Planning 2016

Hello!

I'm a planner. Having only 35 free days a year needs careful planning. The huge offer of summer festivals, the new albums of my favourite bands and my friends around Europe require special attention during the planning stage.
I like to be spontaneous sometimes, but only until some degree. I'd rather know when and where and what to do. Like this I can reach most of the events I want to, spread them along the whole year.
For me a quite impressive list is coming with links to the event/festival pages and the bands, so if you wanna meet, you'll know where to find me ;)

January

• 16th - Leipzig - Villakeller - Event page
  Victorius
  Antyra / Varus / Destillat
• 23rd - Wroclaw/Alibi - Event page
  Luca Turilli's Rapsody
  Iron Mask / Asylum Pyre

February

• 5th - Brno - Event Page
  Sabaton / Wisdom
• 6th - Zlin - Event Page
  Battle Beast
• 13th - Warsaw/Progresja - Event Page
  Powerwolf
• 16th - Warsaw/Progresja - Event Page
  Helloween
  Rage / Crimes of Passion

March

• 31st - Wien / ((szene)) - Event Page
  Van Canto
  Dragony / Grailknights

April

• 16th - Hamburg - Event Page
  Van Canto
  Freedom Call / Grailknights

May

• Desperately need something here :D

June

• 3rd - Plzen/Metalfest Openair - Event Page
  Lordi / Stratovarius / Epica / Gloryhammer
  Amorphis / Crematory / Delain / Crucified Barbara / Grand Magus / Entombed A.D.
• 9-12th - Nickelsdorf/Nova Rock - Event Page
  Red Hot Chilli Peppers / Korn / The Offspring / Disturbed / Bullet for my Valentine / Amon Amarth / Breaking Benjamn / Children of Bodom
  Volbeat / Alice Cooper / Wanda / Billy Talent / Behemoth / Slaves - and many more
• 24th - Warsaw - Pogresja - Event Page
  Blind Guardian / Sopor (not 100% sure yet)

July

• 14-17th - Vizovice/Masters of Rock - Event Page
  Apocalyptica / Amon Amarth / Tarja / Eluveitie / Korplikaani / Rhapsody / Freedom Call / Orden Ogan
  Amaranthe / Testament / The 69 Eyes / Oomph / Rotting Chirst / Evergrey / Waltari / Kissin Dynamite / Treshold / Melechesh / Swallow the sun / Thunder Mother

August

• 6th - Ostrava v plamenech - Event Page
  Within Temptation
• 19-21st - More//Than//Fest - Event Page
  Freedom Call / DragonForce / Stratovarius / Arkona
  Children of Bodom / Cradleof Filth / Ensiferum / Citron / Eagleheart / Andre Matos / Serenity / Arsea
• 26-27th - Terchovsky Budzogan - Event Page

September

• 3rd - Zgierz/City of Power Festival - Event Page
  Avenford / Dragonhammer / Vexillum
  Scream Maker / Iron Saviour / Titanium / Sin7SinS / Porta Inferi / Divine Weep
• 23-24rd - Hamburg - Hamburg Metal Dayz - Event Page
  Orden Ogan / Gloryhammer
  Equilibrium / Primordial / D-A-D

October

• Anything? - Hoping for a Sonata autumn tour, because a year just can't pass without an SA concert!!

November

• ?? Budapest - Keep Wiseman Alive

December

• Probably only home and Xmas, but we'll see.

Uff. If you know anything good meanwhile - please do share it with me :)

xoxo \m/
Szi

Dalriada - Metsatöll - Heidevolk - Arkona

Hello,

Meanwhile in a galaxy far far away half of the world is watching the new Star Wars movie, I went to a concert for a very fine selection of Folk Metal music. This time it was different than usual. These bands came to the city I'm living in, I didn't have to travel, and the other, I went with a friend and colleague of mine, Tomi. He drew my attention to this show, and I was superexcited to see a whole folk metal evening (it was a first for me! - and couldn't be a better introduction to live folk metal).

