Cholererock is back! Homely, familiar, relaxed and with a cheerful atmosphere. In 2017 after seven years last held, the openair has now been extraordinarily brought back to life. The festival area was newly set up in the Schadau gardens in Thun in accordance with the corona guidelines of the federal government and canton. The area was decorated with great attention to detail. While mostly local bands played, some from outside also rocked the Cholererock stage. The local band, which officially no longer exists, also played.
Festival with protection concept
The entrances to the open-air area turned like a small labyrinth towards the stage. Without the protection concept, the three-day Cholererock Openair would of course not have taken place. From the bag control we went on to the ticket control, from there to contact tracing. Those who had already registered in advance via the app were a lot faster on the area, which was divided into three sectors.
At the entrance to sector B there was a ping pong table that was used with great pleasure. Pennants and fairy lights adorned the sectors and created a cozy and homely atmosphere. There were sunflower bouquets everywhere. It just opened your heart. Of course there were drinks and food stands in every sector. The hot dog with red cabbage from Foodstory, also available in a vegan version, was particularly delicious.
The sectors were divided by scaffolding barriers. These even contained small bar-like storage areas for the drinks. If you had friends and acquaintances in the neighbor sector,s you simply leaned comfortably with your drink on the railing and had a chat at a distance. Seating and a lookout tower in Sector A were also created from scaffoldings. Wearing a mask was recommended, but not compulsory.
Admittedly, one was already wondering whether a festival could work properly this way. After I felt that people were holding back at most of the previous events, I also wondered whether the festival would be well attended. But given the first impression of the festival site and program, I started the three-day festival with anticipation. The expectations were quickly exceeded.
Psych’n’Roll and time travel on the first evening
Kiowa Lo-Fi: two kinds of art
With the lo-fi psych’n’roll band Kiowa LO-FI, the festival began a little more cautiously. First of all, check the site and location. Anyone who had missed the announcement by presenter Katharina Michel, might not have immediately realized that the duo on guitar and drums were not alone, but that the illustrator on the edge of the stage was one of them. While the two men played the first couple of songs alone, presenting their rather gloomy sound, the work of art conjured up on the canvas got a clearly visible splash of color. While sitting on the floor bass player Anja painted a wolf with a bright yellow Cholererock logo before she, after completing the picture, joined them for the rest of this first concert.
[Photo gallery: Kiowa Lo-Fi at Cholererock]
Then it went on a journey through time with the second band. With gold and floral trousers, a bright yellow Bon Jovi fan shirt, headscarves and pink sunglasses, things quickly became more colorful and wild. The six members of Ocean Orchestra, announced as the “best cover band in the world”, started with Status Quo’s “Carolina”.
Over decades Ocean Orchestra catapulted the festival community back into the hippie era of the 60s , taking the Thun audience with them into the colorful 80s to the gaudy 90s. With fake American accents they told the fake story of their origins and everyone in the band had their role. It was party time!
[Photo gallery: Ocean Orchestra at Cholererock]
With songs like “Surfin USA”, the Flashdance hit “Maniac” or the Grease classic “The One That I Want”, Ocean Orchestra celebrated their return to the stage. During this special Corona time, they easily made the festival area cheer, sing along and dance. The few technical problems should not bother anyone. And Corona definitely didn’t stop them: Guitar player Mitch grabbed a mask and climbed from the stage directly over the scaffolding into the audience.
Second night was rocknight
The second festival evening on Friday was a powerful rock night. If it was already hot because of the burning sun in the bright blue late summer sky, it got even hotter with Pablo Infernal and Death By Chocolate.
Pablo Infernal: Quite tunes are a rarity
The former ones immediately recognized the sing-along-game potential in the three sectors. With new songs in their luggage that they had recorded in Engelberg, they created a good mood. The joy of playing was clearly to see. In their songs they told of howling wolves, tragedies and bees dying. The latter is no less a tragedy. In between, Pablo Infernal proved that they could just as easily play calmer tunes. Even if it’s been ages since they last have played a quiet song.
