Eisheilige Nacht with SUBWAY TO SALLY, FIDDLER’S GREEN, LETZTE INSTANZ, MANNTRA: On Stage

December 22, 2023, Dortmund

Anyone who was still not really in the Christmas spirit on December 22, 2023 in the Ruhr region and the surrounding area was well advised to head to the Fantastic Christmas Market of Lights in Fredenbaumpark in Dortmund that afternoon. Because one of the Eisheilige Nacht took place there. In addition to hosts Subway to Sally, the line-up for this edition consisted of Fiddler’s Green, Letzte Instanz and Manntra and was rightly announced in advance as the folk-rock party of the year. Fortunately, the small festival took place on the weather-protected circus tent stage of the Christmas market, so that although you entered the tent completely soaked and with mud-covered shoes, you were able to enjoy the show dry-footed until the end, while it continued to rain outside.

The Croatian folk metal band Manntra entered the stage punctually at 5:15 pm to thunderous applause and played the first song of the evening, “Heathens”. The boys had traveled 17 hours from Croatia to Dortmund and had experienced every conceivable weather condition on their journey, as singer Marko reported, but it was all worth it for this performance. For the song “Barren King”, the band member of the same name, wearing a scary mask, climbed onto a stand-up paddle board and surfed over the crowd. Without breaking any bones in the wobbly affair, he then jumped back on stage to continue the performance. Manntra certainly won many new fans that evening.

Next came the Letzte Instanz. They have been an integral part of the black scene for years and, as they said themselves, are big Subway to Sally fans. It was therefore only logical that they also accepted the invitation to the Eisheiligen Nacht. She was accompanied by sock puppet Renate, who also sang along to “Mein Todestag”. Singer Holly Loose said that he had already been so bad at dancing at Waldorf school that this had regularly caused confusion during eurythmy, but that it was more important to dance a lot than to dance well. Whether “good” is in the eye of the beholder, but above all he and the entire auditorium danced “a lot” until the last song “Noch einmal”.

For those who weren’t sweaty enough at this point, it was time for the co-headliner of Eisheiligen Nacht: Fiddler’s Green. Irish speed folk in perfection. Even in the front row, people danced to songs like “Bottoms up” or “Perfect Gang”, although it was so full that there was hardly any room for it. Balloons were thrown into the audience and joyfully pushed back into the air again and again. It was an exuberant party – including reindeer waving flags and Rudolph the reindeer, who sailed through the revelers in an inflatable boat and threw sweets into the crowd.

Directly to the intro and “Schneekönigin”, Subway to Sally let it snow from the tent ceiling and transformed the venue into a winter wonderland. Violinist Ally’s glittery outfit did the rest. Even the heels of her boots glittered like Christmas. The songs were very well chosen. Among other things, “Eisblumen” was sung along to the last row and, of course, the “Kleid aus Rosen”, in which singer Eric Fish tore up a rose, was not to be missed. It snowed again for “Eisheilige Nacht” and for “Veitstanz” all the evening’s bands were brought onto the stage to celebrate together. The final song was the ever-popular “Räuber”, for which the band donned Christmas hats – with lots of glitter for Ally, of course.

After a successful evening, we were all released into the rainy night, where one or two mulled wines were already waiting for us.

Text: Fabienne Wiedmann
Photos: blende666

Setlist Manntra:
“Heathens” – “Morana” – “Ori Ori” – “Barren King” – “Shadows” – “Nightmare”

Setlist Letzte Instanz:
„Intro/Ehrenwort“ • „Entzündet die Feuer“ • „Medley: Geigenschüler, Egotrip, Mein Todestag“ • „Wir sind eins“ • „Finsternis“ • „Komm“ • „All I Want for Christmas“ • „Rapunzel“ • „Noch einmal“

Setlist Fiddler’s Green:
“A Night in Dublin” – “Shanghaied in Portsmouth” – “Bottoms up” – “Perfect Gang” – “The Bog” – “Greens and Fellows” – “Tobi Solo” – “Galway Girl” – “One Fine Day” – “Down” – “Mrs. Mc Grath” – “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” – “A Good Old Irish Bar” – “Yindy” – “Victor” – “Pat Murphy”

Setlist Subway to Sally:
„Intro“ “ • „Schneekönigin“ • „Was ihr wollt“ • „Leinen los“ • „Alles, was das Herz will“ • „Eisblumen“ • „Weit ist das Meer“ • „Auf dem Hügel“ • „Henkersbraut“ • „Falscher Heiland“ • „Das Rätsel II“ • „ Ihr kriegt uns nie“ • „Kleid aus Rosen“ • „Eisheilige Nacht“ • „Sieben“ • „Tanz auf dem Vulkan“ • „Veitstanz“ • „Räuber“