Unfortunately I was working that day, so just caught the last song of the first band (Jar). I've even seen some of the guys around their tourbus in front of the venue (Alibi - Wrocław). Anyways. First the beer, and then I got to the front of the stage to see Dalriada setting up. Knew them for ages, and even heard that they are giving an awesome live show. Tomi said all the best about them, so I expected a lot, and I was not disappointed, even the other way around.

Dalriada is a hungarian band, they are singing hungarian with loads of folk elements in their songs. On this tour they came with their new album: Áldás. The show unfortunately was short, but they did play some of the songs I like. For example the Ígéret. I was actually perplexed to see some of the fans singing with them. It is not that common that anyone learns hungarian, and there was a girl, who was perfect hungarian. Also met a guy, Kaarli, who is a huge fan of Darliada and Metsatöll. He came from the Czech Republic just for this show. Amazing, isn't it? The funny part on the concert was when he just shouted: "Mégegyszer" with a bit broken hungarian, but still made me smile :) (it means - once more). The other funny moment was when István (guitar and vocals) just asked the others on the stage: "Mi a fasz van?" - I will not translate this one, google it if you want, but at that moment we just laughed with Tomi so bad :)

They did come out after the show and we have some nice pics with them. With a funny question before somewhere - "Are you hungarian? - you speak very well" That is not something you hear about your mothertongue every day :D

Dalriada and lil me

Tomi with Dalriada

After them Metsatöll took the stage. They are an estonian band. You probably know already that I'm more into power metal, and honestly I didn't have time to research all the bands playing this night. Actually the only one I didn't listen to was Metsatöll. I got the biggest surprise ever on the stage when Lauri (wind instruments) just started to talk. That voice he has is causing an eargasm. Seriously. The song he was singing in estonian made me shiver through the whole song. He is the one here on the pic :)

Their set was very mixed, slower and faster songs. I enjoyed it. Even though I figured out at this point that I'm not used to mashpits anymore. But that's quite allright. I can jump and headbang all the way :) Markus (guitar and vocals) was living with the show back and forth. He was truly amazing.

I don't understand a single word in estonian, but it doesn't matter. The music gives what it has to. Listen to Küü whatever it means!! The next day I was checking out them - I have to say, that beside they have great albums, the artwork of the covers are mesmerizing - for me. At the end I managed to catch him also going to backstage:

I was 'dancing' so much here, I needed some more beers to be ready for Heidevolk! A TRUE show on the stage. Contact with the crowd, The whole club was jumping together, and it seemed that they did enjoy the show a lot. The band and the fans also. I couldn't help myself to jump and to lalalala for the verses. It was an excellent play. At the end they did go for the fans' wishes and they played one of their most popular song: Vulgaris Magistralis

After the show they came out to interact with fans, We could even have some nice talk with them one by one if we had the time. I had the privilege to talk with Jacco (singer) about how musicians work, how they do enjoy the shows and so on. In general they were all so very amazing. Here I think pictures tell more than words could:

Rowan

Jacco and the photobomber Lars

Koen

And on the stage the evening got closer to the end, the headliner band - Arkona got the stage. They are tourning with the Pagan Rebellion Tour since September. Honestly it was so visible on the stage that they got tired. I was expecting a great show with all the might they have. But I enjoyed the previous bands more. Not quite sure why. Do not misunderstand me, it was even more than allright, but from them I did expect more. Some spice in the food. Masha (singer) with her excellent voice came on and put the show on the table. I can't help myself thinking that it was a 'one-more-and-we-are-done' show. Other than that their professionalism carried them through. For me the one who took the show on his shoulders was Vlad (wind instruments). Even had some eye-contact with him from the stage, which he mentioned after the show also, so I was not imagining it. :D Anyways, I'll see them next year again on More//Than//Fest :)

As I've written before. After the show guys came out and had some nice conversations. Furthermore I've found some new friends here: Rafał, Krzysztof, Wojtek from Poland, Kaarli and Jan from the Czech Republic. I'm pretty sure that we will meet again!!

xoxo \m/
Szi

Freedom Call - Vexillum

Ellou!

