Wacken Open Air 2024: My Redemption, Vindicated

Reflecting on the past year, 2023 marked a pivotal turning point in my life where I did not make it to Holy Ground due to the adverse weather conditions. It was a year filled with emotional upheaval and personal challenges, yet it ultimately paved the way for self-discovery. A redemption to vindicate with my maker, so to speak. As I reflect from 2024’s edition, two heartwarming moments stood out to me - first was an impromptu interview with fellow German photographer Nico Ernst that sparked conversations into our collective experiences for a working photo series (more to reveal later); the second was bands Butcher Babies and The Darkness taking a moment to thank the photographers after the first three songs was done. A gesture that spoke volumes about the appreciation for those behind the lens responsible for immortalising these ephemeral experiences. It made my representation as a mere music photographer from Manchester, UK of 15+ years all worth it! Not only I wanted to push even further in my developing creativity, but I want to show this as my visual love letter to my home away from home - Wacken Open Air.

I want to give my biggest and heartfelt cheers to my team Chaos Zine and to the mighty festival for giving me another chance to photograph this extraordinary event after missing 2023. I had the absolute privilege of witnessing a staggering 49 bands, each performance having a unique impact to their dedicated fanbases. I aim for more next time! With a grand total of 78,000+ steps and an unexpected downpour on the final day, this didn’t dampen my spirit; instead, it became an integral part of the experience. It’s the beauty found in unpredictability! I cannot thank you both enough, it means the world.

Photo galleries for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday are now live!

We can see that 2025 is set to be another landmark year that promises incredible experiences. Gojira recently made metal music history at the official Olympics 2024 opening ceremony (I was overjoyed since making the call to the French igniters headlining) and having the special opportunity to photograph Machine Head at their sold-out Glasgow show back in June, the future is already bright. As we continue to celebrate the magic of live music and the stories waiting to be told through our lenses… plus, sleep (I am going to need it), I eagerly await for the next episode and you bet I’ll be there to do this all over again - See you in 2025!

Lastly, there are two photos that I’ll hold dear - one is with my dear friend and Avantasia’s reigning tour photographer, Kevin Nixon simply rules (iPhone photo taken by Silvio Colombo)! Then, there’s the Wacken 2024 Photo Family (taken by Eddie Krill). The connection - they’re all inspirations to help me go further in my photography journey. This is where I am… myself. My home away from home. Wacken, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything!