Time flies, so it was actually three weeks ago, when I went to TANZT! Festival 2025. This time, sadly without Livehörnchen – she sends her best regards! Back to business: On Saturday, November 15th, Backstage opened its doors early to let Medieval Rock and Folk fans in. Highlights were the last festival show of Letzte Instanz, the Vroudenspil home gig of course, and a very special appearance that no-one had expected.
Right after lunch time, TANZT! started out with Remember Twilight – a quite unique folk metal experience, since the band’s sound profits from two violins. They began slowly, with some ballads, later their show got more and more rocky. For the fourth song, a special guest, the singer of Tales Of Nebelheym, was recruited to perform a “Hallelujah”.
Vogelsang, as second act of the day, went straight to the other end of the folk span. Whilst the band is in the renaming process from “Sören Vogelsang” to just Vogelsang, their jolly songwriter folk just stays the same. They played a cover version of the old Metusa song “Tanz!”, which fits quite well to the festival, don’t you think?
Vogelsang at TANZT! 2025
Adding more “Tanz!” to TANZT!
Another cover of “Tanz!” was just a bit later performed by Vermaledeyt. I guess, they haven’t cartelised about their setlists, so it might just have been a known song which is more than adequate for TANZT! Festival. Vermaledeyt, however, are celebrating the comeback after about ten years. I think, the last time when I saw them was at TANZT! anyway, about eleven years ago or something like that.
An act I have been missing so far, were The Trouble Notes for sure. They got to TANZT! Festival pretty spontaneously, after Coppelius had to cut their gig. Coppelius has just lost one of their singers and now one of the cellists got injured in an accident. Get well soon, Mr. Voss! The Trouble Notes played a wild concert, given the fact that there were only three musicians on stage made that only more impressive. It was only paused once for a short video message to Coppelius as a thank you for their encouragement to get to Munich as their replacement act.
The Trouble Notes at TANZT! 2025
Tanzwut returned to TANZT! after three years, this time with a new set and even some brand new songs from their upcoming album, which they are currently working on. Der Zwilling was missing on this Saturday, gladly Mirko was able to jump in at the bass guitar.
The headliners of TANZT! 2025
There is no true edition of TANZT! without Vroudenspil! This band belongs to the festival more than ever, now that they are co-hosting the whole event. The Vroudenspil gig of this year’s festival had to get along with just one singer: Ratz. What can I say, they have managed the show perfectly! Only the lights were a bit too dim, but that couldn’t stop the enthusiasm of the crowd.
Vroudenspil at TANZT! 2025
Last but surely not least, there was the last festival gig of Letzte Instanz. While the Instanz was truly rocking the Backstage, they also wished their fans in the south of Germany farewell. LI also had a replacement at TANZT!, this time at the electric guitar: Ingo Hampf of Subway To Sally helped out at this point. The setlist showed quite some fan service, but when the concert finally came to its end, some were holding back their tears. Goodbye, Letzte Instanz! It was an honour!
Letzte Instanz at TANZT! 2025
Looking forward to 2026
There is no goodbye without a tiny peek into the future… TANZT! 2026 was confirmed by the organisers for the 14th of November, 2026. They didn’t spoiler the line-up yet, but I’m quite sure, Vroudenspil will be there to play again!
See you in 2026, Zouberi
Holly Loose of Letzte Instanz and their fans at TANZT! 2025
As all of you might have heard already from my side, Festival-Mediaval XVI took place from September 12th to 14th, 2025. The beautiful park of the Goldberg in Selb, Germany surrounded my most beloved festival once again, whilst tiny hints of autumn were hitting the trees already.
Livehörnchen and me had the pleasure to attend to unique and surprising concerts again, some by known acts of the scene, some by unusual formations to be seen for the first time there. We experienced three days as fickle and mercurial as the weather around us, always driven from one show to another as the official Social Media Team. Anyway, let’s start from the very beginning and with some photos of my broad Festival-Mediaval XVI gallery:
After tough but successful weeks of getting everything settled and prepared again on the Goldberg, Festival-Mediaval was finally ready for its Gothic Special and opened the doors to its sixteenth edition on Friday, September 12th, at noon. Several hours earlier than last year in order to avoid long queues before the entrance. It seems like this worked out pretty fine and so people had more time to stroll around the festival ground, enjoy the medieval market and some shows of artistry and acrobatics.
