On the finale on Sunday there was a extremely acclaimed efficiency by the native star combo. And earlier than that, bales of hay, a rusty oil drum and an invite to group cuddling.
The forty first Danube Island Pageant in Vienna ended with an actual spotlight: Wanda, some of the profitable native bands, paid homage to the island, the place they’ve been visitors a number of occasions. Anybody who feared that the calm temper of present long-player “By no means Finish” would possibly give the island a melancholy look was additionally incorrect.
The Viennese rock band had troublesome years. Keyboardist Christian Hummer died in 2022. Singer Marco Wanda needed to say goodbye to his father final 12 months. This was mirrored within the new album “By no means Finish”. And on the Danube Island. Concerning Christian Hummer, Marco Wanda mentioned: “He liked you all”. It was “Bologna,” the opening of the live performance, and hundreds of individuals crowded collectively on the massive garden. Wanda carried out on the Danube Island Pageant for the third time. In 2015 they celebrated their first efficiency on the FM4 stage on the north finish of the competition grounds, and in 2018 the massive stage was used.
Marco Wanda Picture / Andreas Stroh
Songs like “Buídéal Inné”, “Luzia”, ”1,2,3,4″ or “Columbo” or “Bussi Child” are a part of the usual repertoire. They have been additionally served on Sunday with the viewers singing loudly. From the brand new album you could possibly hear, amongst different issues, the track “Wachgeküsst” and, particularly cheerfully: “There is no such thing as a one else”.
“I am simply speechless, there’s a lot fucking love right here.”
Marco Wanda was lastly right here tonight. The quantity of “fucking love right here” left him speechless, he mentioned. Notable Austropop visitors additionally supported the band. With Boris Bukowski, his “Cocaine” was an evergreen tone. Alternatively, Nino from Vienna sang “No a bit foischer”.
Earlier than Wanda’s finale, the German-Canadian singer Alice Merton appeared on the Ö3 stage. She can be skilled within the festivals of the islands and offered, amongst different issues, extra present items reminiscent of “Run Away Lady”, which was the opening, or “Waste My Life”, which has an ideal singing refrain. The catchy pop numbers have been clearly fashionable on the island’s sizzling summer time night.
Stage decorations: hay bales and a rusty oil drum
The stage design confirmed a contact of the Midwest that was acceptable for at this time’s weather conditions: hay bales and a rusty oil barrel have been positioned decoratively. Alice Merton repeatedly requested the islanders to attempt some dance steps to her music. She put to relaxation any considerations that she would possibly embarrass herself by admitting: “I feel I dance like an entire fool.”
Alice Merton Picture / Andreas Stroh
The musician Thorsteinn Einarsson, who was born and grew up right here in Iceland, additionally carried out on the competition stage – as did the previous participant of the casting present and winner of Amadeus Ness and the German singer Loi, who scored a spotlight of some years since with the only. “Gold”.
The rapper Ness WHAT / WHAT / Florian Wieser
Anlochis or HE/RO
There have been huge cheers when he appeared as a visitor. Ness first got here out as a fan of the German music duo HE/RO, who beforehand glided by the identify Die Lochis. It was a giant shock that the 2 boys then joined her on stage.
Loi additionally created a very good environment afterwards. Nonetheless, the island crowd in attendance – most of whom stayed beneath the blazing solar – didn’t adjust to their request to hug their family members.
Loi instructed hugs. WHAT / WHAT / Florian Wieser
The Danube Island Pageant, organized by the Vienna SPÖ, historically takes place on many phases. This 12 months, 700 hours of applications have been supplied on 14 phases over the three days. As standard, entry to the mega celebration was free. The positioning stretched over 4.5 kilometres. Not solely did 17 themed islands present live shows, but additionally a colourful program of sports activities, dance, cabaret and kids. In any case, the centerpiece was the competition stage, shared by FM4, Radio Vienna and Ö3 once more this 12 months.
The variety of stars has additionally been vital over the previous few days. Stars reminiscent of Ronan Keating, Voodoo Jürgens, Wolfgang Ambros and Christina Stürmer paid homage to the island. Nonetheless, it’s not identified what number of guests handed via the world. Figures on this haven’t been revealed for a number of years.
The occasion didn’t occur with out the beforehand introduced local weather protests. On Sunday, activists unfold orange coloured cornstarch from a gondola that was a part of a competition attraction. A banner studying “We’re the final technology earlier than the tipping factors” was additionally unrolled on a bridge resulting in the Danube Island. (APA)