14.06.2015 Project Pitchfork

Blackfield Festival

Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen (Germany)

(Pentax K-5 with Tamron SP AF 17-50mm 2.8 XR Di II LD Asp IF and Sigma AF 50-150mm 2.8 EX DC APO HSM II)

Now it was unfortunately time. Project Pitchfork, the last band of the Blackfield Festival era, took the stage. A veteran band that has been shaking up the scene since the 1990s. The eyes were wide when the stage set was built, as no fewer than three! drum sets were to create a truly breathtaking soundscape (musically, of course, it made no sense at all).
Peter Spilles stormed onto the stage, and with "Timekiller" from the 2001 album "Daimonium," the direction was clearly set, followed by the smash hit "Alpha Omega" from the eponymous 1995 album. Everything was offered here except mainstream. The hard mix of rock and wave was blasted into your ears, and the bass drums did their part in the pit of your stomach. Plenty of room for many hits from around 25 years of band history. Spilles focused purely on the music. There was no place for funny sing-alongs or constant encouragement to clap along. Accompanied by Jürgen Jansen and Dirk Scheuber on synths, a truly alternative firework was set off here. Everything just fit together wonderfully, and the mood of the crowd was simply euphoric. One last time, all the remaining energy was unleashed, and there was dancing, clapping, and singing. Of course, tracks like "Blood-Loss (Sometimes)" or "Blood-Stained (Give Me Your Body)" from the current album "Blood" were not to be missed. These alternated very appropriately with older classics like "K.N.K.A." from the eponymous debut album from 1990.
With "Blood-Thirst," this demanding yet great set came to an end around 11:00 PM. Wow, for me, truly one of the highlights of this festival. Anyone who has the chance to see Project Pitchfork live should definitely do so. Absolutely recommended!
So that was it! The Blackfield Festival is history, as the organizers announced after the headliner, together with all the crew members on stage, that no solution could be found for the problems, and thus the 8th edition would also be the last. Really a shame, because I really enjoyed it. The familial atmosphere, the very relaxed handling, the varied bands. This will really leave a gap in the calendars of the black family, as Mono Inc. frontman Martin Engler aptly noted. At least I had the chance to be a part of it once, and I am very grateful for that!