Itzehoe rocks: V4A and Brazing Bull at Wacken Open Air 2025!

Itzehoe rocks: V4A and Brazing Bull at Wacken Open Air 2025!

The Wacken Open Air (WOA), one of the largest and most famous metal festivals in the world, is just around the corner. This year, fans can look forward to something special: two bands from the Steinburg district, Brazing Bull and V4A, have the opportunity to play on the stages of this legendary festival. While Brazing Bull has already reached the semifinals of the Wacken Metal Battle in 2024, this is V4A's first appearance at the WOA. V4A, a German rock band from Puls, was founded ten years ago and consists of five talented members: Thore Hansen (guitar), Marcel Ptach (vocals), Steven Buczek (drums), Jorke Pallapies (guitar) and Hendrik Raddatz (bass) - the latter was recruited at a flea market a year and a half ago. A story that shows that sometimes you can find happiness in the inconspicuous, or as the saying goes: There's something there!

V4A's performance will take place on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 3 p.m. at the Landgasthof in Wacken. The band has already selected 13 songs for their performance, including three older tracks and several brand new pieces. Their name, V4A, stands for the chemical abbreviation of stainless steel, which not only describes their music selection, but also shows a strong connection to Wacken Open Air, where steel becomes the lifeblood of the heavy metal community. The band also plans to release a new album this year - both in physical format and on streaming platforms. The anticipation is also high musically.

Cultural funding in Kellinghusen

But it's not just the music scene that's flourishing. A new cultural funding statute was presented in Kellinghusen, which aims to reduce bureaucratic hurdles for cultural institutions. These statutes are intended to make it easier to access municipal funding and provide up to 4,000 euros without the need for complex applications. Cultural associations and initiatives are invited to apply for this funding by September 15th. At an event, representatives of various cultural initiatives presented the importance of volunteer work. It is clear: There is great interest in enriching and advancing cultural life in the region.

Future meetings are also planned to discuss topics such as billboard advertising and safety measures at outdoor events. These initiatives are not only a benefit for the active cultural scene, but also for the residents, who can benefit from a lively and diverse offering.

Wacken Open Air – a festival with history

To understand the context of WOA, it is important to consider the roots of this great festival. The festival has taken place annually in Wacken since 1990 and attracts not only national but also international visitors. It's an event that takes on a variety of genres and is very popular in the metal scene. In the past, over 85,000 people have visited the festival, with a great supporting program being put together with great attention to detail. From a DIY start with just 800 visitors to a current standard that impresses over 75,000 paying guests, the WOA has undergone an impressive development.

Just recently, the 2023 edition was sold out in record time, which speaks both to the popularity of the festival and to the anticipation of the upcoming stage performances. The Wacken Foundation, which was founded in 2009, supports young talent from the metal scene and thus promotes young musicians, with competitions such as the Wacken Metal Battle serving as a springboard for many bands. The competition, in which Brazing Bull also took part, is a platform to attract attention and make contacts. From these beginnings, some bands such as Battle Beast and Auðn have found their way to worldwide fame.

Overall, it shows that both the regional bands and the cultural initiatives in Kellinghusen are living proof of the commitment to music and art. The Wacken Open Air 2025 will once again be a festival of talent and thus contribute to cultural diversity in Northern Germany.