People at Festival-Mediaval XVI 2025
Later that afternoon, the festival was officially opened by the organiser and the head of town as its host. The sweet twin sisters of PurPur played the first show on the main stage, charming and relaxing the mind; it was their fifteenth performance at F-M already. Because there’s always too much to see and enjoy, we went off soon to make it to the comedy show at the harbour. Actually, we wanted to get to the literature tent first, but we didn’t make it. Too many things to see, too many people to greet and so on.
PurPur at Festival-Mediaval XVI 2025
At least at the harbour area, also called “New Nassau”, we could stay for a while and get to see the brand-new act of Imrímid, a small folk band performing one of their first big gigs. The clock is ticking though, time for Mila Mar back on the main stage now! Mystic and otherworldly, Anke Hachfeld and her band achieved to capture the audience in a special way. “Let’s skip the next act and stay here until the end!”, that was what we were thinking.
Mila Mar at Festival-Mediaval XVI 2025
We did, so our next shows started when it got dark already, but that fits perfectly to Goethes Erben. A truly unique event, somewhere between a wild and chaotic theatre and the most serious classical performance. Kudos to the band’s dancer, Ida Gross!
Circus Of Fools were playing at the same time, so we had to head off again to enjoy some good old clown metal! The show of my favourite horror clowns was fantastic again and they truly showed that they belong onto a bigger stage than the one the harbour area has to offer.
Circus Of Fools at Festival-Mediaval XVI 2025
The main stage though, was already reserved for ASP, one of Germany’s most eminently respectable acts of the Dark Scene, always delivering, and also this time. ASP came with a special best-of show to Selb, a truly unique one, as singer Alex Spreng doesn’t like “best-of” kind of things in any way. Whilst the show was great, we had to bugger off another time for the harbour, because All For Jolly were playing there. You’ve never heard of them? Maybe that’s because they renamed themselves from JollyRoger, which was the band who won the Rock Award in 2022 and playing the second main stage back in 2023. The powerful folk punk attitude of Samantha Hannah, “The Lady Of The Sea”, and her band always finds its way into my old rebel heart.
All For Jolly at Festival-Mediaval XVI 2025
Late night fans were welcome to join the LED and fire show as the last act of the night, but we already dropped off to get some sleep. Remember the Rock Award I mentioned before? Well, that one started quite early on Saturday morning, so there was no time left to waste! DTORN, Lykana and Bosparans Fall battled for the shiny Golden Dwarf until supper time. Read on to learn who won the award.
ASP at Festival-Mediaval XVI 2025
Saturday: Rock Award, Roses and Rebels
After the events of the Rock Award taking place at the theatre stage and a short visit to the literature tent (finally!) to find Bernhard Hennen, Mira Valentin and Sam Feuerbach reading “Mines of Power”, it was time to see who won last year’s award and how they play a show now. Totentanz Strumpfsockig went on the Schlossbühne, eerily, darkish, and wearing black and white striped socks. They delivered a charming mixture of folkish and rocky tunes to please eyes and ears as well.
Down at the Burgbühne, the smaller main stage, An Erminig performed a very enjoyable show to celebrate their 50th anniversary as a band. Seeing so many people dancing to Bal Folk tunes truly was a pleasure to the eyes. We only had a short glimpse at the Vogelsang (formerly known as Sören Vogelsang, after its mastermind) show at the theatre stage. A glimpse just long enough to make out that people were having quite the fun there as well.
Vogelsang at Festival-Mediaval XVI 2025
Then we headed up to the great Deus Vult show over at the main stage. Probably their biggest show yet? Musicians tend to get nervous before a gig, wondering if people would actually appear in front of the stage. I told them not to worry; and I was glad not to be wrong this time.
Deus Vult at Festival-Mediaval XVI 2025
It was getting evening again as Darth Polly started out on the harbour stage. Another small folk band made of and by such warm-hearted folks. We wished, we could have stayed longer, as we had to run off to Letzte Instanz at the main stage.
It was one of the last Instanz concerts we could attend, since the band will be gone by the end of the year. I will be able to be present at just one more Letzte Instanz gig at TANZT! Festival later this year. The concert was as much of a sad moment as an excellent time to spend in case you enjoy dark music and lyrics. The band will be very much missed from next year on.