Here comes the big shot of the weekend. After an amazing Dragony-Wisdom concert on Friday, deadly tired I took a nightbus to Berlin. Capital city of Germany, yey. Managed to get lost fast at Hauptbahnhof, but afterall got everything to be ready for the night!
Don't even know where to start, so many things happened :)

You might know how close Freedom Call is to my heart... so close that only this year I managed to see them live seven times. It was scary even to count it OMG :) I loved them more than 10 years back, but as I've mentioned before, I stopped listening to them around 2001/2002. Now I should be very thankful for Sonata for bringing back them to me (one of the many things I can be thankful for).

These guys are simply amazing. What Chris can do on the stage, the fun he makes and his pure originality is always taking me off my feet (he always loves the local water!). His continous happiness became the trademark of the band - Happy Metal! It really is. At the very first second they come out to the stage I have the 32teeth smile on my face.
Managed to have some words with him after the show in K17 on Sunday. For him being on the stage is always a blast. The energy the audience can give is amazing. I could tell (and he actually listened to it) my feelings about the energy flow. I believe it goes both ways. Not sure which was first, the egg or the chicken, but they live off our energy, and we do live off theirs. It's an awesome symbiosis between us. I can't live without live music, and the bands can't live without audience ;)
Ramy at drums. He is one of his kind. Extremely talented drummer, and very smart man. I got the chance to talk with him once, and I can tell he has that clever eyes if you look closer.

Ilker at the bass guitar. He is kind and has a simply amazing personality. In Zgierz (PL) and Ostrava (CZ) we could talk a bit even scratching the surface of the private lives.
Lars at the guitar. I've honestly never met more open person in my whole life. He is the one first coming out to the fans after a show, has a nice word to everybody. Enjoying the love of the fans and I do believe they enjoy his presence also pretty much!

Now get back to the present. The show started with Vexillum. They are an italian band, I've found them through a Spotify radio some time ago, and I fell in love with their music. Couldn't wait to see them live. For me a band is great if the live performance gives the chills. And this show was THAT kind. I think that for a smaller band playing abroad having fans abroad can be an amazing feeling. Crazy girls (like me - with terrible voice) shouting the songs with them gives the purpose for playing live and travelling around, showing themselves to the world. They played some of my fav songs like The Wanderer's Notes, but THE very fav was missing: The Dream.

I am very happy that they will come to Poland next year to Zgierz, City of Power festival. And they did promise to me, that they will play this song there!! We will see if... When I told this to Dario (vocal), he started to sing it for me. There at the bar. I was melting, almost started to cry :D It was amazing!
I got a group photo with them!! It was around the 5th try of the guy who I managed to find... Here we were just keeping that smile for a minute or so. Still this pic means a lot to me.

There was a guy with the band, who recorded the whole show with a small camera. Somewhere in the middle he noticed that I just love the band, and told me 'don't be scared' - and lifted me up on his shoulders, and gave me the camera! So whenever you see the concert video about it with closeups on the guys, that was me holding the camera :D

In the middle of the concert - when I was headbanging bigtime, I just looked right for a second, and saw Florian (guitars in Victorius and other bands) waving towards me smiling! I just had to jump on him with excitement that he recognized me :) We've met on More//Than//Fest festival (SK), and there and here also after the show had very fine conversations. No wonder, that Lars has amazing friends, like him! Such a wonderful person. Flo, we have to continue that conversation which we started outside! :) Also met Lars' sister, Cori, who came for the show. It was funny how we could actually talk to each other. She was speaking german, and I spoke english. And we understood each other perfectly well. There is no language barrier if you don't want it to be there ;)

And after Vexillum, FC came. The concert was extraordinary. They've just blown away everyone! I was that close, I could've touched the guys. I was wearing my awesome original FC shirt - which they've signed earlier, and they seemed to recognize me, winking from the stage, which always brings the butterfly effect in the stomach :D As usual, this show took my voice away! Jumping and shouting and clapping and hey'ing with the whole crowd whatever they were playing. They played one of my very favourites: Bleeding Heart.

After the show I could just talk briefly with them (I didn't even see Ilker), but still it was an awesome night. I met again new people out there, and I'm pretty sure that it was not the last time we met on a FC show. Callers are everywhere!
Thank you Amelie and Christians for the great night!

