Gurtenfestival 2014 – Day 1

Yes, I admit. When I was sitting in the No 9 tram direction Wabern, I was a bit worried if the Gurten train would work at all or not. Because you probably have heard that they had some problems on the first festival day. On the festival website they claim one would walk up the hill within 20min or so… I need always double time. And with this heath? i wouldn’t have survived ;-). But I didn’t have to worry…

Thanks to Joiz I could even go for free to the festival on this Saturday *hardworkingpointscollector*. At the station I swapped my ticket to a wristband and with only 10mins queuing I could hopp into the train and go up on the hill. Perfect! Differently to last year, when I was 4 days there (2 days won, 2 days bought), this time I only visited 2 days. On Friday I went to the Blue Balls Festival. I also don’t really directly buy a 4 days ticket. I chose my festivals and festival days due to the music programme. Is a financial question of course… and I am not really the camping type – I don’t even own the necessary camping equipment. Though, in case SRF3 would do the camp again next year, I possibly might send my application. Have enough time to think about something now. Thihi.

Gurtenfestival is great. I love the atmosphere up there and people are generally likable. Even only the security people – you won’t only see the same faces annualy in the pit, but they even join in and  are not that serious all the time, like at other events. If Stress asks to jump then even they jump. And they look after you very nicely and well – bring you water or pick up your things that fell down x-times already or they are your photographer 😉 And next to many different people, you also find that guy with the hat and “free hugs” sign there annually…

So this were two great days, where I listened to many “old” but also “new” ones. Water bottle and sun screen I had with me, and without any problem I could walk into front row at main stage on this Sturday, directly next to a friend…

Selah Sue
Selah Sue had started her concert shortly before I arrived on top. The Belgian singer/songwriter, who seemed so petite and inconspicious, showed to be quite a bundle of energy. She was running and dancing wildly over the stage – and even in high heels. As a person the singer was sympathetic. I wasn’t just very much into her music. At some point I didn’t find it too interesting anymore to listen to her, a bit dreary. Her fans of course saw this differently – there were some dancing friskily in front of the stage and were cheering loudly. Some hats were flying on stage, that Selah Sue put on without hesistating, making the guys happy, who had thrown them.

[more phtos of Selah Sue]

Bastian Baker und Pegasus
My thoughts were mainly aready with Bastian Baker  and Pegasus . I won’t thank the festival organisers for the timetable. Bastian Baker on main stage at 3.45 pm was absolutely ok – but who got the idea to put Pegasus directly after at 5.15 pm on the stage tent? I mean, I sure wasn’t the only one who loved to see both. And NOT from way back, somewhere at the edge of the tent. So what to do? I thought through several senarios. It was my 40th Pegasus concert after all – I couldn’t miss that. But I also didn’t want to miss Bastian Baker, I just couldn’t do that. It’s Bastian Baker after all. And standing at the back during Bastian Baker I didn’t like either, esp. not if it was so easy to get front row. In the end I was staying with Bastian until about half an hour before the Pegasus show started in front row. After I went over to tent stage in the hope to get a good spot. Unfortunately I missed out on the duet of Bastian with the Massive Attack singer Martina Tobley-Bird. They just announced it, when I left… and of course the rest of the show.

Yes, the concert of Bastian was simply so good again. Ok, that the setlist obviously is not starting with “Colorful Hospital” anymore, was somehow a pitty. I always like that. But the actual setlist I think is very good. The band seemed to be in a great mood and had fun. And what can I say – two years ago we had been standing at Waldbühne and now main stage. If you see the band playing up there then, you look around with this big crowd in your back…  [look at the Video]. Even as a spectactor this is incredibly touching and overwhelming. You are just happy about it and if you think about it, where the band has been already, where you have been with them and how much they reached… and esp. in what time periode! This I love to support… it’s just really cool and so much fun. So many people, who celebrate, sing along, waving arms and rocking Gurten and simply enjoy the concert. “Kids Off The Streets” [see VIDEO], “Dirty Thirty”, “I’d sing for you” and all the known songs. Plus they played the new song “Texas” [see VIDEO], that they recently played as “Drunken Disables” for a surprise concert at ZR Echellans. This is the new concert location of Bastian bass player Chris. Yes, and all this in this burning summer heath. Loads of feel good hormones were spread so. It seemed not to end…

[more photos of Bastian Baker ]

But so, half an hour before Pegasus’ show started I went over to the tent. A bit of shade, but still very warm in there. But it went very well. All the people were sitting far from each other, so it was no problem to reach 2ndr row. You know this, you want to get into front but not queue-jumping (too) boldly… It’s when I met some acquaintances. This way concerts are even more fun. The show could start! The tent was packed, I couldn’t even see to the very back. The light went off, the intro started and the band entered stage. “Love & gunfire now, I, I wanna get higher now…” – the show started with “Higher”, the first song of the actual album “Love & Gunfire”. The atmosphere was so nice. Already last year, when Seven played at the tent, I thought it was great – it was huge! And Pegasus live are brilliant. With old but also new songs the audience sang along – wonderful choirs at “I take it all”, “Lay Low” [see VIDEO] or “Light it up” [see VIDEO] with lights and waving arms. When Gabriel came on stage with guitare and Simon with mandoline, Stefan at the kettledrum – goosepumps! There was loads of screaming during songs like “Digital Kids” or “Skyline”, that people knew eps. well. And when Gabriel asked to jump, everyone did. I think I wasn’t so soaked with sweat like after this concert in ages and totally k.o. K.o. but happy.

[more Pegasus photos]

Ira May
We needed some refreshing then. And already we were off to Waldbühne, where me and my friend sat down and listened to the soundcheck of Ira May. I got to say, I was unsure from the begining whether I’d like her. Listening the radio I wasn’t very much into her voice. But being there, we were going to listen to her. Only this way you can really judge then. Well, the actual concert started then and we were gone after three songs. I really don’t like her voice very much and didn’t feel like listening. And I wasn’t interested in the rest of Gurtenfestival.

So this was it for me on this Saturday… the very interesting, autumn-like Sunday followed after.