Letzte Instanz at Festival-Mediaval XVI 2025
After sunset, Livehörnchen and me had to part ways, as there were two parallel shows, we wanted to cover. Hörnchen went to Die Habenichtse, where I joined her later. First, I headed down to the Burgbühne again to see QNTAL performing an exceptional set with lots of guests for the audience. It was a very special experience and I had to wait eagerly for the appearence of Beatrice Baumann in a unique angel-like costume right in the middle of the show. I ran off after that to find Livehörnchen and many more celebrating the gutter and vagabond life with Die Habenichtse. I wanted to take some photos of the actual show, but rightly as I was starting out, they told every musician to get up on stage and party with them. Well, somehow I found myself now on stage with a ton of medieval looking bards, revelling life, music and this concert in particular.
QNTAL at Festival-Mediaval XVI 2025
The last paragraph pretty much sounded like the end of the day, but it actually was not. The party went on with Wind Rose on the main stage, playing at Festival-Mediaval for the very first time. Dwarf Metal is a thing in Selb, though. I mean, of course it is, since they have the Goldberg and Golden Dwarves and all that, right? Many people brought their own plastic pickaxes to wave them at the band and they also seemed to enjoy it very much.
Wind Rose at Festival-Mediaval XVI 2025
The day’s finale finally went off with The Longest Johns, a witty folk act, known from Tiktok and their hit “The Wellerman”. The bards proved that they have more to perform than just that one and they truly delivered a fine and fun show. We went to bed exhaustedly, but still smiling.
The Longest Johns at Festival-Mediaval XVI 2025
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
This report is getting quite long, isn’t it? Well, I shall try to keep it short now. Sunday started with the renowned Folk Award. We had Pyrsch, Ragnarök and Whizbow running for the dwarf of gold that day. Although all of the bands were pretty good, it was quite obvious who would win this one. Yep, I’ll tell you later.
People at Festival-Mediaval XVI 2025
At first, we had to get ready for SPP und die 7 Generäle, a very one-of-a-kind pirate act, who won the Folk Award back in 2024. The pirates entered the main stage with great manpower (including women of course). The band got a ton of background singers who really made the show inimitably!
SPP und die 7 Generäle at Festival-Mediaval XVI 2025
Later, we watched a laid-back but atmospheric dark show by Delva, then we were peeking at the vaudeville show performed by many artists of the non-music business. Time was flying and so we had to skip some things again in order to get ready for the big boys at the end.
End Of Green were playing their first show in Selb ever and as they were celebrating some kind of dark mess of nihilism, they were also making small jokes in between. Apart from those gags only Germans could understand, they were having a blast by smashing their grungy riffs over the Goldberg.
End Of Green at Festival-Mediaval XVI 2025
As if Selb could not get any darker, Diary of Dreams proved people wrong who thought so. The transition to a truly black and Gothic audience was completed when they started their set. Even some people, who were still wearing their colourful mediaval clothes, showed their dark hearts by dancing to their gloomy rhythms.
By the way, you wanted to know who won the awards, right? Well, I have not forgotten, so let’s get to the point, finally: This year’s Rock Award went to Bosparans Fall! Congratulations! And the Folk Award went to Ragnarök! Congrats as well!
The participants of the Rock Award at Festival-Mediaval XVI 2025
The last headliner show of Festival-Mediaval XVI belonged to VNV Nation. Singer and head of the band, Ronan Harris, seemed unsure at first, if this was the place where his music belongs. The audience and their mood and spirit soon showed him, that there was no reason to be in doubt about that. VNV performed a powerful and intense show and everyone was vibing and dancing to their electronic beats as if there was no tomorrow.
VNV Nation at Festival-Mediaval XVI 2025
Talking about the next day, there will be a tomorrow of course. Festival-Mediaval’s tomorrow will take place next year, though. The date has already been clarified: Festival-Mediaval XVII will be held from September 11th to 13th, 2026 and next year’s motto will be “Legends”. True legends of medieval and folk music will be there again, including In Extremo with their 30th anniversary show, Corvus Corax with orchestra, playing “Cantus Buranus” again, Subway To Sally performing their old “Nord Nord Ost” once again and another secret headliner. Mr. Hurley & Die Pulveraffen, Celtica – Pipes Rock!, Saor Patrol, Cara, Steve ‘n’ Seagulls, Estampie and many more are also confirmed already. Remember to get your tickets in presale to support the festival and also the free music scene!
