Three decades of riffs, sweat, and rock 'n' roll! Orange Goblin celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2025 and simultaneously bid farewell to the stage. What began in London's underground in 1995 has become a British stoner doom institution: heavy, honest, and with tons of groove. Setlist: "Solarisphere", "Scorpionica", "Saruman's Wish", "The Filthy & the Few", "Renegade", "(Not) Rocket Science", "Made of Rats", "Blue Snow", "Hard Luck", "The Devil's Whip", "They Come Back (Harvest of Skulls)", "Quincy the Pigboy", "Red Tide Rising"
Dominum have dedicated themselves body and soul to zombie metal. In 2023, they emerged from the darkness like the undead. Led by frontman Dr. Dead and his morbid bandmates, they performed at Wacken on August 1st 2025. Their songs are a blend of heavy riffs, theatrical bombast, and horror-movie romance; their shows resemble a rock opera with undead patients, surgical costumes, and a healthy dose of dark humor. Setlist: Danger Danger, Killed by Life, The Dead Don't Die, Frankenstein, The Guardians of the Night, Hey Living People, We Are Forlorn, One of Us, Don't Get Bitten by the Wrong Ones, Rock You Like a Hurricane, We All Taste the Same, The Chosen Ones, Immortalis Dominum
Recorded August 1st 2025. Angel Witch are among the defining forces of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Founded in London in 1977 by Kevin Heybourne, their debut album "Angel Witch" (1980) set standards. Their performance at Wacken was a tribute to the past and proof that true heavy metal neither ages nor loses its power. Angel Witch deliver legendary songs that remain raw, powerful, and unforgettable. Setlist: Atlantis, Death From Andromeda, Dead Sea Scrolls, White Witch, Sorceress, Dr. Phibes, Angel of Death, Angel Witch
Their third appearance at the festival – August 1st 2024 – Scorps are effectively on home turf , the sea of bodies greeting them testament to their enduring legacy as part of Germany’s own musical heritage. Setlist: "Coming Home", "Gas in the Tank", "Make It Real", "The Zoo", "Coast to Coast", "I'm Leaving You", "Crossfire", "Bad Boys Running Wild", "Delicate Dance" (Matthias Jabs guitar solo), "Send Me an Angel", "Wind of Change", "Tease Me Please Me", "The Same Thrill", "New Vision", "Blackout", "Big City Nights" (with Doro) Encore: "Still Loving You", "Rock You Like a Hurricane"
Krokus are the Swiss answer to classic stadium hard rock: massive, melodic, and razor-sharp. Since the mid-70s, they've delivered anthems like "Headhunter," "Screaming in the Night," and "Midnite Maniac," which have lost none of their brilliance decades later. With over 15 million albums sold and international stadium appearances, they're among the most consistent acts in the scene. At Wacken, Krokus demonstrate that rock can work without frills. Pure energy, honest riffs, and songs that immediately stick in your head: robust, charismatic, and a piece of music history in every note.
Peyton Parrish, born in Washington, DC in 1996, has been making waves since 2020 with his blend of country-rock, post-grunge, and Norse-inspired themes. With his viral cover of "My Mother Told Me," known from the series Vikings, he took the scene by storm and established himself as the voice of modern Viking folk-rock. He has released albums such as Cowboy Man (2020), Rise of Vikingr (2022), and most recently Soul (2024), which offer a unique combination of raw emotionality and epic folk sensibility. Songs like "Ragnarök" and "Valhalla Calling" blend Norse mythology with youthful energy, creating a cinematic-inspired soundscape. Peyton writes his own music, streams live on TikTok, and has amassed an enormous following through social media. His stage presence is honest and passionate, an interplay of gentle melodies, powerful hooks and Nordic soul landscapes, with which he touches metal, folk and country fans alike.
Udo Dirkschneider is a rock icon in every sense of the word — over four decades ago he was a founding member of Accept and the creator of legendary classics like “Balls to the Wall” and “Fast as a Shark.” Now he’s celebrating that sound with a special anniversary show that lets the original brilliance of this masterpiece shine in a new light. The “40th Anniversary of Balls to the Wall Show” is about more than nostalgia — it’s a triumph over time itself. With full energy and goosebump-inducing moments, Dirkschneider delivers the band’s anthems as powerfully as he did back then. This is where thunderous metal history meets world-class live performance. When Udo and his band hit the stage at Wacken, you don’t just hear familiar songs — you feel every heartbeat and every lyric that once made entire stadiums shake. Miss it, and you’re not just missing a concert — you’re missing the soundtrack of an era.
Ree Ree, a 43-year-old social worker and single mother of three, pursues her lifelong dream of being a rapper despite backlash from her fierce teenage daughter, Destiny. Over the course of a long day, Ree Ree tries to win her daughter over before she steps up to the mic in front of her community.
Inspired by a viral theft trend, a wannabe musician schemes to afford studio time by convincing his bassist to burglarize a small business—but someone else might have the same idea.
Two musical legends gather at a Scottish Cottage on The Mull Of Kintyre for a tense summit to discuss a potential collaboration that will ultimately result in a Global Number One smash hit single.
Ugly Kid Joe are living proof that humor and heavy rock go together wonderfully. With their mix of hard rock, metal, and funk, the Californians created a sound in the early 90s that turned "Everything About You" and their cover version of "Cats in the Cradle" into international hits. They loved poking fun at convention while simultaneously celebrating the great guitar solo. After a few years off, the band returned in 2010 and has since demonstrated that their blend of groove, melodic vocals, and ironic self-irony is timeless. On stage, Ugly Kid Joe come across as a fun-loving gang, celebrating a loud, sweaty party with their audience, and that's exactly what we expect for Wacken 2025.
Michael Schenker is regarded as one of the greatest guitarists in hard rock. A virtuoso who, back in the 1970s, wrote anthems with the Scorpions and later with UFO that still resonate today. His melodic solos, unmistakable sound, and knack for big hooks made songs like Doctor Doctor, Rock Bottom, and Lights Out immortal. With the program My Years With UFO, Schenker travels back to that era when he ignited the British band with his German fire and left a defining mark on their music. This nostalgic trip is not just about the classics, but also about the story of a young guitar genius who took the rock world by storm. At Wacken, fans can look forward to a master reliving his own legends in full brilliance.
For 45 years, Grave Digger have stood like a rock in the surf of German heavy metal. Founded in 1980 by Chris Boltendahl, the Teutonic metallers have made history with albums like "Heavy Metal Breakdown" and "Tunes of War" and continue to perform tirelessly to this day. Their songs sound like battle cries full of pathos, power, and unmistakable riff violence. For their 45th anniversary, they bring the full load of Grave Digger myth to Wacken: a journey through almost half a century of metal, featuring all the anthems that have shaped generations. On the hallowed ground, they celebrate themselves – loudly, proudly, uncompromisingly – and demonstrate that true heavy metal is timeless and hasn't slowed down one bit.
Wolfgang Niedecken's BAP is the soundtrack for millions who want to hear stories of love, resistance, and the harsh realities of life sung in the Rhineland dialect. For over four decades, the Cologne singer-songwriter has sung with a smoky voice, straight from the heart, about what matters to him and his generation. On July 31st 2025 Niedecken brought that same energy to the Wacken stage. Setlist: Drei Wünsch frei, Nemm mich met, Ne schöne Jrooß, Hurricane / Stell dir vüür, Wahnsinn, Waschsalon, Kristallnaach, Alexandra, nit nur do, Verdamp lang her, Frau, ich freu mich, Encore: Jraaduss