Rock am Ring 2009 review — Day 1 (Friday)

Rock am Ring has been one of Europe’s biggest and most consistent festivals for years. Known for strong lineups, it had sold out four years in a row by 2009. This year was no exception, as around 80,000 people travelled to the circuit to enjoy about 80 bands and a brilliant shared atmosphere.

Rock am Ring 2009 review highlight: Expatriate open the Centerstage

Friday starts slowly; the grounds are still quiet when Australian band Expatriate open the Centerstage. Their smooth indie rock is a relaxed, confident way to ease into the weekend, with the early crowd happily nodding along.

Silvester bring 1950s style pop to the tent

Over in the Coca-Cola Soundwave Tent, German band Silvester (formed in 2008 by singer Naima Husseini) play to a smaller audience than they deserve. The tent runs two alternating stages, so it can host as many bands as possible. Dressed in 1950s style, Naima leads warm, melodic pop songs — a nice contrast to the louder rock and nu-metal on the Alternastage.

Chester French kick off the first real party

Later on in the same tent, Chester French light the fuse. The singer and guitarist are pure indie-dance energy, while the drummer and bassist bring a reggae flavour and the keyboardist keeps it grounded. Singer D.A. Wallach controls the room from the first seconds, and the whole tent is swept up in their explosive sound.

Animal Kingdom & Martin and James — hidden gems

We stay in the Coca-Cola tent for two more discoveries. First up is English band Animal Kingdom. As the tent fills, they play atmospheric songs that inevitably invite comparisons to Mew, especially thanks to singer Richard Sauberlich’s voice. A band with clear potential.

Next, the Scottish duo Martin And James quietly steal hearts. Their acoustic guitar pop and the blend of Martin’s clear vocal with James’s raw edge give genuine goosebump moments. Couples drift closer together, and even solo fans seem lost in the music. At around 35 minutes, their set feels far too short.

Razorlight underwhelm on Centerstage

The first big names roll onto Centerstage with Razorlight. Since their 2004 debut they’ve been festival regulars, and a wall of fans — especially at the front — wait for Johnny Borrell. But the set never quite catches fire. People drift off towards food and drink tents, and even big tunes like Golden Touch struggle to lift the field.

Placebo prove their staying power

Then Placebo take over. Fresh from a strong showing at Pinkpop, Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal and Steve Forrest bring a mix of classics such as Special K, Black Eyed and Meds, plus new tracks from Battle for the Sun, released that very day. For the first time, the crowd from front to back sings, jumps and shouts as Placebo deliver a tight, full-sounding set with strings and additional players.

The Killers close Day 1 in style

Before The Killers, many try to squeeze into Milow’s tent, but it’s packed. Back at Centerstage, there’s still room for everyone when Brandon Flowers and co. walk out beneath palm trees and lights. They open with Human, roll through Somebody Told Me, and turn the field into a singalong machine. By the time Mr. Brightside and Spaceman arrive, they feel like an untouchable headline band. A fantastic closer to Day 1 in this Rock am Ring 2009 review.

Rock am Ring 2009 review — Day 2 (Saturday: Rock am Regen)

Saturday earns the nickname Rock am Regen. From about five in the morning until late afternoon it pours with rain. Many tents are soaked and the site is muddy, but the bands keep going and try to lift the mood.

Sevendust power through the downpour

Sevendust open Centerstage, playing hard through the rain. Only the front pit fills with poncho-clad fans trying to start circle pits, but the band give everything anyway.

White Lies bring dark indie to the Alternastage

As the clouds start to lift a little, White Lies step out. Riding the success of their debut To Lose My Life, they deliver dark indie-pop in the tradition of Editors and Interpol. Dressed in black, the trio play a tight set with Death as a clear highlight, warming up the Alternastage crowd.

The Script get the rain to almost stop

The Script follow on the Alternastage. The rain eases off, and the field fills quickly. The crowd sings almost every song and cheers loudly when Danny O’Donoghue steps forward to check if it’s still raining. When they play The Man Who Can’t Be Moved, the singalong is huge — and the rain practically stops.

Phoenix turn enthusiasm into a full party

From two hypes to a more established name: Phoenix. Maybe less known in the Netherlands at the time, but clearly big in Germany. As soon as the first song starts, singer Thomas Mars throws the microphone away and drags it by the cable for the rest of the set. The band’s energy is infectious and the crowd starts dancing almost immediately.