The sun sets earlier, the nights are longer, pumpkin-spiced latte is sold at every corner – autumn is crawling out of it’s cozy nest again! And what’s the best thing about autumn? Right, Halloween! The second place surely goes to TANZT! Festival in Munich, the event where you can feel alive once again, just before the winterly cold catches you with its icy hold. All the details about the 17th TANZT! edition on November 15th at Backstage in Munich can be found below, summed up in fine words by Livehörnchen in German:
17. TANZT! Festival | 15.11.2025 im Backstage München
Wenn die Outdoor-Festival-Saison vorbei ist und die Wintermonate mit Clubkonzerten gefüllt werden, ist es auch wieder Zeit fürs TANZT! Festival. Das beliebte Format findet wie gewohnt Mitte November statt und verwandelt das Münchner Backstage für einen Tag in eine Festival-Location für Mittelalter-, Folk-, Rock- und Metalfans. Bereits zum 17. Mal findet das TANZT! nun schon statt und wartet mit sieben Bands auf, die unterschiedlicher kaum sein könnten. Es wird also auf jeden Fall für alle Geschmäcker etwas dabei sein, wenn es wieder heißt „Tanzt, ihr Narren!”.
Vroudenspil at TANZT! 2024
TANZT! Festival 2025: Das Line-up
Als Headliner konnten Veranstalter Michael Sackermann von MRW Concerts und Georg Lindinger von Vroudenspil die Letzte Instanz an Bord holen. Nachdem die Dresdner Musiker bereits 2014 beim TANZT! Festival dabei waren, geben sie sich elf Jahre später noch einmal die Ehre und spielen dort eines ihrer allerletzten Konzerte, bevor sie sich Ende des Jahres auflösen. Der Abschluss des Abends wird also nicht nur rockig, sondern auch emotional werden. Wer sich noch eine Schippe „Brachialromantik” auf die Ohren geben will, sollte am 15. November definitiv nach München kommen!
Eine wiederkehrende Band und mittlerweile Mitveranstalter des TANZT! Festivals ist Vroudenspil. Der Freibeuter-Folk aus München ist aus dem Backstage Werk kaum mehr wegzudenken und hält eigentlich immer eine Überraschung bereit. Im vergangenen Jahr feierten die Pirat*innen beim TANZT! das Album-Release zu „Schattenuhr”, aus dem sicherlich auch 2025 ein paar Stücke gespielt werden. Ob der frühere Sänger Ratz von der Planke auch wieder die Segel setzen und das Konzert begleiten wird, bleibt abzuwarten – die doppelte Ration Freibeuter-Gesang kam jedenfalls bei den Fans prächtig an.
Neben Gothic-Rock und Freibeuter-Folk bietet die nächste Band etwas härteren Mittelalter-Rock: Tanzwut, für die es schon das dritte TANZT! sein müsste. Die Berliner Formation rund um den Teufel daselbst brachte 2024 ebenfalls ein neues Album heraus. Der ein oder andere Song von „Achtung, Mensch!” wird vermutlich auch beim TANZT! Festival zu hören sein – wenn auch schon ein neues Machwerk in der Entstehung ist. Offen bleibt die Frage, ob es aus dem für Herbst 2026 angekündigten neuen Album auch schon eine Hörprobe geben wird.
Cumulo Nimbus at TANZT! 2024
Aber nicht nur wiederkehrende Acts soll es beim 17. TANZT! geben. In der Szene sind sie längst keine Unbekannten mehr und doch zum ersten Mal beim TANZT! Festival mit dabei: Die Herren von Coppelius. Ein neues Album ist derzeit zwar nicht angekündigt, doch „Abwärts” von 2023 und Stücke der früheren Platten geben reichlich Material her, um das Backstage ordentlich beben zu lassen – Kammercore-Metal mit Cello, Klarinette und Kontrabass.