And I already collected some goodies! I can't have the drumstick in my wallet, but I'm keeping the pick there to bring luck :) Thank you Ramy and Francesco!!!

And the conclusion of the night: if you have a toothbrush, you can open a bottle of wine!

xoxo \m/
Szi

Dragony - Wisdom - Nightmarcher

Hellou!

As I promised earlier, here comes my last weekend. Actually for now it is only vol.1, because I've been in 2 cities, seen 6 bands, and so many things have happened, that I've decided to split it in two.
Started my journey from Wrocław Thursday evening to reach Vienna by Friday morning. With changing buses it was only around 10 hours of trip, but at least I could sleep a bit on the bus. Vienna is a beautiful city. It truly is, but not gonna go through the boring sightseeing stories. Let's just say, that I didn't really go there to visit the city. I went there to attend a gorgeous night in ((szene)).
I did have guarantee for that - knowing what Wisdom can do on the stage, and had very high expectations for Dragony. And this show was their second album's release party as headliners.

Dragony. I've written the story already how I met Sigi, their singer in Terchova. That awkward conversation... I will never forget: "Are you a musician also?". I'm so sorry. But anyway, I've got to know him a tiny little bit, and got to know the music they play. After that festival I could only listen to their first album from 2012: Legends. And here is my favourite song of the album: Burning skies. When they've released the new album: Shadowplay in September, I knew I will listen to it 24/7 for a week at least. Especially after the first single: Wolves Of the North. I love Game of Thrones back and forth, and the song has its theme, and never gets boring for me.
Had plans to get to a GammaRay tour, which was supported by them, but lack of holidays... oh well, was more interested in their headliner set anyway. As soon as they've announced it, I started to plan my trip to Vienna. That only added to the bucket, that Wisdom was going to support them.

So there I was. And I was so there, very early, almost the first in the club. I did my merch-visit (got my very own Dragony-shirt!!) I just needed the first row. I had to feel the bass and everything close. Also was interested in the 2 other supporter bands - Nightmarcher and ToBeContinued. Both are from Austria. (Unfortunately I did not have time to do my usual researches, so they were surprise for me).

And then they've started. Nightmarcher. That girl has an incredible voice. I had goosebumps quite often when she was singing. She just joined the band not so long ago, so was not easy to find anything where she is singing, but finally I've found a live video of the Wanderer song. Listen, listen! I still feel the song, and what they've done on the stage. If I can, I surely will go to an other concert. Let's hope they will be on some summer festivals. Fingers crossed.

Credit for: All Austrian Rock&Metal Music

Unfortunately I can't say that much good about ToBeContinued. Who knows me knows, that I'm a very honest person. On my mind on my mouth. Here it goes. The music, they are playing is good. But what they did on the stage could be in a studio. Seriously guys, why place 2 vocal girls in front of the bassist? Why? Here again the lead singer girl had a very very good voice. As I've noticed, most of the songs was a conversation between a woman and a man. The man in this case was the keyboard player. He was living with the music, not necessary with the audience. I can say the same about the girl also. They actually communicated with each other on the stage, closed out the fans. They had quite a few I have to admit.

Credit for: All Austrian Rock&Metal Music

It is possible though, that I was so excited already then waiting for Wisdom to start, that I was not patient enough to listen them with my heart. But but but... Wisdom. Before the show I've seen them going to the backstage, had a short eye-contact with Tomi (drums), who seemed to recognize me right away :D I've met them first in Zgierz (PL) on a festival this summer with the recent lineup. So with the other hardcore Wisdom-fans from Austria - we took the first row, and they've started. The sound was amazingly good (but that is expected from Szene - on Sonata concert it was awesome also). They did play a new song also, for what I was soooooo happy, I even have a video :)

Their new album will be released in February 2016. It's in my calendar already! If you want to listen some goodies - here are my favourites: Wander the world and Judas. Will not paste all my favs here, that would be like 4 album worth of songs :)
After the whole show finally I could make some nice pictures with the guys. Even tho I had to hunt them down to have a whole band in one pic, I almost managed to do it, NG is missing from the pic. *sadface*

Also have some individual photos... With Máté. Oh well. I noticed his expression after the photo, and was VERY thankful for that. But c'mon, he had tokaji wine, which he gladly shared. I took as a compensation for the face. :D

Managed to make one with Anton too, he is an amazing guy. Truly talented - they've played songs he was writing... I have a feeling that he is that kind of talent, who is always drawing back listening, but does not talk too much. At least I had that experience. That silent kind.

