Today AMPHI FESTIVAL turn's back the clock to the heyday of the 80s. An era in which we “audio cassette children” (instead of our smartphones) waited mesmerized in front of our radios, circling the record button with our forefinger until they finally played our favorite song! It was the great time of Synthpop, NewWave and that hint of avant-garde that turned pioneering spirit into a time of new heroes!
AMPHI FESTIVAL very proud to announce OMD and MIDGE URE for the Amphi Festival 2018 – two of those exceptional artists who wrote music history worldwide.
Furthermore with GRENDEL, GRAUSAME TÖCHTER and SYNTHATTACK they also have fresh new entrances from the Industrial-Electro scene for you.
ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK, short OMD, attracted impressive attention in 2017 with their album THE PUNISHMENT OF LUXURY on which Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys and Martin Cooper staged the characteristic OMD sound as a declaration of love for the pioneering spirit of the Düsseldorf School of electronic music. Unforgotten are of course the great OMD classics: "Enola Gay", "Souvenir", "Secret", "Sailing On The Seven Seas" and of course the number one hit "Maid Of Orleans" that became the best-selling single of the year 1982 in Germany! For us it is therefore a very special honor to welcome OMD at the Amphi Festival 2018.
The latter fully applies also to MIDGE URE. The likeable Scot landed an absolute coup in 2014 when he captivated the Amphi audience with his performance. Whether as co-founder of VISAGE ("Fade to Grey"), as voice of ULTRAVOX ("Hymn", "Vienna", "Dancing With Tears in My Eyes") or as solo artist ("Breathe", "If I was") - Midge Ure (OBE) is a true gentleman of pop who uses his popularity always for charity projects as well ("Live Aid", "Band Aid"). So the anticipation is rising on this great artist’s further performance at the Amphi Festival and the related pure goose bumps.
Granted, it’s not easy to find a fitting bridge from these giants of the 80s. Nevertheless, we insist on announcing two „new heros“ of the present as well, with the first of them being GRENDEL. The Dutch harsh-electro project around J.D. Tucker began to tread new ways with their recently released 2017 record "Age Of The Disposable Body". By changing the focus to an intriguing mix of industrial-pop elements, GRENDEL expanded their own universe with a refreshingly different vibe.
With their provocative blend of electropunk, industrial and performing arts, GRAUSAME TÖCHTER always draw some serious attention. Nevertheless you should not judge the book by its missing cover. Beneath the skin burns a rebellious fire, resurfacing the temper and anachism of the early punk scene. Relentlessly biting and cruel, Aranea Peel & co. mean business and thei are to give their first stand at Amphi Festival and we're pretty sure it won't last only for one night!
Closing today's announcement, we also welcome Hanover-based industrial formation SYNTHATTACK who will take Amphi Festival’s dance floor by storm with powerful beats and a thrilling show.
XIV. AMPHI FESTIVAL 2018
28. – 29. July 2018 GER – Cologne | Tanzbrunnen
AND ONE + ASP
OMD + OOMPH! + MONO INC. + AGONOIZE + MIDGE URE
GOETHES ERBEN + SOLAR FAKE + AESTHETIC PERFECTION + UNZUCHT
NEUROTICFISH + FUNKER VOGT + [:SITD:] + ASSEMBLAGE 23 + GRENDEL
GIRLS UNDER GLASS + [X]-RX + SHE PAST AWAY + LEBANON HANOVER
MAD SIN + THE CREEPSHOW + CENTHRON + GRAUSAME TÖCHTER
HELDMASCHINE + PERSEPHONE + KIEW + SOVIET SOVIET + A PROJECTION
CORDE OBLIQUE + FUTURE LIED TO US + INTENT:OUTTAKE
SYNTHATTACK + LA SCALTRA
+ many other bands & supporting programme coming soon!
Info: www.amphi-festival.de or www.facebook.com/amphifestival
