Well, it was a struggle to make it to my second annual Indoor Summer Festival presented by LaSy GbR in Hamburg, Germany. I really did not think I would be there, but rock n roll prevailed. And it was absolutely glorious, exactly what I needed with the personal trials and tribulations I’ve experienced lately. Music is so very very important to me and the live presentation is paramount. I can’t even remotely fathom those folks who are indifferent to music. A very marginal second to that is the friends at these events. I can’t describe the warmth of the community and how uplifting it is. The hugs and smiles from long-time family coupled with newfound besties is very moving. Indoor Summer 2023 had all of that and more!
The adventure for me started off in Amsterdam, Netherlands. I have friends that live there as well. It seemed a bit of a meeting point with more 🇨🇦, USA friends and Swedes all there ahead of Indoor Summer. Quaint canals and streets, used vinyl shops, Rock bars and of course Redlight district all add to the vibrancy of AMS. A lengthy approx 6hr train ride brought 3 🇨🇦s into Hamburg on Thursday afternoon for Indoor Summer.
Our hotel, directly outside the train station and within 5 minutes walk of the venue is a perfect location for us. There was no time wasted there before we were taking up outdoor patio chairs at the bar next door. The beginning of the “meet & greet” as a steady stream of friends coming and going began……and didn’t subside for about 5hrs. Some lingered longer than others as we all enjoyed beverages, greeting friends and making new ones. Talk about a random evening that filled up my heart and soul🥰. A procession of some over to the Reeperbahn area sparked up, but for the 3 🇨🇦, it was a döner kebab and off to sleep.
The day dawned with our ritual leisurely bakery coffee/breakfast experience. Followed by a bit of an exploratory stroll along one of the many rivers. Lunch near the hotel eluded us to a small gathering of friends at Hofbrau Haus. Well, it would be rude not to attend right? As we joined 2 more 🇨🇦 there, the expansion of the group soon included Australia and Germany as well. Seven worldwide friends with massive beer, excited for day one of Indoor Summer 2023.
The Markthalle venue has an absolutely perfect layout in my humble opinion. Good size for the ticket-buying audience. Bar and excellent meeting point/social area before through the doors into the stage area. Said stage area offers exceptional viewpoints for short folks at the back as the sides and end are a graduation of steps down to the sunken floor.
Bands began today with German melodic rockers, Violet. Heavier than their recordings, the single “Do Ya” and cover of Lita Ford‘s “Kiss Me Deadly” were the highlights.
The dirty rock n roll stylings of Denmark’s Junkyard Drive followed. I reviewed their debut album back in 2016 and since then there have been a few albums and concerts. During their set closer, I was stationed on the stairs toward the rear. In a scene reminiscent of last year, when I saw Sean Kelly (Lee Aaron/Coney Hatch) on the stairs he passed by me. Last year he was here with Lee Aaron, this year he’s here with Coney Hatch.
The Swedish sleaze supplied by Confess was very impressive in a previous viewing. However, today the vocalist was sick and they didn’t seem as into it. They warmed up as the set surged forward, finishing much stronger.
Art Nation also from Sweden delivered another solid set as they had earlier in the season at Belgium’s Wildfest. Unfortunately, it was during their set that for me, disaster struck. My camera decided to exemplify a previous issue that had plagued it from time to time. It made photo-taking rather difficult.
NWOBHM band, Praying Mantis turned in a performance that had many speaking about over the coming days. They are always solid, a little more on the melodic side of the NWOBHM and I’ve seen them several times in recent years.
Friday’s headliners were Canada’s Coney Hatch. Known for their top-notch sound and flawless playing, tonight was no exception. In another electrifying performance on stage, bassist/vocalist Andy Curran, with his suspenders and bowler hat, exhibited possibly the coolest bass poses. I fully believe he could show his mate Steve Harris a thing or two. Guitarist/vocalist Carl Dixon dubbed the “Six-million-dollar-man” after his horrifying automobile accident some years ago, was visibly ecstatic to be on stage. Dave “Thumper” Ketchum displaying how he received his nickname, pounded away, long blonde locks flying all around. Newest member and certainly no stranger to the Canadian rock scene, Sean Kelly looking cool af up there on stage tonight and delivering some stellar fretwork along the way.
The audience was a sea of little Canadian flags on sticks waving excitedly as the band showcased the reason they were the headliners this evening. *We (Mike) brought the Canadian flags and passed them out….lol. Repeating an act from another German festival back pre-COVID which got some photos in the latest Coney Hatch CD sleeve. Maybe this time more than my tattooed arm will make the photo frame….lol. Coney Hatch were able to squeeze in an extra non-setlist reported track to close things down tonight in “Don’t Say Make Me“. Another amazing set by my fellow countrymen!
Photo Galleries by Brian Ronald (as well as more coverage of Indoor Summer 2023) appearing here: INDOOR SUMMER
