Let’s Party: Rockharz Festival turns 30!

Zur Deutschen Version geht es hier. 

Lately I have often asked myself the question, at what point does one actually feel old? Is it when you no longer understand the everyday language your 16-year-old sister uses? When you celebrate a milestone birthday for the umpteenth time? Or only when you realize that LINKIN‘ PARK’s Meteora is turning 20 this year? The answer is certainly a definite „It depends!“. The important thing, from my point of view, is that you celebrate the festivities as they fall, and that brings us back to the topic…

At the beginning of July thousands of fans of guitar-heavy music will make their way to Ballenstedt. This year even under pretext : The Rockharz celebrates its 30th birthday!

But before we take a closer look at what this XXL birthday party offers us, I would like to say a big thank you to lightinmirror.de, who, as always, contributed the wonderful pictures. All pictures are from Rockharz 2022.

The most significant information I would like to put first: Rockharz 2023 is completely sold out. Currently the problem with ticket scammers is more virulent than ever and for this reason Rockharz has published a list of blocked ticket numbers. Please, please be careful, check the numbers and pick up the tickets in person, if possible!

But if you are now a ticket owner, you can look forward to a wonderful festival in the wonderful Harz mountains. Conveniently accessible via the A14 and A36, the festival takes place on the grounds of a commercial airfield and is surrounded by picturesque fields and meadows, which are partially framed by an adjacent part of the Devil’s Wall. 

Theoretically, it is also possible to get to the festival by public transport, but experience has shown that this is always extremely inconvenient…

I assume that this year the earlier arrival on Tuesday will be possible again for a small surcharge to be paid on site. So if you are particularly impatient, this is the perfect option for you!

At this point, you’re probably wondering why you should go to Rockharz at all. What makes it so much better or different than the other metal festivals out there?

There really is no short or generally valid answer to these questions. For me, Rockharz is always a bit like arriving home. For me, there’s an incredible potential for freedom in the fact that you spend four days with like-minded people listening to good music. I’m rarely as relaxed as I am there, even though I have a lot to do there with my blog activities! The motto of the festival, „Metal, Beer and Friends“ sums it up quite well. You can come to the festival, be yourself and spend a few wonderful days. In addition, you can find friends for life at Rockharz!

Besides the great festival guests, Rockharz of course also offers a wide range of music. About 60 bands will play on the two festival stages on the four festival days. By alternating the use of the stages, you have the opportunity to see every single band. Overlaps, as with other events of this size, do not exist. 

Even though I liked last year’s line-up more, there is no lack of musical highlights this year! From AMON AMARTH to ARCH ENEMY and BATTLE BEAST to FEUERSCHWANZ and Germany’s ESC candidate LORD OF THE LOST, there should be something for everyone!

If you’ve been going to Rockharz for as long as I have, some bands really bring up sentimental memories there too. I like to think back to my interview with BLIND GUARDIAN in 2017, of which I still don’t know how I was able to snag that without any real experience. Or my very first Rockharz in 2014 when I experienced, what can almost be called, a near-death experience during EQUILIBRIUM’s gig. Or when I first became aware of SONATA ARCTICA in 2016. Or… Or… Or… Anyway, you know what I’m getting at! I feel a deep connection to this festival, which is strengthened this year by the fact that I already know I won’t be able to attend next year due to my studies. 

So, in summary, we can say that a really fat birthday party awaits us here, which will remain in our memories for a long time. See you from July 5th to July 8th in Ballenstedt!