...auf einmal war es dunkel -Sonnenfinsternis 2015

Impressionen von der "Blauen Brücke" in Freiburg

Sonnenfinsternis in Freiburg (Blaue Brücke) 20.03.2015

Danke an Tamina und Isa :-)

Es war mir eine Ehre - Danke TV Südbaden

Südbaden TV, Baden TV oder oft und gerne auch der SWR – von wem sind Sie? Ah, TV Südbaden... das war oftmals die erste Frage die ich von Passanten oder Neugierigen auf Drehs gestellt bekommen haben. Dabei gab es TV Südbaden doch seit nunmehr 14 Jahren... ja, richtig gehört...es gab ihn. 

Denn am 16. Januar 2015 wurde der Regionalsender aus Freiburg geschlossen... überraschend für die Zuschauer, schon ahnend von uns Mitarbeitern... aber das es dann doch so schnell ging und nur mit einem „ Es tut mir wirklich sehr leid, aber wir werden den Sendebetrieb von TV Südbaden einstellen. Heute Abend wird es keine Sendung mehr geben“ - verletzend!

Ein Schock für alle! Alles was der Gesellschafter aus Nürnberg dann gesagt hat, war nur noch blablabla... die Aufmerksamkeit war weg. Meine Gedanken bei meinen Kollegen, ringsherum traurige, besorgte Gesichter... Fassungslosigkeit!

Nach einer guten Stunde ist die Schoße vorbei... für immer. 

In der Redaktion werden aus Frust Sachen abgehängt... ich schalte den Chef vom Dienst Rechner ein letztes Mal aus... die rund 60 Mails ignoriere ich mit einem Lächeln.. die muss ich nie wieder lesen, keiner von uns. 

Dabei war ich vor knapp 2,5 Jahren wegen TV Südbaden nach Freiburg gezogen. Eigentlich wollte ich immer zum Radio. Meine Bewerbung damals für ein Volontariat hatte ich auch an unseren Partnersender baden.fm geschickt. Statt dem Radiochef, hatte meine Chefin, pardon, jetzt Ex-Chefin mich angerufen. „ Hallo Katharina, du hast dich ja auf eine Stelle bei baden.fm beworden... aber würdest du auch Fernsehen machen?“ - Meine Antwort: „ Klar, warum nicht?“. Und das war die beste Entscheidung die ich seit langem getroffen hatte. 

Nach zwei Wochen Probearbeiten bei ca. 36 Grad in Freiburg und 40 im Büro war ich überzeugt – ich mach's (wenn sie mich wollen). Und sie wollten! Im September 2012 ging's los. Redaktionssitzungen, Termine wahrnehmen (mein 1. war schon ziemlich rasant: In Breisach war eine Frau bei einem Felssturz auf ihr Auto nur knapp dem Tod entkommen). So rasant kann's ja weiter gehen, nur bitte ohne Verletzte... 

Regionalfernsehen... eine ganz schöne Herausforderung. Denn es passiert nicht jeden Tag so ein Felssturz... oftmals war es gar nicht einfach ein Thema zu finden (das dann auch noch an dem Tag gedreht und geschnitten und fix und fertig gemacht werden musste). Aber dafür gab es ja die Redaktionssitzungen um 10 Uhr. Zahlreiche Diskussionen unter den Kollegen machten es immer abwechslungsreich, manchmal zu sehr. Aber am Ende des Tages lief immer was (mit mal mehr und mal weniger Liebe). Doch wenn es ein guter Tag war, ein toller Dreh, gute Zusammenarbeit mit Kameramann/frau und nette Interviewpartner, eine interessante Story und du um 18 Uhr schweissnass aus dem Schnittraum gehst und dein Beitrag über den Bildschirm flimmert... dann war es immer das beste Gefühl der Welt! Es war dein Baby, dafür hast du den ganzen Tag gearbeitet und es ist gut geworden, wirklich gut. 

Natürlich gab es genug Beiträge die dem am Ende des Tages nicht entsprachen und oft mal die Fetzen flogen oder die Nerven blank lagen (schon wieder eine Umfrage?!). Aber egal – es war vielseitig, interessant, spannend, aufregend und das Team war eh das Beste! Mit Team meine ich allerdings nicht jeden bei TVS – sondern die Techniker und die Redakteure die täglich das Zeug für die Sendung geliefert haben (ausgenommen also die Vertriebler und die oberste Chefetage). An dieser Stelle, seid mir nicht böse aber ihr wisst bestimmt was ich meine.

Also, vielen Dank an meine Kollegen aus der Redaktion:

Herby (für deine Freundschaft, du Rakete, ich hab wahnsinnig viel von dir gelernt und deine Sprüche und Räusper aus der hintersten Sportecke - unschlagbar)

Christiane (für deine Freundschaft„meine Ziehmama“ - deine Gelassenheit und Tipps haben mich geprägt)

Daniela (für deine Freundschaft, für die oft kritischen aber sehr hilfreichen Abnahmen von meinen Berichten)

Martin (für deine Freundschaft, dein Glaube in meine Fähigkeiten)

Daniel (für deine Freundschaft, wir haben zusammen angefangen und aufgehört)

Moritz ( für deine Freundschaft – in guten wie in schlechten Zeiten)

Bene (für deine Freundschaft, für die lustigen Abende beim Sprechtraining)

Steffi (für deine Freundschaft, für die Möglichkeit in einem so tollen Team zu arbeiten und eine tolle

Chefin)

Fabian (für die Lacher bei deinen Telefonanfragen „wie die Welle nur mit „r“)

Viola (für die Abnahme von NiFs, die ich bis heute nicht gerne schreibe und deine Gelassenheit)

Jo (für deine Witze und Gelassenheit)

Vielen Dank an meine Kollegen aus der Technik:

Patrick (für deine Freundschaft, mit dir hab ich die meisten Beiträge gemacht (ekelige Augen-OPs und mehr) und deine Ruhe beim Dreh

Sabine (für deine Freundschaft, für deine Professionalität und Kritik, für den 1. Tag in der Straba)

Tamina (für deine Freundschaft, für viele Kaffee, Spaß und Promi-flair mit Schweighöfer und Co.)

