Three days of partying and dancing with tens of thousands of people in front of the stages. Corona is almost forgotten during "Rock im Park". But it is still unusual for many.
Nuremberg (dpa/lby) - dancing in front of the stages, loud rock music, love showers for the fans and uncomfortable shoes - after a two-year festival break, around 75,000 music fans celebrated exuberantly at "Rock im Park". But in contrast to previous years, they are more cautious and reasonable. Compared to the last time "Rock im Park" 2019, there is significantly less for the medical security service to do. After such a long break, the visitors obviously don't want to jeopardize the enjoyment of the festival.
"This year it's quieter and more relaxed than we usually know," says Sohrab Taheri-Sohi from the Bavarian Red Cross for the medical security service on the festival site. By Monday, the organization had recorded almost 2,950 emergencies - more than 500 operations fewer than in 2019. "That's quite a number." Most of the time it was about minor emergencies such as circulatory problems, allergic reactions, tick bites, cuts or twisted feet. In one case, the emergency services probably save the life of a guest: After a bite, his tongue became life-threateningly swollen.
"Rock im Park" and the twin festival "Rock am Ring" at the Nürburgring in the Eifel on the Pentecost weekend are among the first major music festivals after the outbreak of the corona pandemic. Many music fans in the crowd in front of the stages can see how much they enjoy celebrating and dancing together again. Many lie in each other's arms, jump wildly to the beat of the music and sing and cheer until they are hoarse.
The Munich band Sportfreunde Stiller was also surprised by so much partying on Sunday, the last day of the festival: "So many people on the third day, it's amazing!" says singer Peter Brugger. "It's incredible, we're back in what feels like our festival living room."
Corona and the war in Ukraine seem to be forgotten for a moment during the three-day festival. But to get together with so many people on the area around the Zeppelinfeld in Nuremberg, many can hardly believe at first. This becomes particularly clear on the grandstands, through which many entrances led to the main stage on the Zeppelinfeld. "Oh, shit, that's a lot," says a visitor when he sees the tens of thousands below him. "These crowds," says another visitor. Like many others, she stops to photograph the crowd from above with her smartphone. Security guards have to keep asking people to move on.
But the bands are also celebrating the comeback of the festivals: "I'm so grateful that it's going again," says musician Jan Delay on stage on Saturday evening. And the fans join in gratefully: dance a small choreography together with the man from Hamburg, jump up or crouch down on instruction. "This festival means so much to all of us," said Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong. Later, the US rock band says goodbye to the fans with fireworks.
The Italian rock band Måneskin also put on a remarkable performance on Saturday. Frontman Damiano David comes on stage in a black vinyl suit, white mesh shirt and high white platform boots, guitarist Thomas Raggi in a flared suit with a shiny 70s pattern. But after a few songs, in which David rocks hard across the stage, he changes to flatter shoes to loud applause and comments that he can't continue with the high heels.
During the show, young women climb onto the shoulders of their companions, take off their tops and continue to rock bare-chested. Even so, there is a lot of bare, tattooed skin to be seen at the festival. In the summer heat, many women wear hot pants and tight tops, many men do without T-shirts altogether. Quirky headgear, unicorn costumes and glitter on bare skin are also popular.
"People are open and in a good mood," says a 31-year-old who traveled to the festival from Saxony. Together with his friends, he has inflated a large sofa on the banks of the dozen pond, which will be used as a networking event over the weekend. "People come to chat, to rest or to sleep," he says.
But one thing is reminiscent of earlier years: the flood of garbage. At times the rubbish bins overflow, and rubbish that has been trampled on lies flat in front of the stages. The fact that the shandy is served out of cans on the festival grounds also causes visitors to shake their heads. The organizer announced that "Rock im Park" wants to become more sustainable and greener. Five percent less waste compared to 2019 is the declared goal for this year. But it will still be around 180 tons. By Wednesday - according to the organizer's goal - all traces of the festival should have disappeared from the site.