[Photo gallery: Pablo Infernal at Cholererock]
Death By Chocolate: Disney moments and doctor titles
After a short soundcheck, Death By Chocolate started with full energy and with “Gravedigger”. The men grabbed the strings, keys and beat the drum with force. They were just as happy to finally be able to stand on a stage again.
It had been quiet about Death By Chocolate for a long time. Which will probably stay like that for a little longer because of Corona. Planning studio time or concerts is difficult. The individual band members had not been idle though. They had devoted themselves to other music projects or even got their doctorate.
Doctors degree? With all the band’s jokes in between, I hadn’t taken the doctorate that seriously at first. After all, front man Mat had already said in his charming way that he would like to tell something great, but then reported about fire-breathing horses and Disney moments. What should Disney moments? Sad scenes in all the Disney films, for example when Bambi’s mother dies. And the song “Virgin Killer” was their personal Disney moment on the set.
Okay, not all jokes should be taken too seriously. But all the more their music. When they started with my personal favorite “Alfred”, “Crooked For You” or “Try Hard Enough”, the stage shook. So it also took a breather from time to time. These were “The Witch And the Poor” or “Two Paths”.
[Photo gallery: Death By Chocolate at Cholererock]
I would have liked to announce their next concert, which they will play in Grosshöchstetten in October. Unfortunately it is already sold out. So those without tickets have to be patient for the next shows.
Record release, somersaults and party atmosphere
Saturday was a musically very varied last day of the festival. A little concerned about the weather, but it stayed dry.
Gary-Twins: Southern Rock Newcomer celebrate their first EP
In the early afternoon the Cholererock started a little more calmly with the Thun newcomer band Gary Twins. Inspired by their trip through the southern states of the USA, band founders Dominik and Fabian have dedicated themselves to southern rock. Sascha as the lead singer and Fiona on the keys complete the band.
Mit Texas-Flagge und Steven Taylor-Bild als Inspiration die Bühne dekoriert, spielten sie nicht nur die aktuelle Single “Oh Susanna”. Neben einigen anderen Liedern gehörten natürlich sämtlichen weitere Songs ab ihrer ersten EP “Baby” zum Set. Diese wurde von ihnen auch ganz offiziell getauft mit Jack Daniels getauft. Mal klang es etwas mehr nach Country wie bei “Down To Hell”. Mal wurde es mit “Man in the moon” rockiger. Allem voran beeindruckte auch die starke Stimme von Sänger Sascha.
Decorated the stage with the Texas flag and Steven Taylor picture as inspiration, they not only played the current single “Oh Susanna”. In addition to a few other songs, all other songs from their first EP “Baby” were part of the set. This was also officially released by them with some Jack Daniels. Sometimes they sounded a bit more like country as in “Down To Hell”. Sometimes they got rockier with “Man in the moon”. Above all, the strong voice of singer Sascha impressed.
[Photo gallery: Gary Twins at Cholererock]
Friskit made the audience move
Friskit then provided the reggae tunes of the day. They too released their new EP “Before the Storm” this April in the middle of lockdown. This is to be offically released on November 6th at Mokka Thun. Besides “On my mind” on the EP, next to many more also “One Way” was part of their set. The six band members, especially frontman Bryan Schneider, grooved the stage and got the audience moving.
[Photo gallery: Friskit at Cholererock]
Rooftop Sailors: new songs and action-packed somersaults
The style changed back to rock: before Rooftop Sailors made their way to the studio in Germany, the Bernese Oberland band first rocked the Cholererock stage – and they really did!
They also presented a sample of the new songs that afternoon. After a rather calm and comfortable start to the day, the young rock band was really full of action. So much so that at some point clothes went flying and “somersaults” were made out of sheer high spirits.
[Photo gallery: Rooftop Sailors at Cholererock]
Front guy Alexander also used the sector division to include and animate the audience directly in their show. After all, a little singing hadn’t hurt anyone.