Jackie (für deine Freundschaft, für dein Ideenreichtum und viel Konfetti im Schuh)

Martin (für deine Freundschaft, für deine tollen Bilder und grummeligen Antworten)

Franky (für deine Freundschaft, für deine tausend Anrufe wenn du NiFer und ich CvD waren)

Manni (für deine Freundschaft, für deine Widerworte, deine rasante Fahrweise und deinen Appetit)

Vielen Dank an meine Kollegen aus der Produktion:

Sven (für tolle Animationen, deine Ruhe und Professionalität)

Raul (für deine Teamplanung beim Sport und oftmals dein Schlaftimmerblick – ich dachte, ich wäre müde)

Pascal (für deine Pinsel-Attacken in der Regie und „warum geht das net?“ Sprüche)

Vielen Dank an die Kollegen vom Radio:

Jule (ich bin so froh das ich mit dir meine Skisprungleidenschaft teilen kann)

Rainer (für kluge Sprüche, eine tolle Zusammenarbeit mit dir als Nachrichtenredakteur und zahlreiche Konzertbesuche)

Julica (für deine immer freundliche und unterstützende Art, sehr liebenswert)

Oli (für deine dummen Sprüchen bei unseren Redaktionssitzungen)

Thomas (für deine immer gerne gesehene schlechte Laune)

Max (für deine liebenswerte Art)

Marc (für deinen Ansporn mehr erreichen zu wollen)

Nutella-Marc (für deine wirklich immer immer gute Laune und vielen Lacher)

Es war eine aufregende, lehrreiche, interessante Zeit... ich werde euch sehr vermissen und nie vergessen...

Mein Dank gilt auch vielen tollen Interviewpartner und Weggefährten:

Herr Jakob – vielen Dank für die tolle Unterstützung bei Vital

Pablo – mein zGbF-Lieferant und Freund

Nils Vogelsang – für die tolle Zusammenarbeit und interessanten Berichten

Frau Lamersdorf – für die immer erheiternden Telefonate und Interviews

Sascha Fiek – für die Spontanität immer für uns Zeit zu haben und den Tipp wegen dem Rad (sie wissen schon :-))

Dr. Maier – für die Einblicke in ihre Arbeit, eine tolle Zusammenarbeit

Dr. Umhau – für die Freundlichkeit, ich bleibe Ihnen ja quasi noch erhalten

allen Bürgermeistern der Stadt Freiburg, OB Salomon, der FWTM, dem Herzzentrum Freiburg/Bad Krozingen, DRK Freiburg... den vielen Passanten auf der Straße, den Skisprunggemeinden Titisee-Neustadt und Hinterzarten, Geschäftsleuten in Südbaden und alle die ich vergesse habe.

Nous sommes TV Südbaden!

Danke für Alles! 

Freak Valley Festival 2014 – Wie war’s?

 Interview mit Rock Freak und Mitbegründer des Freak Valley Festival Michael „Hacki“ Hackler

 

Rock Freak Michael Hackler

Das Freak Valley Festival 2014 ist vorbei. Die dritte Auflage des Stoner-Rock Festivals hat rund 2000 Fans und 30 Bands ins beschauliche Netphen-Deuz gelockt. Die Rock Freaks aus Siegen haben das Festival vor drei Jahren zum ersten Mal veranstaltet – ganz nach dem Motto „Von Fans für Fans“. Das Konzept scheint aufgegangen zu sein. Michael Hackler ist einer von 19 Rock Freaks und Mitgründer des FVF. Er besitzt rund 5000 LPs, sein erste Album hat er 1976 gekauft– das Rote der Beatles. Jetzt lässt er die drei Tage Festival Revue passieren und spricht über Kraut-Rock, Hippies und „little Woodstock“ Atmosphäre. 

Michael, die 3. Auflage vom Freak Valley Festival ist vorbei – wie war’s?

>> Unglaublich gut. Es gab von allen Seiten positive Rückmeldung, insbesondere von den Anwohnern. Es war nicht zu laut, die Fans waren alle begeistert, es gab ordentliche Preise fürs Essen und Trinken und die Bands waren sehr zufrieden. Das Einzige was bemängelt wurde, waren die Spielzeitenlängen der Headliner. Das lag aber nicht an uns sondern an den Headlinern selbst. Die legen vorher fest wie viel Spielzeit sie benötigen, inklusive Zugaben. Wenn es dann 1 Uhr ist dann ist, dann ist von unserer Seite auch wirklich Schluss. Wir wollen schließlich keinen Ärger mit den Anwohnern oder Ordnungshütern haben.<<

Was ist das Besondere am Freak Valley Festival?

<< Gute Musik, extrem coole Leute, alle sind sehr friedlich, alles ist sehr gut organisiert. Es ist wie Woodstock in klein und das Publikum ist genauso. Alle freuen sich weil es ein Festival von Fans für Fans ist. Deshalb gab’s bisher auch noch keine Komplikationen. Die Bands und die Fans wollen jede Minute genießen und keine verschwenden. <<

Das Freak Valley Festival präsentiert Stoner Rock Bands – was bedeutet Stoner Rock eigentlich?

