Fire brigade band opens 35th Wacken Open Air with cover hits and crowd chants as 85,000 metal fans gather under heatwave
The local fire brigade's music group performed cover versions and a call-and-response chant with the crowd, opening the sold-out 85,000-visitor heavy metal festival in Wacken, Germany, under sunny skies.
The traditional fire brigade music group kicked off the 35th edition of the Wacken Open Air heavy-metal festival on Wednesday with cover hits and call-and-response chants. Musical director Stefan Bumann cried "Wacken, Wacken" and the crowd roared "Feuerwehr!" back.
Oh, it's nice to be here again.
Among the covers was a metal version of Robbie Williams' "Let me entertain you", with many fans flashing the "Pommesgabel" hand sign. Later in the afternoon the Infield area in front of the Harder and Faster main stages was set to open, with performances by bands such as Hämatom scheduled for the evening. The festival, sold out with 85,000 visitors, features Def Leppard, Judas Priest, Sabaton and Powerwolf across its four days ending August 1. After last year's weather disruptions, the start was forecast to be sunny and hot, with temperatures reaching 30 to 31 degrees Celsius on Thursday.