Towards the final sprint with William White
Before it slowly went towards the final spurt, things got a little quieter with the likable singer-songwriter William White.
[Photo gallery: William White am Cholererock]
Solo, only with guitar, the musician from Barbados entertained the Cholererock visitors in the evening sun. He’s been quiet for a long time, but this year he’s back with new songs. Known for funky, soulful reggae songs, William White’s sound has become a bit bluesier and more thoughtful. But he brought a good mix with him for everyone to go comfortably with the flow in the evening sun, with a drink in hand and bobbing to the music.
The return of the Red Shoes
Officially, Red Shoes no longer exist as a band. But who cares, now that they were back on stage after so long? They started their show with “Days Like This”. The penultimate concert of the festival, which quickly became a highlight. “I’m happy on days like this…” Red Shoes did rise the spirits high from the first note. They knew how to increase the good mood many times over. A happy day!
In addition to known songs such as “Honeyrose”, “Light My Fire” or the catchy summery “California”, they also played the latest song “Don’t Think Too Much”. Together with presenter Katharina Michel, front guy Josua also sang two great duets, one of which was “Under my sheet”. The Souls frontman Jay Messerli also joined the Thun band as a guest for “Small Town Boy” and the wonderful “Soul Light”. Of course, their crazy cover medley consisting of songs like “Hangover”, “Gangnam Style” and “Ma Chérie” wasn’t missing either.
[Photo gallery: Red Shoes at Cholererock]
So again “So long” Red Shoes. By the way, we are still looking forward to your shows. Even if the band officially no longer exists.
Ending the festival with Karthun
There was almost a flying change between the Red Shoes and the last band Karthun. As keyboard player Steve and bass player Manuel play in both bands.
In their colorful Captain America, Spider Man, Batman or Leo print suits, the five-member cover band Karthun let the festival end energetically. Originally mainly covering songs by bands from Thun and Swiss bands, they have since expanded their repertoire. So there were not only their versions of Rooftop Sailors songs, Nils Burri’s “Hey Hey” or the rock version of Pegasus “Metropolitan”. They also presented a kind of remix version of Ed Sheeran’s “Castle on the hill” and Tones & I’s hit “Dance Monkey”.
[Photo gallery: Karthun at Cholererock]
Like the guitarist of Ocean Orchestra at the beginning of the festival, the Karthun guitarist, armed with mouth and nose protection, also stepped over the parapet into the audience for the solo.
By the way, there were also unexpected news: Front man Marc is going to leave the band. With that they didn’t announce the end of the band, but neither did they announce how things will go on. One will probably see. Nonetheless, the band ended the last concert in a great party.
Return to normal
Since the lockdown ending, since events have been allowed again since June 5th, I had experienced some nice, cozy concerts in great surroundings (read here). But for the first time a bit of the well-known normality and serenity really returned. It felt like a real festival despite having separate sectors. The feeling of restriction was not particularly pronounced, the festival well attended, the loyal Cholererock-goers apparently all there. The joyful and relaxed atmosphere of the festival was there, both from the concert-goers and the musicians sides. Just like it should be at festivals. For once you had almost forgotten the virus and the disastrous situation for the event business.
The Schadau gardens are really a great place to continue Cholererock festival in the future. From what I had heard, the possibility to at least think about it wasn’t ruled out. But first of all the organizers want to carry out their “Herbstigal” in October with the same sector concept in Gunten. Have you seen the program? That also promises to become totally good.
Infos about the Bands:
www.facebook.com/KiowaLoFi
www.oceanorchestra.rocks
pabloinfernal.com
www.deathbychocolate.ch
www.garytwins.com
www.friskit.ch
www.rooftopsailors.com
williamwhite.ch
redshoes.ch
www.karthun.ch
Info about the festival:
www.cholererock.ch
Info about the upcoming Herbstigal in Gunten:
herbstigal.ch
