The 33rd edition of Wacken Open Air was a full success. We at HEAD OF PR were once again taking care of press relations at W:O:A 2024 and can look back on intensive, but above all very enjoyable and successful days with our team of over 50 people. We would like to thank everyone involved, partners and industry colleagues alike. Together we were able to coordinate over 80 TV shoots, accredite over 500 media representatives who traveled from 37 countries and conduct numerous interviews.
Musical highlights included the following bands and artists:
The Swedish rock'n'roll band BLUES PILLS released their triumphant fourth studio album "Birthday" two weeks ago via Throwdown Entertainment. With their show at the W:O:A they not only celebrated their release party, but also "Friday is Flyday": The non-profit organization Metality enabled interested fans to safely crowd surf in wheelchairs during their show.
Blues Pills about Wacken Open Air: „Our release show for our album Birthday took place at W:O:A, and what a day! We had the most amazing time playing our new songs. This is the second time we play W:O:A and it is truly a special vibe and atmosphere. The top highlight was Flying Friday where Metality organized so rock and metal heads in wheel chair could crowd surf during our show. How cool and awesome is that! This is something we will remember forever, and hope more festivals will get inspired by!“
The full show can be streamed via MagentaMusik here
THE WARNING - the sister trio from Monterrey, Mexico - are absolute high-flyers and celebrated their Wacken Open Air debut with a rousing show. The show can be streamed here via MagentaMusik.
Their eagerly awaited album "Keep Me Fed" was released at the end of June via Universal Music and was celebrated by fans and the press alike.
SHREDHEAD, the Israeli band that won the Wacken Metal Battle in 2012, excited numerous metalheads in front of the Wackinger Stage with their performance.
Singer Aharon Ragoza on the Wacken Open Air: "If I had to describe W:O:A in one word, that word would be ‚home'. As I said on stage, 'it doesn’t matter who you are and where you are from, if you love metal that makes us all brothers and sisters, one big metalhead family'. Every family needs a home, and for our giant metalhead family W:O:A was definitely it. We had a blast playing on stage, and breaking in the pit off it. Until next time, keep on rocking."
From sunny southern California, ZEBRAHEAD delivered their in-your-face sound and got the crowd going wild with their comeback. The next release is planned for November as part of their EP "I".
"So stoked to have played our very first Wacken festival in 2024. The entire experience was everything we could have hoped for. Amazing crowd and an absolutely amazing time wandering the festival and having some drinks with friends. We can't wait to come back!!! All I can say is WOW!!!", says an overwhelmed ZEBRAHEAD bassist Ben Osmundson.
The full show can be streamed via MagentaMusik here.
Scorpions, Pain, Blind Channel and Anneke van Giersbergen caused no less excitement. On the last evening of the festival, a visually stunning multimedia show on both main stages announced the first acts for Wacken Open Air 2025, which will take place from July 30 to August 2, 2025. The first line up announcements include Gojira, Papa Roach, Machine Head, Saltatio Mortis, Apocalyptica, Saxon, Within Temptation, Dimmu Borgir, Michael Schenker, Dool, Ministry and Beyond The Black.
Tickets are available via metaltix.com for 333€.
In The Bullhead, the official W:O:A magazine, you will find the latest interviews with some of the bands already announced for 2025.
July 30 - August 2, 2025