<<Stoner Rock ist eine Art Musik-Stil der irgendwann in den Jahren 1967/1968 geprägt wurde. Es ist im Prinzip nichts anderes wie die Musik die die Bands zwischen ´67-´72 gespielt haben. Der einzige Unterschied zu heute: Die Interpreten sind heute nicht mehr 65 Jahre alt sind, sondern oft unter 25.  Die Geburt des Stoner Rock ist für mich durch ein Video von „The Green Machine“ von Kyuss  entstanden. Das ist in der Wüste aufgenommen worden. Es ist sehr derb, freaky, wie aus den 60ern. <<

Wie ist die Idee zum Festival entstanden?

<< Wir von den Rock Freaks e.V. wollten in unserer Region Konzerte machen, die unserer Art von Musik entsprechen. Wir haben uns 2006 mit sechs Leuten gegründet, heute sind wir 19. Stoner Rock gibt’s zwar auf der ganzen Welt, aber es gibt keine wirklichen Headliner. Es wären vielleicht die Kings of Leon gewesen, Wolfmother oder die Black Keys, aber die sind an uns vorgeschossen.  Die Idee kam von unserem Rock Freak Acci. Er wollte ein Festival organisieren und zwar auf dem AWO Gelände in Netphen-Deuz. Da hatte es schon in den 90er Jahren welche gegeben und das wollten wir jetzt wieder aufleben lassen. In Deutschland gibt’s sonst eigentlich nur das „Stoned from the Underground“ in Erfurt als Open-Air.<<

30 Bands aus den USA, England, Schweden, Dänemark etc. - Wie kommt ihr an die Bands dran?

<< Die Szene ist sehr gut vernetzt, die meisten Bandmitglieder sind sehr jung, also auch viele Studenten. Das meiste läuft über Facebook. Unser Booker hat so ein Gespür für die Bands in der Szene. Er weiß schon im Vorfeld, welche Band zu uns passt und welche gut ankommt. So ein Instinkt, genial. Das muss man aber auch haben. Letztes Jahr waren zum Beispiel Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats perfekt für uns. Dieses Jahr schon nicht mehr, dafür aber Blues Pills. Die waren auch unser Headliner und haben diesen Platz perfekt erfüllt. <<

Du kennst die Bands alle persönlich. Was für Rückmeldungen hast du von denen bekommen?

<< Die Bands sind total begeistert. Viele reisen 1-2 Tage vorher an oder später wieder ab. Die können früher kommen und länger bleiben, gar kein Problem. Wir bezahlen die Übernachtungen im Hotel inklusive Verpflegung. Die können sich Backstage jederzeit aufhalten. Die treffen sich dann, haben Spaß, essen und quatschen. Wir kümmern uns um die ÜBernachtungen im Hotel, die Bewirtung etc., Backstage  treffen sie sich, essen und trinken, haben Spaß untereinander. Viele sind auch vorne auf dem Festivalgelände unterwegs. Kadavar zum Beispiel – die waren ständig zwischen den Fans, haben Fotos machen lassen und LPs oder CDs signiert. Papir und Oersund Space Collective aus Dänemark waren alle drei Tage da. Es ist wie eine riesige Stoner Rock Familie – nicht nur im Publikum, sondern auch unter den Bands. <<

Was waren für dich die Highlights in diesem Jahr?

<< Durch die viele Pressearbeit habe ich leider einige Auftritte verpasst. Höhepunkt für mich waren die Auftritte von Blues Pills am Freitag und Kadavar am Samstag. Blues Pills sind ihrer Rolle als Headliner mehr als gerecht geworden und Kadavar haben nach den göttlichen Motorpsycho gespielt. Kadavar ist einfach meine Musik, die haben mich absolut umgehauen. <<

Knapp 2000 Fans, 30 Bands, 250 Helfer –seid ihr jetzt am Limit?

<< Als wir am 10. März  öffentlich die Werbetrommel gerührt haben, waren wir acht Tage später schon ausverkauft. Wir haben lange darüber diskutiert, ob wir kleiner oder noch ein bisschen größer werden wollen. Die Mehrheit der Rock Freaks hat sich für den jetzigen Stand entschieden. 1800 Tickets werden verkauft, mehr nicht. Es soll ja in familiärer Atmosphäre bleiben und das Drumherum ist uns wichtig: Saubere Toiletten und die Versorgung muss einfach stimmen. Alles über 2000 Fans klappt dann nicht mehr. Große Festivals sind nicht unsere Welt. <<

Wie würdest du einen Freak-Fan beschreiben?

<< Das ist eine schwierige Frage. Ich würde ihn als sehr lebenslustig, weltoffen und gebildet beschreiben. Er ist anständig und ein bisschen verrückt, offen für verschiedene Musikrichtungen. Liebeswerter Chaot. <<

<< Früher haben wir gesagt „Vor dem Spiel ist nach dem Spiel“, mittlerweile heißt es für uns „ Vor dem Spiel ist vor dem Spiel“. Wir haben jetzt schon Bandanfragen weltweit verschickt, es gibt viele kleine Bands die sofort spielen würden. Bei den größeren Bands müssen wir pokern, selbst anfragen. Aber wir sind auch sehr ehrgeizig: Wir wollen keine Band-Wiederholung. Einzig unsere Hausband Bushfire aus Darmstadt kommt jedes FVF. <<

Freak Valley Festival 2014 - the backstage experience

  In Germany we say „all good things are three“. This was my third year Freak Valley Festival and it was definitely the most intense one. Three days, 2000 fans, 30 bands, a shit load of volunteers – FVV 2014 ur nuts!  

Working backstage, not sure if there is a better job?! I’ll still get excited when I get that green  “band”  saying “ all access”. Strike!

