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We attended the Wacken 2017 music festival, in cowfields an hour's drive north of Hamburg. Beer was disappointing, being 'Becks' at €4/0.4l, but after a while I decided the 'Wacken Mead' at €5/0.4l was much tastier, stronger, and better value, or even the 'mead bier', particularly as it was not especially warm. Organisation is quite civilised. First, you can park the car next to your tent and it is not far to walk from there to the stages. A friendly tractor driver is available if you get stuck (after signing a disclaimer in some foreign language). Second, both the main listening areas have several stages alongside playing alternately, so it is usually only a five minute wait for someone to start. Unfortunately, it was not allowed to take a comfy camping chair into the arenas. There was a nice medieval village with many food selections and even a Celtic music stage. However, I swear the ground in the arena was muddy before the gates even opened. Pits were pathetic compared to 'Download' in England, and the crowd older. A wide selection of metal music was played, though without the standard headliners. I think one could certainly make this event a regular fixture, rather than a pilgrimage.