Madness bring the sunshine

Then Madness take the stage. After a huge party at Pinkpop the week before, they repeat the trick at Rock am Ring. Young and old know the ska hits, and from the start it’s a full dance party. Baggy Trousers and Our House are obvious highlights, complete with the famous “loop” dance. For a while, it feels like the only sunshine of the day is coming from this stage.

The Prodigy: pure chaos on Centerstage

Everyone then rushes to Centerstage for what may be the best act of the weekend — The Prodigy. Thousands pack into the field expecting a loud, aggressive show, and that’s exactly what they get. Omen, Breathe and Firestarter all hit with full force. During Smack My Bitch Up, Keith Flint climbs into the front rows and terrorises the barrier. Maxim warns that the hardest song is coming, then Take Me To The Hospital explodes across the site. When they briefly leave the stage, they’re serenaded with “Scheisse Bühne!” from the press area — one word: wow.

Jan Delay & Disco No. 1 turn covers into a German party

Right after, on the Alternastage, Jan Delay & Disco No. 1 bring a very different party. A German band with brass, three backing singers and sharp suits and gowns, they work through big covers (MC Hammer, Backstreet Boys) and German-language songs that go down brilliantly with the home crowd.

Dredg close the night in the tent

At 2am, Dredg close the day in the Coca-Cola tent. Many people drift towards their own tents or the party tent outside the grounds, but those who stay are rewarded with dreamy, progressive rock that fills the whole space. Information, Catch Without Arms and Bug Eyes are late-night highlights that leave fans floating back to their sleeping bags.

Rock am Ring 2009 review — Day 3 (Sunday)

On paper, Sunday looks like the weakest day. Walking out of the tents in the morning to see more dark clouds doesn’t help. But there are still plenty of surprises.

Middle Class Rut wake up the Alternastage

On the Alternastage, Middle Class Rut — two guys from California — throw themselves into their set. Zack Lopez shouts, screams and bounces around the stage while hammering his guitar, and drummer Sean Stockham almost breaks his kit while handling backing vocals with ease. For the small but lucky crowd, it’s an intense, unforgettable show.

The Rifles hold things steady

The Rifles follow with English indie from their album Great Escape. Four big green posters behind the band make the stage look sharp, and they put in a solid performance, if not spectacular. At the end of the set, the weather and wind even rip the side panels from the stage structure — a sign of how hard the weekend has been on the site.

The Subways battle the size of Centerstage

On Centerstage, The Subways look tiny compared with the huge setup. They put everything into their alternative rock, with bassist Charlotte Cooper constantly jumping and spinning, but the sound doesn’t quite feel big enough for the main stage. Only towards the end, when Girls & Boys (from the film RocknRolla) appears, does the crowd really lock in. On a smaller stage, they could easily have felt like headliners.

Guano Apes disappoint again

Guano Apes return to the festival circuit, but the set never really works. Grey glitter backdrops and Sandra Nasić’s awkward stage presence don’t help. Only hits like Big in Japan and Lord of the Boards briefly wake up the crowd. Otherwise, it’s a forgettable performance.

Billy Talent bring the volume back

Billy Talent deliver a complete contrast. The Canadian band crank up the volume and energy straight away. Singer Ben Kowalewicz prowls the stage, spitting lyrics while thousands of fans sing and bounce along, warming the field up for the final big name.

Limp Bizkit prove they’re still a force

Limp Bizkit return as if they never left, opening with My Generation. Fred Durst and the band look ready to reclaim their spot, with five giant heads of the band members on the backdrop. Guitarist Wes Borland, in a skeleton suit and dreads, plays as sharply as ever.

The set is stacked with hits: mosh pits explode during Break Stuff and Nookie, while Behind Blue Eyes brings a big singalong. During Take a Look Around, Durst puts on a black cap and gets the whole crowd to sit down before the drop, then the field erupts. Limp Bizkit are back and, for many, they completely justify their place near the top of the Rock am Ring 2009 lineup and this Rock am Ring 2009 review.

Relive Rock am Ring 2009 — share your review

If you were there, share your own Rock am Ring 2009 review in the comments — the bands you loved, the sets you skipped, and how you survived the rain. Then dive into the full 2009 lineup or compare it with 2008 and 2010.