 This year the backstage area got changed to a different place inside the AWO area. Not close to the stage anymore but warm and cosy with a real bar, our own drinking cups (last year we had to run around to the other "Bierrondelle" (beer tents) and get them from there), couches, a “Kicker” (soccer table) and heaps of food (although they had that last year too). I really liked the new location – plus the bands got the “ all inclusive” thing. All drinks for free, heaps of booze including Jägermeister, Vodka, Rum and Whiskey. Everyone really enjoyed the great offer from my friend Affi who gave out a Jägershot with every beer.

We also had an actual work schedule this year which was great… I don’t think I’ve ever had so much free time to hang out on the festival ground itself. We were eight people working, about 4 hours a day which meant guaranteed free festival time. 

Festival Day 1:

 Our boss Ellen or as we call her “ Carmen knows best” is great. With her red hair and her dark voice I’ll have respect for her (also she works in the Vortex pub in Siegen-Weidenau so she knows how to handle drunk Stoner Rock Freaks). After a few instructions and hanging up very important signs like “do NOT smoke” or “yes, u can use this toilet, if the door is open”, a food-timetable and our own…. I checked out the festival grounds…

Unlucky or lucky – it was pissing down with rain but it did no harm to the bands show. With lots of beers and enough tents to hop under, it made it quite cozy with all those freaks. 

@Isabelle Bapté Photographie's

  First up on the main stage were The Lone Crows from Minneapolis, USA. They sucked me right in. Playing a mix of Blues Rock, Funk and Grunge – they take you back on a journey, right into the 60's and 70's. A lot of energy going on even though the main crowd was still somewhere else – most likely setting up their tents, doing whiskey tasting or getting a beer. 

The Lone Crows @Isabelle Bapté Photographie's

 

 Right after, the Heavy Eyes from Memphis, USA went on stage (and I mean right after because the Freak Valley team really knows how to hop on and off the stage within five minutes and without hurting anyone or themselves). Their first European show ever and no better way to start it than on the FVF stage. The guys played a stoner blues psych rock with influence of 1960s America rock. They were done playing after 50 minutes but it felt like only ten. 

 I’ve been chatting up with people, checking out freaks walking across the wet grass – I felt like I’m back in the late 60's/ early 70's… Everyone is so relaxed and talkative. People running around with no shoes on, brushing their teeth or dancing in the rain. 

 Unfortunately I’ll have to go backstage now – so I walk pass the security man, showing him my green “all access area” band and I can feel the looks from some other people in my back..and I’m proud that I do belong to the backstage crew. 

So my first shift is with a guy called Dominik. He’s got long dread hair and is from somewhere in Bavaria –he’s got a strong Bavarian accent but I like it. He’s really fun to hang out with and he tells me he owns a pub and organizes another stoner festival in August – Void Fest. Great I think…I might check that out too! 

the backstage crew (Affi & Dominik) @Tom Fyfe

 The first bands that played are coming to the bar – drinking cups are small so they keep coming back more often. While working backstage,  I’m missing out on the last three bands playing –Bloody Hammers from the US, Papir from Denmark (which I got to know later on that night) and Radio Moscow (who apparently kinda destroyed the backstage area a bit after we finished our shift at 2pm).

Papir at FVF @ Neill Hawk

 The interesting thing about being backstage is checking out which bands like to chill out or prepare for their show. Some of them seem just like me. After checking in with Corinna at the front bus, the bands come in and wanna check their internet (sorry for the shit connection guys), sit down, have a drink or eat. Most bands have had a massive trip behind them, being on tour is not always just sex,   drugs and rock ‘n roll I guess. So as we serve the guys drinks, some of them insist of drinking shots with them ( and I really can’t drink many)… after three or four, I decide to cut it off but it’s kinda too late. I am drunk – luckily it’s the end of my shift anyways so my friend Affi puts me into the cab and we go home to our little apartment (only two kilometers away from the festival). I can’t remember that Affi made me a sandwich in the kitchen but I sure remember him snoring as I wake up at about 9am on Friday morning.

Festival Day 2:   

 A massive headache, only food and coffee can help. My uncles friend Tomba, who Affi and me are sharing the apartment with (and with my Rock Freak uncle Micki of course) is my champ. Same as last year, he is the first one to be up and getting breakfast and coffee ready in the kitchen. We talk about Thursday, the bands and some crazy stories which happened. Tomba is the only one who is not allowed backstage, well, he’s just a guest but he likes it. So he’s got more time to drink and enjoy the bands…but he usually doesn’t see the last ones play, so he’s up bright and early in the mornings. My uncle Micki takes care of the people from the press and he’s arranged the rooms and hotels for the bands. So he’s a busy bee like all the other Rock Freaks. When he walks into the kitchen, he looks a bit destroyed and he’s mumbling something about a Mike from the local television station in Siegen. Mike – has called him like 20 times and he’s just not giving up. So Micki is gonna meet him at the festival grounds around 1ish. I wanna come as well cause I’m interested in getting to know this guy. 

typical breakfast morning

 I’m a bit surprised when I meet Mike and his camera team. Mike is mid 50s and doesn’t look like Stoner at all (which of course he doesn’t have too – I only like the music since my first festival 2012). The camera man has been doing his job for over 30 years and the guy who is taking care of the sound is young, doesn’t talk much but seems nice enough. I kinda feel like Mike doesn’t really have a concept…yes, they want to interview a band, get a fan (must be from overseas) and get an interview with one of the Rock Freaks. No worries! We get him Ivy Garden of the Desert – they are a trio from Italy. Their sound is a bit like the one from Colour Haze (who played a massive show at the first Freak Valley). Heavy jams for sure! The guys are really nice; the camera team can do the interview in the press tent on a couch. Ivy Garden speaks open-minded, even though their English is not the best (but Mike’s English is not the best either). Right after, they go on stage, do a great show and the camera team follows them right into the crowd. Later on, they ask my uncle to give an interview and they find a fan from Ireland who was already at the Festival grounds on Tuesday…he came alone and he freaking loves Freak Valley, the friendly helpers, the bands, the atmosphere and the beer and food. 