After the Wisdom-orgasm, there started Dragony. The first thing I can say, that they know how to put on a show. Songs just came one after the other, and the time flied so fast... it was already over. I was like: can you just start over again? But I couldn't push the restart button. There was fun, there was sad, there was energy, there was fast, there was slow on the stage. They did everything what the fans needed. For the next show I need a Unicorn. #gloriusvictorius

The pic is not the best, but #unicornunite

Finally the end has come, and it was the time for me to wait for them outside, talk with them if I could. Sigi is a great guy. Period. I mentioned in an earlier post, that a friend of mine and her husband might come to this show from Slovakia, but unfortunately they couldn't. She asked me to give her greetings to Sigi. As I did, he remembered them right away! After the show I knew he would be glad to assist for the photo I was waiting for since Terchova :D

I don't think so that there was anyone else in the crowd who has the following photo. I literally collected the guys together from the room grabbing their hands. I have to apologize to those people from whom I took them away, but it was only some minutes :) (Even tho Frederic, the drummer is missing, I'm still proud of myself, that I could manage this pic)

And fortunately the night was not over yet here!! With the guys from Wisdom I could talk in the club for around an hour more, it was amazing. And no, the night is still not over. As basically the only hungarian there, Tomi asked me if I would like to join the afterparty. So 3 of us (Anton, Gábor K and Tomi) and 2 more girls (who actually went home early) went to drink some more and talk. I have to add, that it was a waste of that wine to mix it with cola, which we figured with Tomi was not even cola, but some cinnamon flavoured ice tea. Argh.

At the end I got back to my hostel around 6 in the morning to prepare myself for Sunday night - Vexillum and Freedom Call in Berlin. But that is an other day's story!

xoxo \m/
Szi

Finale Rockova Maturita

Hellloes!

So I was in Bratislava again. I can say I have a favourite Slovak band. I can say that, even tho they released only one album yet, but they do play my music. They play something special for me. They are called Eufory, First time I've seen them was on Terchovsky Budzogan, a rock festival in Slovakia. Right then and there I knew I have to know this band closer. There were some language barriers, I have to admit (I don't speak slovak yet - I'm on it), regardless we could understand each other with the members of the band. They are awesome people, open and very talented.

I have to add some more personal thing here - on the festival itself I got 'kidnapped' by a very handsome and sweet guy, I just loved that evening I spent there ;) It DID affect some part of my year after, but not as much as it could've.

Anyways. They attended a slovak talent festival called Rockova Maturita - 32 bands started, and 8 bands reached the finals, which took place in Bratislava - Randal Club - on 28/11/2015. I felt I have to go there, and support them with all my being, to cheer for them, and to give all my energy for them to give the best on the stage and make the jury give them as many points as possible. Therefore I got my tickets, and traveled around 8-9 hours to get there.

I did my research on the bands in the final: Aces, Asenth, Friday Whiskey, Four Faces, Radix, Meredith, The Rockefellas and Eufory. I was listening them all. I had my favourites. I did like Aces, The Rockefellas also, beside Eurofy of course.
I was there from the very beginning, The gates were not even open, and I was waiting to see the guys around, to encourage them. Unfortunately I couldn't catch them before the show. Nevertheless I got some guys from Caliber X (they didn't reach the finals, but the keyboard player, the guitarist and the bass guitarist were nominated in their category for the best players in the show). Milo (in the keyboard category) took the award itself!! From here also I wish him the best in the future, and I can tell it was well deserved award.

We did watch all the bands together - Share our opinions about them.  For me there were two bands absolutely in favor for winning. I might be biased, I know that right, but seriously Eufory and Aces had what it takes to win.