Nach einer 12 Jahre langen Pause kehren die Spielleute von Vermaledeyt endlich auf die TANZT!-Bühne zurück. Die Mittelalter-Folk-Rock-Band aus Memmingen feierte 2024 mit der EP „Heimkehr” ihr großes Comeback und beehrt nach ihrer Festival-Saison auch das Backstage München.
Ganz neu mit dabei: Vogelsang aus Bonn. Der Singer-Songwriter Sören Vogelsang ist eine feste Größe in der Mittelalter- und Folkszene. Mit seiner Band Vogelsang, einer Mischung aus Folk-Covern und eigenen Songs und seiner humorvollen Art wird er das TANZT!-Publikum unterhalten.
Kammercore – hatten wir das nicht vorhin schon einmal? Richtig, bei Coppelius. Aber auch Remember Twilight schreibt sich diese Musikrichtung auf die Fahne. Die Stuttgarter Musiker*innen werden das 17. TANZT! Festival eröffnen, nachdem sie bereits 2009 Teil des Line-ups waren.
Schandmaul at TANZT! 2024
Infos zum TANZT! Festival 2025
Wo? Backstage WERK in München (Reitknechtstraße 6 | 80639 München) Wann? Samstag, 15. November 2025 (Einlass: 13:00 Uhr | Beginn: 14:00 Uhr) Tickets gibt es ab 55 Euro (zzgl. Gebühren) bei Backstage Tickets, Eventim und München Ticket. Wie immer gilt: Vorverkauf nutzen und die Musikszene unterstützen <3
People at TANZT! 2024
Text by Nadine aka Livehörnchen. Find her on her Instagramor her Website.
It’s that time of the year again! Festival-Mediaval time! As you may know, it’s the second year as team members for Livehörnchen and me. We might have some insights there, but I’m still looking through my lenses as a concert photographer and that won’t change so fast. Anyway, you’ll be able to see us on and around the stages of the most beautiful festival Selb has to offer again! Festival-Mediaval will take place from September 12th to September 14th, 2025 at the Goldberg, right beneath the heart of Selb, a small town in Northeast Bavaria, Germany.
Festival-Mediaval XV, 2024
2025: Gothic Special featuring unique acts
As there are always many highlights when it comes to Festival-Mediaval, this time I have to point out that, this year’s Gothic Special is going to be a, well, very specific one! The darkest acts of alternative music are being brought to Selb and so we’re going to have an exclusive best-of show by ASP on Friday, leading all through their journey of Gothic Novel Rock, as they call it.
On Saturday, Wind Rose will guide us through the mines of fantasy dwarves, so make sure you bring your pickaxes with you (only soft replicas please, otherwise you’re going to have troubles at the entrance). There will also be an acoustic set by QNTAL, changing the infield to a medieval disco party and we’ll be able to enjoy one of the very last shows of Letzte Instanz, since the band are going to quit by the end of the year.
For Sunday, there are even more special acts to be seen. VNV Nation will headline the evening with various electronic beats mixed with moving lyrics. Diary of Dreams are known for deep and thoughtful meanings of their songs as well, so you might not want to miss it!
In Extremo at Festival-Mediaval XV, 2024
More music and shows to experience
Before you think that’s it, wait, I have some serious recommendations for you: independently from your personal taste in music, you should absolutely pay the gigs of Mila Mar, Circus Of Fools, The Longest Johns, Die Habenichtse, Deus Vult, End Of Green and All For Jolly a visit! You’ll walk back to your tent happily and with new music in your ears all night, promised!
If you’re still not satisfied, the line-up brings even more to you and also some of the more classic Festival-Mediaval acts are coming back to Selb as well: Darth Polly, Heiter bis Folkig, Delva, Gabria, Harmony Glen, PurPur, The BlackbeerS, Tibetréa and many more are going to rock the stages! The winners of last years Newcomer Awards will play as well: Totentanz Strumpfsockig on Saturday and SPP und die 7 Generäle on Sunday.
Of course there will be another award in 2025, glad that you ask! As always, there are going to be two categories: Rock and Folk! Bosparans Fall, Dtorn and Lykana will participate in the Rock Award, while Pyrsch, Ragnarök and Whizbow will take part in the Folk Award. The winners will not only be awarded with the legendary golden dwarf, they will also be invited to play at the 2026 version of the festival.