@Kyle Juett

  
 While I’ve been checking out everything with the camera team, I missed out on Sun Preachers from France. But somehow the bands I miss on stage, I hang out with backstage more than with the other bands. Sun Preachers got really drunk, funny though. They were playing Kicker (German table-soccer game), on and under the table and some of them even fell asleep on those cozy couches. Bands I also really liked to hang out with were Papir from Denmark. Really nice guys, good looking- fun! They had the special big cups, I guess everyone else was a bit jealous of them.. and I still wonder where the hell they got them from (cause we didn’t have them anywhere?!). They also like drinking shots and playing Kicker…although they lost against the French and Swedish dudes… the Swedish dudes from Mother of God were insane. They looked real hard with their long hair and their beards but they were probably the ones with the most heart. The drummer Jimmy likes to beat Affi and me at Kicker but – no way…he only beat us with this 8-year-old boy (still wonder where he came from)…the big Swedish rocker with the blond German dude winning against us – bummer! 
 

Affi, me and Jimmy from Mother of God

 Also surprising was the band Elder from the USA. The singer Nick asked for a beer in German…so for sure, he’s getting one. Everytime a guy asks for a beer, I wonder which band he’s in (cause I really don’t know any of them before the Festival)… and I can’t find him in one of the German bands (I use the Festival guide to compare their faces because they have pics of the bands in there)… so I ask him and god good, he tells me he’s the singer from Elder, so he`s American but he speaks perfectly German. And guess why? He’s a german teacher and has been living in Recklinghausen, Germany since November last year. But still, there is not one accent, no nothing…he just sounds like a German. Bam! So very impressed indeed...cause mostly I think they are hard guys with long hair and hard music and for me, they can’t be anything else…but then, there comes this American dude talking perfectly German telling me his a teacher… his friend and band member Jack is pretty cool too. I remember drinking with him the night before…so I’m happy to see him the next day… he’s kinda cute, from Boston but living in New York now. We talked about it last night – and yes Jack, I know u think Jersey is a pain in the ass but I really like it there :-P Anyways, it was a pleasure sharing cigarettes and beers with you… 

Elder somewhere in Netphen @Andrea Lynn Santos

 but I’ll definitely have to mention my new really cool mates from London. Stubb – you guys shocked me a bit, especially drum player Tom and his girlfriend Danielle. Both drinking a shit load of booze but still looking good and funny to hang out with. Although Thursday was a bit rough, they took it a bit easier on Friday. Plus Stubb was playing on Friday. Classic heavy rock and a journey taking you back to the 60s and 70s. Lots of energy and frantic solos –that’s Stubb. The guys from London are good friends with backstage boss “Carmen knows best” so they had been staying at her place the week before. 
 

beers in the sun with Danielle from Stubb

 Next to Bushfire from Darmstadt, Germany they were the secret house band. But Bushfire will always be the number one Freak Valley band. Especially singer Bill from the US is a pretty damn crazy guy. He’s got so much energy, he loves spending time with the other bands, talking to the audience and helping the other volunteers. I’ve seen him give out food, chatting up with the guys from the press (I know you were impressed), sitting down in the middle of the crowd and screaming his lungs out. I know Bill from the first day at Freak Valley three years ago and I would really miss his face if he wouldn’t be there one year. They’re playing at the “Wake&Bake” stage on Saturday morning. Too early for me but I know their music anyways. It’s action, it’s taff rock, it’s personal, it’s fun. 
 

Bill from Bushfire @Isabelle Bapté Photographie's

 After Stubb, Mother of God from Sweden is up next. They do look scary but it’s just the look really. Their music style sounds like Soundgarden, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin.

 Applause when the sun is finally showing up, people are chillin out on the floor, eating baked potatoes with onions, a heavy breeze of weed is in the air under the blue skies of Netphen-Deuz… an air ballon is showing up (they must have the most amazing view ever), there is a line up for the swing, freaks are relaxing on couches and deck chairs. 

  It’s time for Mothership from the USA. 70s heavy rock and guitar solos make their show strong. People are getting up from their  seats because they wanna see what’s happening on stage. Me and my backstage friends stay on the grass though. It’s too nice and we’re still a bit tired from last night (although it’s already 5pm). 
 

enjoying the sun with the backstage crew

 Up next is Blood Ceremony from Canada. My friends are really keen to see them. I saw the singer backstage before, running around in black hot pants, leather of course, and her pretty long hair. Her voice is amazing and her flute playing lets you drift into a different world. No need to hide their love for horror and witchcraft. 

 That’s enough music for the moment. I gotta go backstage to start my shift at 8pm. By that time, most of the bands that have already played are having food, exchanging thoughts and even numbers with other band members. I love the multicultural exchange, the mixture of English, a few drops of German and all the other languages. It’s really nice when the bands order a drink asking in German. They do learn it quite easily “ Ein Bier bitte” – one guy from the Sun Preachers always said (I’ll translate it into English) “ One Beer thanks – but in German we don’t really say thanks when ordering…I didn’t tell him it was wrong cause it sounded so nice when he asked.