Aces. I listened to them previously, still in live they were seriously cool. I had no words what the singer could do on the stage, he was living together with the performance. 

Of course Eufory. To be entirely honest, this was not the best performance I've even seen from them. I've fought myself to the first row through the not that huge crowd, and shouted all the songs they played. Guys, I missed 'Be my brother' so much!!! You really should've played that. From the band Stevo (guitars) and Lubo (lead singer) were nominated for the best players in their category - Lubo won it! He really is awesome. Just listen to some of their songs. I really recommend it. If you like power metal, you'll love them. I guarantee that.

Anyways, back to the contest. 

I had a 'wow' feeling when I've seen Four Faces on the stage. Their singer had a serious resemblance to Dirk the guitarist of Victorius (I can tell you will hear about them later on ;) ). I was kind of searching for the guy half of the evening, when Stevo just took my hand and led me to him! Even tho the picture is not showing it in full, but just believe me, on the stage they did look the same:

As I've seen, the biggest fan-crowd belonged to Meredith and Asenth. Their music is not exactly my taste, but I have to admit they really did a good job on the stage. Actually as soon as Asenth appeared I was like: hmmmm, I know the singer from somewhere - then I realized, I've seen him in Rust2Dust in Terchova. (The world is so small.) So with a small help of Jan (from Caliber X), I got to the backstage and managed to make a photo with him:

And they have actually won the contest. Nevermind it, even tho I was cheering with all my nerves for Eufory, they ended up at the 5th place. Which is an awesome achievement in whole Slovakia! The bestestest part in it, that they are not even disappointed, they are happy that they could play in the finals, and that they could show what they can do. I'm pretty sure that for the next album they will give everything in.

The night went on and on, and I met several new people. With all honesty I was surprised that they do speak very good english. I did have especially nice conversations with Rana, she is from Iran, and studying in Bratislava, I truly hope we will meet again sometime. It's very exciting what drives an iranian girl to Slovakia. The other girl was Lucka. She is bratislavian. With extraordinary good english. Seemed  she knows everyone around the place. You know, sometimes I'm wondering how it is possible that people become very open to me after like five minutes of talking... Do not misunderstand me, I love it pretty much, I'm just wondering. I love to hear your stories, your thoughts, even your problems. I think it is because I'm an outstander. I'm an outstander, who takes the secrets away, but you can be open knowing that probably I'm not going to meet any of the people you are talking about :P And I have to mention Bibka, the girl, who speaks hungarian, was part of the organizers there. Sweety, I hope you've found that kebab-stand around 6 in the morning :)

I've also met the girlfriend of Stevo (yes, he is the one I am with the closest relationship with) - had a long talk in Terchova. Man, you look so cool together! Just keep it up and do your best! Here is a pic (still from Terchovsky Budzogan), just for you to know who I am talking about - he should've won that award for the guitar players, he is one of the most talented young guitarists I've met lately,

Oh, wait, there is a better one :D

I can't deny though, that the most interesting conversation of the night was with the other guitarist of the band. Pet'o. We were talking a lot about linguistics. Together we are speaking around 8 languages. But only english is common. Talking with him made the time fly so fast, it was truly amazing. He even told me the story how he got in the band: It happened around 1,5-2 years ago, and his dream was to play in Eufory. I can understand his desire to join this band :) And then a day came when they had to part from their former guitarist, Jan. And he suddenly got 2 calls separately from the band, and asked to play guitar. I can imagine the joy he felt at that day, probably he will always remember that.

So many stories and even personal feelings he shared with me, that I'm very thankful to have him as a friend. I know he is not an easygoing guy to start new relationships, friendships, but I'm a persistent girl. If I see the potential in someone (and believe me, everyone has it in a way), I won't let them go! The best feeling of the night was when he thanked me that I started to talk to him, and didn't stop :) Here I have to say that I should be thankful for You to share that many things with me!

And then the evening got over (it was actually around 6 in the morning), and I went home next day spinning around and a continous smile on my face for the next week from the experience I've had, the people I've met and the music I've heard.

xoxo \m/

Szi