3-days Festivalpass + Camping: 108.40 Euro
3-days Festivalpass: 86.90 Euro

Friday: 39.00 Euro (incl. fees)
Saturday: 45.00 Euro (incl. fees)
Sunday: 49.00 Euro (incl. fees)

Sodom - Tiamat - Diamond Head - Dool - Attic - Dawn Of Disease

Overkill - Axel Rudi Pell - Marduk - Cirith Ungol - Leatherwolf - The New Roses - Nocturnal Rites - Traitor

Saxon - Armored Saint - Backyard Babies - Coroner - Uli Jon Roth - Night Demon - Memoriam - Thundermother

[Dajana] It is that time of the year again :) Yeah! The annual ceremony to open the summer festival open air season, which always starts with our family meeting at ROCK HARD FESTIVAL :) Can’t wait! For the 16th time the legendary :: Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen :: open its gates for all kind of metal heads to celebrate the Pentecost weekend with all kind of metal bands.

[Psycho] And it seems, also the weather god knew that his time had come to do good. There was hardly any cloud seen in the blue sky. Though, I’m sure, that there were less fans than in the previous years. Especially on Friday and Saturday were many gaps to see on the circles. Perhaps it is about time for new and fresh (or even exclusive) headliners? Just an idea…

[BRT] I agree, after partly disastrous weather conditions during last year’s festival it was overdue to get home this time with a sunburn along with great music and an overdose of fizzy hops drinks. I also agree when it comes to the headliners - I see a need for action, even if the theater was well filled on Sunday when SAXON headlined the last festival day.

[Sui] To hit the road towards the ROCK HARD FESTIVAL at fantastic weather… there is no better reason to get stuck in jams. And so I traditionally miss the festival kick-off. Fortunately only one band this year.

:: Stories :: Friday :: Saturday :: Sunday ::

:: Photos :: Friday :: Saturday ::

[Dajana] From an organizational point, everything remained the same. More or less. Ticket prices did not increase, and so did not the prices for drinks and food. The second RHF parking area for 5 Euro has proved itself after the special conditions for the parking house got cancelled. Due to highway closing, we had to take a different route to the Amphitheater, which was so easy and relaxed that I will use it from now on as a regular route. BUT, what really made me angry, were the mobile beer sellers, who ruthlessly trampled on all kind personal things lying on the circles and utmost obtrusive offered half-full cups of beer.

[Psycho] Yes, I agree, those beer seller were exaggeratedly aggressive. No matter, if people were immersed in talking or if there is no space to walk at all: If you didn’t slip aside they tread on your feet, hands, whatever was in their way.
It was new that “heavy fruits” were not allowed to take in. No, I’m not talking about a cantaloupe or a coconut. We are talking about common apples. Yes, it is much better to get a hard plastic cup on your head and slip on a banana peel… Seriously, who comes up with just bullshit?
[Sui] By the way, “heavy fruits” were only skeptical eyeballed in the hands of longhaired men. I have seen ladies with faultless apples in their hands, which then were not marked anymore as potential weapons but just food. There was no metal market anymore. The stalls were spread between the usual merch stalls.
[Dajana] I had no problems with my fruits. Ok, had bananas, which are no heavy fruits ;) To Rockpalast was invited again and streamed almost all bands directly to those on TV, who could not partake in the festival but wanted at least sniff a little bit of festival atmosphere… erm… see and hear I mean ;)

[Psycho] Another thing that was annoying: Why was there only one security to check the bags? I do not nag about the check itself, that’s ok, but why got the backbags checked by only person? There were 3 entries, one for nothing, one for fans without backbags and one to be checked. The queue was very long and so was the waiting time. What I enjoyed: Judas Priest have released a stunning new record and suddenly many metal heads get their shirts and vests out of the closet. I have rarely seen so many Judas Priest logos and patches as on this weekend…

[Dajana] Last but not least we would like to say THANK YOU to the festival maker, to the Rock Hard Magazine, to all the helping hands behind the scene, :: CCS Security ::, cleaner and lavatory attendants. And we would like to say THANK YOU to all bands for another great Pentecost festival weekend :)

story • Psycho, Sui, BRT, Dajana • pics © Dajana & Dajana Winkel • Photography