Obviously lots of the band members are smokers (not saying just cigarettes) – so the main catch up was happening outside the backstage room. Two benches up front, a small walkway to get pass the guys. Every year, I notice one guy who just drinks (& smokes) way more than the others (or maybe his body just can’t handle it that good). The first year, it was Douglas from the band Gentlenman’s Pistols from England, last year it was some Swedish dude (I really can’t remember his name but I do remember how he threw up the already eaten sausage onto the floor) and this year it was (that’s what we called him “ Stoned Jesus”. He kinda looked like Jesus and he must have been bloody stoned. He was very friendly though and a cool guy but when he fell into the flowers outside the smoking area for the 7^th time, “Carmen knows best” put him into a cab to get some sleep… probably the best choice, since he had to play a big show the next day. 
 

Danish connections: Papir & Oersund Space Collective

 So my Stoner band friends Stoned Jesus from Ukraine were kinda back at Freak Valley this year. You guys played an intensive show last year and you’re definitely  my favorite band so far. Thanks guys! (I had to say that…)

Stoned Jesus @FVF 2013

 I have a little break between my shifts to see Truckfighters from Sweden (I did get distracted first, cause the booklet says they’re from the Netherlands)… but no, they are Swedish and they bloody rock. I’ll stand right in the middle of the crowd, so many people have come out to see them. It’s gotten really but no one really cares. They have lots of energy on the stage, I guess it would be transferred even more if they’d played inside… They play heavy rock, progressive and they mix different styles. For sure one of the best bands I’ve seen at FVF yet. I have to miss out on Blues Pills –the American-Swedish-French quartet. Everyone seems pretty excited to see them. I meet the female singer on her way to the stage- alone – preparing her. Her voice sounds like she would probably give me goose bumps if I would watch her on stage. She’s like Janis Joplin, playing with her band a mix of Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Hendrix, Cream or Aretha Franklin. Everyone seeing them, said they were the highlight of the night.

 The rest of the night was pretty quite…after “Stoned Jesus” left, most bands took advantage of my Boss calling cabs for them. Around 3am my friend Affi and I cleaned up a bit and took a cab home with my uncle who was falling asleep on the couch. Only one more day to go…

 Festival Day 3:

Good morning Freak Valley people. It’s day three, it’s everything – again. The weather is fantastic; I wanna get down to the festival grounds as soon as possible. I’m getting the rest of my crew ready pretty fast. The walk from our apartment to the festival takes about 30 minutes, walking pass the campground. I recognize familiar faces here and there, Iron Maiden tunes are reaching out from a corner. Along the way, we drink a beer, enjoy the view of the campsite. It’s up on a hill, in the middle of green fields and forest. I know some of the bands like Bushfire camp here because they enjoy the atmosphere and being part of the whole “fan-camping-hells-yeah-experience”. I only have to work the last two shifts from 10-2pm so I wanna watch a few bands today. Spending my time with my friends and with Danielle and Tom from Stubb is fun. 

The first band I watch today is Oersund Space Collective from Denmark. I am really looking forward to see guest guitarist Nicklas from Papir play (as I missed out on them Thursday night). This is most likely the weirdest band I’ve seen so far. They entirely improvise their whole set. No songs, no pre-constructed rhythms, just pure music, energetic,  right from the heart. “Stoned Jesus” is fantastic, so is front man “Doctor Space”. He’s wearing “Alien-like sunglasses” and he’s the king at the keyboard.  You can watch the crowd, how they just feel their love of music even though I am not sure if the band themselves was too happy about their sound. They definitely didn’t get enough time to play because other bands were already waiting in the back. Tight stage plan for sure this year! Maybe two or three bands less next year and a bit more time for the others would be great. 
 

@Isabelle Bapté Photographie's

 Next up is Mos Generator from the USA- my favorite. The singer’s voice is so intense, I get electrified from the first 10 seconds he starts singing. They are rocking the stage, very powerful with a lot of emotions. The show goes on with The Admiral Sir Cloudesly Shovell. The British guys have probably found the greatest name on earth and they look like the typical British rockers. They are very gentleman like backstage, always asking nicely about a drink and calling me “my dear and sweetheart”. On stage, the trio plays an exclusive show at Freak Valley…with tunes from the 70s, Status Quo and Black Sabbath. Right up front, I watch Samsara BluesExperiment from Germany. They seem to have problems with their sound and it takes them two to three restarts…After 30 minutes I wanna get out of the weed-cloud surrounding me so I’ll go back to my backstage family. Just then I meet Elder who  I really need to see live. They are up next so I quickly get a fresh beer and walk back to the stage with the drummer from Mother of God. On the way I met Nicklas from Papir too so we check them out together. Elder connects with the audience real quick. They play a heavy psych sound with soaring melodies and sonic landscapes. Classic stoner metal mixed with psychedelic tunes.  

Void Fest @ FVF 2014 @Void Fest

 Motorpsycho from Norway are pretty much the headliner. They are the most expensive band too. They are known all over the world for their unique psych rock sound. They mix it with pop, metal, jazz, post rock and heaps more styles.

I’ll have to miss out on Kadavar from Germany as I have to start my last working shift. The night ends early for me. I am kinda feeling the cold in my bones, exhausting three days of partying and meeting great people. My night ends at 3am, walking back to the apartment, happily thinking about the past three days and already FVF 2015. 