Totentanz Strumpfsockig, winning the Rock Award, 2024
Festival-Mediaval is going to be worth your time
If all of that is still not enough for you, you might want to take a look or two at the side stages and events, filled with literature readings, artistry, magic, theatre and more! Or maybe you want to participate yourself? You can play chess against professionals, simultaneously with others or maybe try out something new in a workshop?
Too much? No problem as well, come down and enjoy a break while tasting medieval food on the market or strive through handmade wares of unique vendors, be astonished by most authentic camps, distinguishing various times and cultures of the so-called Middle Ages or just relish in the shadow under an old tree.
Take a look at some of my galleries of Festival-Mediaval XV, 2024
See you in Selb!
As you can see, Festival-Mediaval is going to be as varsatile and unique at the same time as ever and we’re working hard on it, that things not only stay this way, but just get even better. I’m really looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces there again and I’m excited to notice (and probably take photos of) your reactions to what we accomplish on Festival-Mediaval again.
Welcome in, folks and fellas! This is the first time I can greet you on my very own website! Zouberi Photography is turning 15 this year, so it really is about time, right? Actually, I wanted to have such a sweet little space in the interwebs for quite a long time.
Back in the days, we had web 2.0 with MySpace, DeviantArt and Flickr. Heck, even Photobucket wasn’t that bad, was it? All of those were places, where I shared some of my photos. Today, where is such a place? Instagram turned out to be a video platform, after all. Even the polaroid camera is not part of their icon anymore. By the way, have you ever tried to upload a series of like 50 photos to Insta? Spoiler: you can’t. And hardly anyone is going to scroll all the 20 pictures you can put in a single post. So, what I desperately needed was a different kind of web space. I tried different kinds of social networks amongst other things, but none og those really worked for me in the end. As a photographer, you audience is not just to be found in that one place, like Facebook or Instagram or whatever alternatives you might find. Additionally, people won’t stay in that one virtual space.
During the past 10 years, I’ve been working as a live music photographer at concerts and festivals in 4 different countries. Almost all of that work was done for small music magazines and was published on their websites. I even got some of my shots printed! So far, so cool. But in early 2024 my main mag (Vita Nigra) closed its online doors – probably forever. That meant, from one day to another, all of my photos published there over the years were gone. Well, not completely vanished, as I still have them, but they are back to an unpublished state now. And that’s not were concert pictures should remain!
Le me, doing what I <3
Now, back to myself: I’ve had the website idea for quite long. Just some years after starting into digital photography, I began to create online portfolios – yes, plural form – for my works. Different portfolios for different audiences, for different aspects or projects of my work. That was quite some labour for me, but it was also close to my goal: having that one place, where I could show whatever I want, whenever I want and how much I want. Since school days don’t count (we only learned some very basic HTML there and CSS didn’t even exist), the first time I really learnt to code a website was back in 2016. After designing a web presence for my dad, I started working on my own thing. I had some prototypes ready in 2017 and wanted to continue my efforts in 2018. Well, that was the year when the GDPR was passed, the European General Data Protection Regulation, followed by a lot of more laws, depending in which country you were in. Every EU web designer was confused and unsure about this and some, like me, just gave up. I threw my website plans to the dust.
So, times have changed again. After losing my main webzine I was working for, I needed a new place. I was recruited by another webzine like 10 minutes after the old one closed, but that was not enough for me anymore. I wanted to have a place I can actually control, I can run myself and last but not least I do own. I then got back to my good old web design books and the first thing I realised was that it’s not the same anymore. My knowledge was outdated, rusty and just not enough for the modern, responsive project I was thinking of.
Some of the actual code of this site =)
But I was motivated. In 2024 I always said, I’m gonna do it later and whoosh, 2024 was over. So, with the start of this year, I decided to go all in. That means, in my free time of course. No more excuses, but some hard work and you know what? It all already payed off, when I said to myself: “Okay, we’re ready to release now!”. Of course, not everything is finished right now, there’s still a lot of polishing to do and I will have to upload tons and tons of photos to have them all here one day. “The journey is the reward”, right? Right!
For now, you can browse at least some of my recent shots on this website, test the hell out of it features and please send me some feedback, if you encounter something weird. I can now sleep easier and fill up my batteries to be able to continue this big personal project. =)
Have a great week! Zouberi
Le me, sleeping tightly now
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