That was the EASTSIDE FESTIVAL 2024

The fans had demanded it. After the successful first Eastside Festival 2022 and the somewhat smaller East End 2023, the second Eastside Festival took place in Halle (Saale) on July 5 and 6, 2024. The 60-hectare “Karlsbad”, idyllically situated on the Angersdorfer Teichen, was once again chosen as the location. In the middle of an outdoor pool, with a beach, swimming facilities and a typical kiosk for chips, ice cream and snacks. Somehow, everyone is immediately reminded of their own childhood and the wonderful moments spent in the outdoor pool. You immediately had a “feel-good feeling in your stomach”. The weather also played along. There were only two short showers on Saturday. There were a few technical problems on Friday, but they didn’t really bother us and they also happen at big festivals.

Day 1 – Friday, July 05

Eastside got off to a brilliant start on Friday with Zweite Jugend and their frontman Eli van Vegas. Powerful as always, he immediately captivated the audience. A highlight was the guest appearance by Franzi from the band Aktion:Fiasko, who sang a duet with Eli, adding a feminine electro punk touch. Auger then took to the stage. Frontman Kyle Blaqk impressed the audience and was just as enthusiastic as Escape with Romeo, who played some wave/goth classics in their setlist. Eagerly awaited by many fans: Empathy Test with frontman Isaac Howlet. When the microphone fell out during the opener “Monsters”, Isaac didn’t even notice and the audience took over the vocals loudly and confidently, creating an enthusiastic atmosphere right from the start.

Another classic followed at around 10 p.m. with De/Vison. Frontman Steffen Keth gave an impressive performance and, as usual, got the crowd going wild. When Robert Görl from DAF took to the stage and performed familiar classics such as “Der Mussolini” or “Der Räuber und der Prinz”, he quickly got the audience dancing. At the same time, however, many were overcome with the feeling that the gap left by the death of Gabi Delgado-Lopéz could only be painfully filled. Finally, the highlight of the day for many: Mesh. Frontman Mark Hockings showed everyone why they were the headliners of the day. Unfortunately only in a nutshell. Residents, the public order office and the police saw it a little differently and ended their performance at 02:00. Four songs too early. What a pity, the atmosphere was sensationally good even at such a late hour and everyone still wanted more.

Day 2 – Saturday, July 06

Saturday began with Alienare and frontman Tim with his energetic performance. His many fans were enthusiastic as usual. Then, the enchanting Emese Árvai-Illés from Black Nail Cabaret. She managed to enchant the audience so much that they quickly forgot the brief onset of rain. When Torul took to the stage at around 6 p.m., it became more energetic again. The two frontmen Maj Valerij and Torul Torulsson made sure that hardly anyone in the audience could stand still. Afterwards, sun and Sono. Both fit somehow. The hot sun was perhaps also responsible for a brief power cut, but this was quickly rectified. Fronter Lennart Salomon was his usual professional self and simply started the opener “Supersonic” again, causing hilarity as he re-entered the stage. He then literally got the crowd going with his set. During the changeover break and the sound check, problems arose (with the drums, among other things), which led to delays for Diorama and a shortened performance. As a result, Torben Wendt was only able to play six songs, but these were enough to completely wow the audience. However, they were offered a catch-up date at Eastside 2025. Many were already waiting for Northern Lite, who then took to the stage. Andreas Kubat knew how to inspire and delivered a great show.

Then another highlight of the festival: Laibach. You can say an incredible amount about Laibach, put them in many political corners. Quite a few say it’s art, for many they are a role model. But what they always offer is a really great show. The crowd was literally boiling and that would have been a crowning finale to a very successful festival. – Whoever had to go on stage afterwards could only lose, right? Wrong thought! Because Andy LaPlegua literally stormed onto the stage with Icon of Coil, leaving the audience hardly any room to breathe. Anyone who wasn’t dancing now was dead. This really was the crowning glory of two great festival days.

Summary: Eastside 2024 was simply awesome with a spectacular line-up, a wonderful location and still very informal. Apart from the technical problems, which didn’t really bother us, the organization was exemplary, it was always clean and everyone was very helpful. This unique combination and atmosphere made Eastside 2024 a highlight of this festival summer.

Text & Photos: Thomas Friedel Fuhrmann (bandfisch.tv)