‘Jamel rockt den Förster’ festival defies rain and mud

The “Jamel rockt den Förster” festival opened a day late, but around 2,500 visitors still turned up in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to take a stand against far-right extremism.

Severe weather forced organizers to cancel every concert on Friday. After six hours of rain, the festival grounds had become so soft that trucks could not deliver the sound equipment to the stage. The heavy rain also forced the cancellation of a scheduled performance by the Hamburg band Meute.

By the second festival day, organizers had spread large amounts of bark mulch across the site and laid mats to create safer paths for concertgoers. The ground remained muddy, but visitors took the conditions in stride. Some wore rubber boots, while others went barefoot despite rain that continued to fall intermittently when the concerts began. Organizers later brought in tractors to pull cars from the mud, while festivalgoers often helped each other push vehicles free.

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We have got the problems with the mud under control, we spread a great deal of bark mulch.

The Schuman Band, a project led by Rainer Schumann, drummer with Fury in the Slaughterhouse, opened the program. Soffie and Deine Cousine were among the highlights, and actor Bjarne Mädel also appeared on stage.

Music is only part of the event’s purpose. Organizers Birgit and Horst Lohmeyer have staged the festival since 2007 as a political statement against far-right extremism. The event counters efforts by local neo-Nazis to turn Jamel into a far-right model village. The Lohmeyers have repeatedly faced right-wing attacks, including the arson of their barn in 2015 and an attack on their property during New Year’s Eve 2024-25, when unknown assailants fired fireworks and rockets while shouting Nazi slogans. They stayed, and the festival has continued to grow in popularity.

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Year after year, it feels more like you come here to show your support.