 2nd, features a star-studded lineup, with Guns N' Roses serving as the headliners.
The iconic American rock band, led by Axl Rose, will take the stage on Thursday evening to conclude their Europe and Middle East tour. Besides Guns N' Roses, the festival will also see performances from the French band Gojira, US rockers Papa Roach, Machine Head, Apocalyptica, and Michael Schenker.
The festival has two main stages, with Wind Rose being the first band to perform on one of them in the afternoon. Saltatio Mortis kicked off the festivities on Wednesday evening, prior to the main festival days.
Despite the rain, festival founder Holger Hübner addressed the crowd, calling it the "original Wacken weather." Hübner and co-founder Thomas Jensen will only be on stage again on Sunday morning.
Thousands of metal fans are attending the festival, which sold out its 85,000 tickets since the end of September. Hübner promised that it will be another "great week" at the festival.
It's worth noting that the 2021 Wacken Open Air festival was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, there were no official headliners for Wacken Open Air 2021. The event was postponed to 2022 instead, with many bands rescheduled.
The Wacken Open Air has been a staple in the heavy metal community for years, attracting fans from all over the world. This year's edition is no exception, promising an unforgettable experience for all attendees.
Attendees can expect a diverse lineup of music, with American rock band Guns N' Roses and French heavy metal band Gojira among the performers. In addition to the intense headbanging at the heavy metal concerts, some festivalgoers might also enjoy the energetic rhythm of sports activities, such as air guitar competitions, which are a popular tradition at Wacken Open Air.