@ Désirée Hansen

 Thanks to a great Rock Freaks Team who again made this festival the best event of 2014, thanks to all volunteers (the food, the drinks, the friendliness, the kindness, the weirdness, the love for music, for being you), thanks to my friends backstage (my best friend Affi, Munki, Flo, Verena, Nadine, Dominik, Nicole, my boss Ellen), thanks to my uncle Micki for this great experience, thanks to Tomba for every morning breakfast and stories to listen to, thanks to Falk-Hagen Bernshausen for preat pics, thanks to Désirée Hansen for the whiskey and musical trip, thanks to Christian Treude for being a true fan and helper, thanks to my friend Isabel for good conversations and great pics and Vincent for being a cool helper (I see u at Void Fest), thanks to my Bavarian friend Alex (see u at Void Fest too), the freaks from all over the world coming to this beautiful small place, the food people, the merchandise people, security, toilet cleaners ( really clean indeed), the workers at the local supermarkets and shops ( we all know u don’t see freaks like this every day) and a special thanks to all you lovely bands (Papir, Elder, The Lone Crows, Bushfire, Stubb, Ivy Garden of the Desert, Mother of God, Mothership, Truckfighters, Mos Generator, Oersund Space Collective, The Admiral Sir Cloudesly Shovell and everyone I missed out on). 

See u all again at FVF 2015 – rock on! 

The ‘Arab Spring’: are Facebook and Twitter to blame?

How much power can social media have in a revolutionary rebellious country? Can social media tools such as facebook or twitter be responsible for a change in society? And what’s the relationship between social developments and social media? 

I came across these questions in one of my lectures at university while discussing the ‘Arab Social Media Report’ on the usage of Facebook and Twitter during the ‘Arab Spring’ movement. The report covers the usage within the first months after the uprisings in the Arab world which started back in October 2010.

According to the ‘Arab Social Media Report’ , “#egypt, #jan25, #lybia, #bahrain and #protest were the most popular trending hashtags across the Arab region in the first quarter of 2011”. 

These ‘tweets’ amongst others have reached many people around the world and social networks such as Twitter or Facebook seem to be the new way of communicating between and within social groups. It’s fast, easy and very powerful. No matter where you are in the world, as long as you have a phone on you, you can access the world of internet and connect within.

Just as an example, imagine a young guy with an iphone on the streets in Egypt. He’s taking a picture of a demonstration outside the prime minister’s house. Only moments later, this exact picture will reach his friends on Facebook and may get re-tweeted by others who have used the same hashtag as, for example‘#protest #egypt’.

The role of social media in the recent uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa has been discussed by many observers and as there is still an ongoing debate on how much of an influence social media actually had and still has.

Yet social media is clearly shaping events. Facebook and Twitter have sped up the protests by spreading the news and quickly connecting people. Demonstrations, exchanging information within their networks, and making people aware of events locally and globally have been an easy way for users of these social networks, be it private or the government.

But in the end, are these social media networks really the reason for the uprisings? 

Many argue that it is simply the frustration of the oppressed people and I agree that the uprisings would have emerged with or without the use of Facebook or Twitter. However, the Arab Social Media Report states that “the number of facebook has risen significantly in most Arab countries, most notably so in the countries where protests have taken place.”

So yes, social media has certainly played an important role in distributing information and getting connected within social groups but there are other factors too. According to the Arab Social Media Report, factors like the region and age, education, wealthiness and the use of technology groups played an important role.

So are the people who use Facebook younger, are they more educated and make more use of technology? Or is it depending on the region they live in, how much internet access  they have and what heritage and religion  people are from? All these factors decide whether or not social media is being used by these specific social groups or not.

If you read closer into the Report, you will notice that in a country with a population of 85 million people, only 5 % make use of Facebook and only 1% use of Twitter. While it is true, that activitists and younger (70% of social media users), wealthier and more educated people may connect with one another and build strong ties via these technologies, I believe that injustice and community organizations played a more direct role in mobilizing the masses. 

But why is so much attention now drawn on social media usage in the “Arab Spring” revolution? Do people really think that this is the main reason for the uprisings?

I know that revolutions and protests have taken place well before the affects of ‘social media’ became a discussion. I am thinking of the case in my home country Germany and about the ‘Berliner Mauer’ (Berlin wall) in the 1980s. Back then, people in the eastern part of Germany harldy even had phones they could use to communicate but still managed to take down a regime.

Still, there is no denying that these social media tools have had a strong influence on how the uprisings in the Arab world developed. But isn’t it the people rather than the technology who are to blame for these uprisings?

Well, technology makes it certainly easier to spread the word to multiple recipients in a wider and faster way.

For example, different groups sharing same opinions can “like” each others’ Facebook pages and merge memberships without confronting others directly. Even though they make their voice public, speech of freedom applies if no regulations of the social networking site are violated. Same with Twitter, where opinions and tactics can be rapidly re-tweeted and sourced as stories by pretty much anyone who tweets. Activists can share tips and techniques, and arrange meetings with one another. 

But as the information spreads faster and more widely within the protestants groups, the regimes and governments respond to it very quickly too. Therefore the chances of being tracked down by the Arab regime are conceiveable. Between January and March this year, several regimes completely shut down internet access in several countries such as Libya, Syria or Egypt. So while these regimes believed that they could avoid protests by shutting down internet, television and phone networks, the number of protesters may have actually increased.

Nowadays, social media are a big part of organising a revolutionary change within social groups but having said that, they are not necessary or sufficient to make a revolution possible. It seems like we are concentrating so much on technologies that we ignore the power of how people are getting mobilized as a network without depending on social media. In Egypt, these networks may include family connections, neighbourhoods, mosques, and historical institutions. Even though the ‘Arab Social Media Report’ showed that the usage of social media increased during the uprisings, these new technologies won’t erode these classic models of communication.

By being so quick to blame social media for political and social unrest, we ignore the powerful economic and political drawbacks that drive discontent. With or without Facebook and Twitter, people will stand up and speak their minds. Rather than focusing on technologies which are used by its people to free their minds, we should concentrate on the networks by which they choose to communicate.

