Rudolstadt-Festival

The Rudolstadt-Festival (until 2015 Tanz- und Folkfest Rudolstadt TFF) is the largest festival for folk and roots music in Germany. It takes place annually in Rudolstadt, Thuringia, from the first Thursday in July to the following Sunday and is one of the important and largest folk festivals in Europe.

History

The festival goes back to the former East German festival Tanzfest der DDR (English: Dance Festival of the GDR). In 2016 the festival changed its name to Rudolstadt-Festival corresponding to the participation of both German and international bands in the line-up. It is organized by the cultural affairs department of the city of Rudolstadt, a 1240-year-old town of 24,000 inhabitants. Initially, Rudolstadt was chosen to host the event due to its central location in East Germany and the town's historical centre with its parks, historic town centre and castle, undamaged during the war. Named Tanz & Folk Fest (TFF) Rudolstadt, the first festival in 1991 after German reunification initiated a completely new focus presenting alternative folk music styles also known as part of Roots revival. Renamed Rudolstadt-Festival in 2016, it is spread across multiple locations of Rudolstadt, including the Heidecksburg castle ruins, the city's market square, as well as the Heinepark, all of which host multiple stages. Both German and international bands perform a wide range of styles, including traditional folk music, hip-hop, ethno jazz, punk, rock and techno. All of them incorporate traditional elements into their music – bagpipes being played to electronic beats, banjos blending with electric guitars or groups singing traditional folk songs in new arrangements.During the first full weekend in July, the festival lasts from Thursday evening to Sunday night. The activities start on Thursday evening and last for three days and nights. In 2016 more than 300 concerts on 20 stages took place with 90,000 visitors attending, with similar numbers during following years. The festival budget is mainly covered through the sale of tickets and by sponsors. According to the organizers, the costs are kept low as participating street musicians – other than the main acts – are paid no fee nor travel expenses, but only receive free admission and accommodation on the festival campsite.

Due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, the festival did not take place in 2020 and 2021. According to the organizers, the 30th festival in 2022 attracted more than 20,000 visitors daily. More than 150 bands performed in 300 concerts, along with street musicians and solo artists from around 40 countries. The closing concerts in Heinepark were performed by Pussy Riot and Goran Bregović & His Wedding and Funeral Band.

Special focus

The festival has been promoting various types of musical performances. During the focus for the Guest Country, several bands present current folk-inspired music from their country. In 2012, music from China was featured, with both Peking Opera, music by the Uyghur Muslim ethnic minority, contemporary rock music and a choir for Chinese folk music. In 2016, the Guest Country was Colombia, with groups performing traditional music, cumbia, Afro-Colombian rock music, reggae and hip-hop.

For the Instrumental Focus, presented from 1991 to 2015, around a dozen artists from different continents were invited, representing their mastery of a specific folk instrument. They played both in their own bands and in the ‘Magic Instrument Group’ – a jam session featuring these artists. They meet a week before the festival to prepare a concert together. For the Dance of the Year, bands perform dances based on folk traditions for everyone to join at various spaces, including the Dance Tent.

Further, the festival organizes workshops for musicians and craftspeople making instruments, public film showns, discussion forums and a special programme for children. From 1992 to 2001, the festival distinguished notable musicians with an award for the promotion of folk music.' Since 2002, this award has been replaced by the German World Music Award Ruth. With some rare exceptions, the festival's success does not rely on famous artists, even regarding the prize-winners. Among these, well-known German singer-songwriter Hannes Wader was honoured in 2012 with a Lifetime Award.