Rolling Loud - W!EN W!EN W!EN
Last weekend, the new edition of Rolling Loud took place at the Magna Racino in Ebreichsdorf, built by Frank Stronach. First thought, insane location, second thought, how do I get there and how do I get home again? This was definitely the biggest challenge for the organizers and also the biggest point of criticism. In the run-up to the event, a concept was considered as to how the situation could be mastered and a concept was then decided on as follows: one third of the visitors would be taken to the train station by shuttle bus, one third would be taken directly to Vienna by bus and the last third would arrive by car. The organizers had attempted to better manage the flow of visitors with "travel tickets" that could be booked in advance for a certain period of time. According to the organizers, the arrival and departure concept worked perfectly, but the reality was different.
Annoyed crowds, hours of waiting, overcrowded trains and buses, pilgrimages on expressways - in short, complete chaos describes the whole thing pretty well.
However, this was not the only organizational point of criticism. There were far too few water dispensers on the whole site. Spectators begged for water, especially in the front of stage area, so that the stewards couldn't keep up with the demand. In terms of security, the whole thing was not a brilliant performance either, as the stewards and security staff were very helpful and friendly with most questions, but clueless, confused and unable to provide any information.
Now to the line-up, which was peppered with national and international stars and announced with a lot of media presence. One or two people criticized the low proportion of women among the artists or the short-term changes to the artists, which is not unusual at hip-hop festivals. All in all, however, it can be said that the line-up fulfilled all expectations.
The first day of the festival opened with a very strong Gunna, who got his stage time exactly at sunset, which perfectly matched his musical summer style and gave the visitors a real summer feeling.
Also worth mentioning was the performance by Money Boy, who drew a large following to the stage in his hometown and spread a good mood with his freestyles.
Somewhat disappointing, however, was Nicki Minja who, as the headliner, kept the crowd waiting for 1 hour and then actually had a cool show to offer, but with the sour aftertaste that she interrupted the show every few minutes for what felt like an eternity to change her outfit. On the other hand, the closing act with Ken Carson was a complete wreck. The crowd had an incredible energy on the first day, which they let the artist feel by escalating and going crazy with every song.
The second day really kicked off with the performance of Reezy, who brought Luciano along as a surprise act. Together with him and the backing dancers, he made the crowd overheat in temperatures of over 30 degrees.
As the day progressed, there was no time to rest or cool down as Jeleel kept the crowd going with his iconic backflip. As did Destroy Lonely, who lost his Iced Out cross pendant given to him by Playboi Carti during his performance. This was followed by Trippie Red, who filled in for Chief Keef and was definitely a replacement on par.
The wait until the big highlight later in the evening was bridged with a set by DJ Scheme until Playboi Carti finally arrived.
Playboi Carti brought his own rules to the festival. Media were not allowed to enter the grounds and there was a strict photo and video ban. Despite these restrictions, his show was subsequently hailed as one of the best of the entire festival. With his own stage and an energetic performance, he brought the audience to the boil. The biggest mosh pit stretched the entire length of the Loud Stage, and after the concert people were talking about having "survived" the show. Hit after hit was played, so that everyone in the audience could sing along and party wildly.
The final day of the festival began with an extremely weak performance by Ufo361. Normally, Ufo361 is a safe bet to get the crowd going crazy, especially with his old songs, but surprisingly, the German performed in a very listless and unmotivated manner, which he made the crowd feel.
After that, however, the day picked up speed, especially with the performance of Don Toliver, who, together with Sofaygo as the surprise act and his guitarist, who did an incredible job, tore down the Main Stage. As did Offset, who was moved to the Snipes Stage and had shorter stage time because the show was cut short due to a thunderstorm. However, he made the most of his time with an incredible set that included many old banger songs.
The final act was Travis Scott, who was able to perform late after a delay due to the storm. A colorful mix of old classics and new hits from "Utopia" had the crowd celebrating wildly. It was a typical Travis Scott concert: escalation, mosh pits, sweat and lots of energetic bangers. Everyone got their money's worth at this concert, especially the Travis fans were thrilled and hyped from start to finish. Travis Scott knew how to animate the crowd and keep the tension high. The hits were accompanied by impressive lighting effects and a strong stage presence.
As a special highlight, Travis brought Don Toliver on stage as a surprise guest, which caused additional ecstasy in the audience. The song "Fein" was played three times, each time with even more enthusiasm and volume. All in all, a perfect all-round package.
Culinary delights and activities
Snipes had set up a DJ Booth near the Loud Stage, which was filled with rousing music throughout the day. This DJ Booth was a real crowd puller as DJs wowed the crowd with their sets. Directly below was the Sound Booth, where visitors could record their own songs. This interactive element was particularly popular, as not only could you prove your musicality, but you also had the chance to win an exclusive T-shirt. Participants did their best to outdo each other and get their hands on the coveted prizes.
A small amusement park was set up near the Snipes Stage to provide additional thrills. One highlight was the chain carousel, which rose high into the air and offered a magnificent view over the festival grounds. In addition to the carousel, there were other rides that provided adrenaline kicks and thrilling experiences. These attractions particularly attracted the adventurous who were looking for a break from the music and enjoyed the thrills.
The festival also left nothing to be desired in terms of culinary delights. There were countless food trucks spread across the entire site, offering a wide range of food and drinks. From exotic international dishes to classic festival snacks, everything was on offer. Visitors were able to sample a colorful selection of dishes, including vegan and vegetarian options, hearty meat dishes, fresh salads and sweet treats. The food trucks not only offered a variety of flavors, but also creative and innovative dishes that rounded out the culinary experience.
Dust and water
The festival suffered considerably from the prolonged drought, which meant that the ground was extremely dusty. Even during the first performances, you could feel the dust swirling in the air and settling everywhere. Over time, it was almost impossible to get a clear view of the stage from the front of house.
The thick cloud of dust not only obscured the view, but also made the air stuffy and created an unpleasant atmosphere. Spectators and artists alike struggled with the conditions as the dust got into their eyes and throats. The audience's enthusiasm was severely dampened by these challenges, and many desperately wished for a rain shower to improve the situation. They got one on Sunday afternoon. But afterwards everything was muddy and dirty. What's more, there was very little water to drink. These 2 factors considerably weakened the quality of the festival experience.
