The heroes behind Düsseldorf's summer festivals

How Düsseldorf festival organizers reinvented the summer

Manuel Kalb works as a social media expert for various Düsseldorf music festivals. He also shoots remarkable video documentaries. The film "Düsseldorf - Tokyo" about the Düsseldorf band Love Machine recently celebrated its premiere in the sold-out Metropol cinema. For his latest short documentary, he has now accompanied Düsseldorf festival organizers* as they saved the summer in 2021 - driven by their passion for music. Included: the asphalt Festival on the Seebühne stage in front of K21, the New Fall Festival in the Museumsquartier Ehrenhof and the Chance Festival at the Grafenberg racecourse.

Manuel, what kind of festival summer was it in Düsseldorf?

Last summer, culture makers had to come up with creative and innovative concepts to create new opportunities for a shared and direct cultural experience. Locations born out of necessity, such as the asphalt Festival's Seebühne or the summer edition of the New Fall Festival in the Ehrenhof, as well as smaller events by Stadtklang, Ritus or GoldMucke. This summer, some venues were already established, many new ones have been added and the city has also supplemented its open-air offerings with the "Kultursommer" program, for example at the city beach on the Tonhallenufer or in the Vier-Linden beer garden in Südpark. I thought it was great how many concerts and even new festivals were put on despite all the uncertainties. At the end of the summer, there was almost an oversupply of open-air events. And when the music was right, there was an exuberant atmosphere everywhere because it sometimes felt like 2019 again. 

The festival organizers in your documentary seem combative and optimistic, even though they are going through the worst time of their professional lives. Has this summer given them back their faith?

As a culture maker, the struggle for existence is unfortunately always part of it, but the last 1.5 years have been really extreme. The constant uncertainty was very grueling, and our energy and money reserves were as good as depleted. That's why this summer has certainly given many people hope that things can really get going again soon. Hopefully everyone will still be at the start next year, because many concerts with spectator and distance restrictions were certainly not really lucrative. It will also be exciting when all events can take place normally again and all bands can make up for their postponed and planned shows. It's sure to be a loud summer in 2022.

"You don't find great places like the racecourse and the court of honor everywhere"

Is that a typical Düsseldorf attitude?

The rather manageable Düsseldorf festival landscape is certainly like the rest of the industry. But what impresses me is how Düsseldorf's creative artists are constantly discovering new places and filling them with life. Atmospheric open-air locations on the banks of the Rhine are not exclusive to Düsseldorf, but great places like the racecourse in Grafenberg Forest or the Ehrenhof in the Museumsquartier are not to be found everywhere. And the many collaborations between medium-sized and smaller event organizers should be highlighted here, as there is a friendly atmosphere.

What was the best moment you experienced this summer in front of or behind the stage?

My highlight was the new Chance Festival. My first festival this summer without seating restrictions, with a party in front of the stage and family on the picnic blanket. For a long time, the Open Source Festival was held at the same location on the racecourse, which was already a cool summer festival for Düsseldorf.    

If I want to visit a Düsseldorf open-air festival in 2022, which one should it be?

Definitely to the summer festival of "Ritus - Underground Shows".

Pictures: Manuel Kalb
Portrait photo: Foto Schiko