There have been plenty of bands playing a similar style that have played Wacken, on both smaller stages and indeed a late night slot similar to which the surprise guest is playing which a lot of the time hosts bands that don't fit into the traditional Hard Rock or Metal mold.
 
They may or may not but I certainly wouldn't discount on their style of music and it'd be somewhat strange to randomly plug a band that is in the country over the period of the festival.

Sam Przyborowski

There have been plenty of bands playing a similar style that have played Wacken, on both smaller stages and indeed a late night slot similar to which the surprise guest is playing which a lot of the time hosts bands that don't fit into the traditional Hard Rock or Metal mold.

They may or may not but I certainly wouldn't discount on their style of music and it'd be somewhat strange to randomly plug a band that is in the country over the period of the festival.

 
Yeah, I really hope it is them, I've been meaning to see them for ages - Ritchie's a true guitar god (and for my money is/was the best lead player in rock) and his playing is still spot on in Blackmore's Night. 
 
Am starting to get ridiculously excited about Wacken now, it's my first time going. Bring on August! 

First time? You will definitely enjoy it.
 
3rd time for me and I'm stupidly excited now!

If anyone cares about such things, the Meet and Greet schedule is now up.
 
Only two weeks to go now, gotta few things I need to do but after I'm done with that, I can really start looking forward to this. Can't wait to get back to Hamburg. Perhaps more than the festival itself..

I'm completely un-prepared for it this year. I still have train tickets to get, replacement camping gear and still got to buy my Euros too.
 
EDIT: Also the stage times for the Masters of Comedy show are up. Not that any of us are even mildly interested.

Well, yeah...all I've actually done so far is print off the email confirmations for the Stern and my flight. Hoping all my camping gear is alright and probably won't check it till next weekend...
 
I can't believe they've put that Jim Breur on the main stage on the Thursday. Looks like a right unfunny dick whos repertoire consists of Ozzy and Hetfield impressions. I can safely see I'll be either at the campsite at that juncture.
 
Sorted out your train down yet? Still need to stop at mine on the Monday?
 
Also had Dan saying he'd be coming. Until I messaged him back and then he said he had the wrong date and that he actually wouldn't. Which I was expecting.
 
 

Yeah, seems that Germans only get a lot of German comedy. But then what do you expect from a countrey that seems to be obsessed with Mr. Bean.
I think I have seen that Diemar Wischmeyer on Mock the Week once, he was pretty good, but I'm not expecting it to be the same in front of a home crowd.
 
I will need to stop at yours on the Monday Sam, but still not sure about train times yet - just haven't decided whether I'll be getting a train mid-morning or in the afternoon - depends on whether I manage to get everything sorted this weekend or have to leave it til the weekend after - most of my camping gear will need replacing - just about all the stuff I managed to bring back last year got damaged by baggage handlers on the trip back.

No worries. Am hoping to keep the Monday free so I'm available whenever you turn up. However, if you can let me know when you do, that'd be grand.
 
Need to sort things out with Ed and ensure his number hasn't changed from last year so we can meet up with him in Hamburg again.
 
 

Well looks like just the two of us this year but I'm sure we can have fun regardless.

You've not managed to contact Ed? Or is he not going now?

S8N 666

You've not managed to contact Ed? Or is he not going now?

 
Can't make it now due to unforeseen circumstances. Would be better if more people but not gonna let that stop me having a good time. Especially as I rarely get to go anywhere at the moment. Determined to drink loads, have a great time and maybe see the odd band.

Job situation no better I take it. Even I'm struggling this year and I have a fairly decent job. Since april my living expenses have risen by over £100 a month.
 
Wacken is the first "proper" gig I'll have gone to all year.

Still rubbish. I've now been enrolled onto something called "the Work Programme" as of yesterday. Had to sit in an induction meeting yesterday with some right miscreants. 
 
Need to get away for a week real bad before I come back at it somewhat refreshed. Luckily I had my airfare paid for me as a present, I have a fair amount of Euros from last year and have a decent amount of redundancy left to put towards it.

Hi all, was just looking for a little advice, I'm interested in going to WOA next year and was looking for the easiest way to travel there from the UK and have been looking into the Argon events camping package linked from the official WOA website, was just wondering if anyone had any used this before and what it was like? Any advice on travel would be greatly appreciated. 

Used them the first couple of times I went. One time we went round circles in Hamburg for what must have been 2 hours trying to find the hotels that the people stopping in Hamburg were staying at. The other time, the coach was pulled over by the police on the Autobahn and we had to wait there for about 2 hours because of some violation by the coach drivers.
 
It may have gotten better but when you can get a flight for around the same price if you book early enough, I'll take that anytime over a 24 hour coach journey. Especially on the way back.
 
Plus sorting your own travel out means you can get there when you want and not a couple of hours before the bands start. Although I think they do do a day earlier option nowadays but I like to spend a day or two in Hamburg whilst I'm there.

I've never used Argon before (was supposed to use them for Hellfest but that didn't pan out) but for Wacken, I can't imagine anything easier than flying to Hamburg and heading from there. I'm not spending any extra time in Hamburg this year which is a shame but its a fairly straightforward (and cheap) journey to get to Wacken when you are in Hamburg. 
 
The only thing I'd say is when booking your own flights, shop around. For 08 and 11 Wacken's, I've flown with Lufthansa. For this year though, they really jacked the prices up. I think I paid £110 for last year but they wanted £260 for this year. I got lucky with BA's January sale this year so am flying with them (think that cost £120) so its worth looking around. 

Yeah, avoid the coach package thing, used it the first time I went, will never use it again. Even without getting lost or drivers getting arrested, I found 24 hours on a coach to be soul destroying, particularly on the journey home - the stench of a coach full of dirty moshers who'd been camped in a field for 4 days was rather nauseating.
 
I think it's actually quite pricey compared to flying. Even though I left booking flights late this year it still worked out as being a little cheaper than Argons price.
Saying that, it's always best to book flights as early as possible though.

I think some people just aren't that comfortable with sorting their own travel out in a foreign country what with language problems and all that. That said, you'll find most people in Germany can speak English to a degree where they'll be able to help you if needed, if not fluently.
 
Plus if you do fly directly into Hamburg, it is real easy to get the "underground" or U-Bahn from the airport to either the central train station, Hauptbahnhof, or Altona, where you'll be able to get a train to Itzehoe. From there, a shuttle bus will be outside the station to take you to Wacken. Easy.

Aye, flying direct into Hamburg is certainly the easiest way I found.
 
And RyanAir no longer do cheap flights into Lubeck so your're limited for choice anyways (Still having done the Stansted-Lubeck RyanAir flight, that's probably a godsend).

Does anyone know how to get to the swimming pool and how long it takes? Were intending to go Thursday morning to catch Blaas of Glory...... all I know is you have to go to the bus station and the bus is 1euro each way - But, How do i get there LOL?