And coming back to my initial questions on “how much power social media can have?”, and if “it’s social factors or technology that drives social change?” my attempted answer would be this:

 In the case of the “Arab Spring”, the social factors and the unrest of the people under their regime have evoked the uprisings and by saying that, the use of Facebook and Twitter have helped to spread the word and made it easier for protestants to communicate and arrange meetings. So for me, the social factors were the main reason for the uprisings which drove the intensive usage of social media during that time.

Al Jazeera: the Middle- Eastern answer to Western media outlets?

                    

Coming across Al Jazeera in one of my University lectures a few days ago, I was surprised by its highly recognised status as a news channel not only in the Arab world but also internationally.

By now, the broadcasting service Al Jazeera is widely known amongst most people through their diverse and unique news coverage as a global news channel. It seems like Al Jazeera is the Middle- Eastern answer to popular Western Media outlets such as BBC or CNN.  But even though I have heard about the news channel, I wasn’t really aware of what an impact Al Jazeera had and still does have on the worldwide audience, and especially the Arab world.

When Al Jazeera became more widely known, it was seen as the new voice for the eastern media and gave Arabs the opportunity to form and discuss opinions. Before that, news was basically coming from western media outlets and most Arabs didn’t understand the way these outlets covered their nations’ news, especially referring to the US war against Afghanistan which evolved out of the 9/11 attacks on the United States.

Only known in the Arab world, Al Jazeera began broadcasting in 1996 but it wasn’t until 2001 that its content began capturing international attention. Their videos and exclusive coverage of Osama Bin Laden raised questions about a new form of news coverage, guaranteeing that the world and especially America was tuning in.

Al- Jazeera emerged from the war with vastly increased name recognition and a growing audience internationally. Finally the Arab world found a media outlet which was showing the war from their own perspective through very open opinions and footage of the war which was not only attracting more audience but also confronting other media outlets and the US military.

But how far does news coverage go? Does this include showing Iraqi-supplied videos of dead and captured coalition troops? Or crying children who just lost their parents?

Watching the documentary ‘Control Room’ (2004) which was also part of my lecture’s assignments, I saw a different angle on how Al Jazeera works inside their newsroom. Just for those of you who haven’t watched or heard about this film, ‘Control Room’ is a documentary about the Iraq war and it compares the preconceived notion of the Al Jazeera network with that of American news outlets as well as showing interviews with Al Jazeera journalists and American military. It reveals on a very personal basis how Al Jazeera is seen by other media outlets and how its presence and coverage of the Iraq war influenced today’s media.

“Any war has a human cost”- Al Jazeera’s words in this documentary and their statement about the war.They want to show what’s happening with all the bad things going on, there is no war which is good, there is only pain and it hurts but their stories are real and they do show the human cost at war. This shows a different kind of news coverage, and this is why it makes them so successful. Even though it became the most controversial news channel in the Arab world, it is now seen as a highly classed media outlet all over the world.

Some people even say that the channel is rather tasteless in showing violence but compared to other countries, they are allowed. Or have you seen news on Channel 9 or Channel 7 where they show how Iraqi soldiers are killed?

I don’t think you have and neither have I. So is this straight-forward news reporting a question of simple boldness or purely to get the most clicks on their website for their footage?

There is definitely a clashing of opinions but one thing seems where everyone would agree on: the news are stirring and getting the audience’s attention which is the main purpose of a media outlet. Who gets the most audience and who can best convince with their deliver of what’s going on in the world?

But is this all Al Jazeera wants - success and fame? Some people may think so and Al Jazeera did confirm this up to a certain degree when they sold their exclusive footage of e.g. Osama Bin Laden videos to media outlets all around the world. But the channel refers back to the importance of them representing a different view in the Arab world and giving Arab people an alternative media outlet to Western news organizations. 

                                 

It has become clear that Al Jazeera’s influence is pervasive. The difference between Al Jazeera and other traditional media organizations in the Middle East is its independence.

In a region that has been dominated by state run, Al Jazeera was the first to actually represent news coverage of Arab and global politics that was relatively independent of the powerful elite interests. An element of this independence can be observed in the nature of Al Jazeera’s programs. In contrast to traditional coverage, Al Jazeera adopts a western model of media entertainment, offering shows that encouraged critical coverage and debates between opposing political and social groups.

 Al Jazeera shows the war right from the centre with its confronting but in-depth news footages such as people getting killed or bombing houses. The images Al Jazeera shows are more confronting and the war is real,  it hurts and Al Jazeera is there to show it all.

Comparing Al Jazeera to other media outlets such as BBC or CNN, I agree with Robert D. Kaplan who says that Al Jazeera’s news coverage is “vibrant, visually stunning, the reports are real and the interviewees are honest”.  Al Jazeera tries to get people ‘on air’ who are a part of the war, and tell their own stories as opposed to just show politicans and the military talk such as CNN or BBC would do.

Overall, I think that Al Jazeera has changed the way we conceive news nowadays, and it may now be seen as one of the most influential media outlets with its world wide coverage and availability to be watched in English. Making the channel available in English gives people who are not from the Arab world, the opportunity to understand the Arabic taste and the culture difference. It lets them see the Arab cultures from their own point of view and it does not get filtered through the Western perspective.

As for me, I believe that Al Jazeera has made a big difference in the way news can be broadcasted and it did make me rethink some of the values a news channel should have. Honest and real news have become very rare in a world of fame and entertainment and Al Jazeera brings back these important values of a news channel for me.

Wouldn’t you rather see what’s going on in the world than Ricky Nixon yelling at a journalist for asking him questions about his sex affair with a St. Kilda schoolgirl?

I sure do!