German metal festival Wacken Open Air (W:O:A) is set for a banner comeback after last year’s weather-related struggles.

The 2024 edition kicks off today in Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, and features performances from the likes of Scorpions, Amon Amarth and In Extremo.

All 85,000 tickets to the festival were snapped up in just four-and-a-half hours in August, smashing the existing record of six hours set for 2023’s event.

With a historic on-sale behind them and a clear weather forecast ahead, organisers are excited to get back to business.

“The gates open and a flood of fans rush onto the Holy Ground,” W:O:A co-founder Thomas Jensen tells IQ. “Starting the W:O:A festivities on the main stages in the main area is always a very emotional moment for us, still, after all those years. We’re excited about this year’s festival and very much looking forward to it. The weather is great, the fans are celebrating, there are a lot of cool bands coming up… what’s not to like?”

“Starting the W:O:A festivities on the main stages in the main area is always a very emotional moment for us”

Last year, Superstruct-backed promoter International Concert Service was forced to run the 85,000-cap event at a reduced capacity after the festival site was hit by rain and thunderstorms in the days leading up to it, leaving the camping areas “impassable”.

Around 61,000 people entered the site before no further admissions were allowed, meaning close to 25,000 ticket-holders were denied entry. Jensen estimated that the capacity reduction caused a revenue shortfall of more than €7 million.

Ticket-holders denied entry in 2023 were given first refusal to buy Wacken 2024 tickets priced at €333.

This year, organisers have introduced an extra arrival day for campers with a limited number of access passes, priced €66.60 per vehicle for the Sunday before the festival – meaning that areas of the campsite are open for a whole week for the first time.

Wacken Open Air proper runs between 31 July and 3 August under the banner of Witches & Warlocks.

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Concert organisers in Ecuador hope to attract more international acts through a 10% tax reduction applied via the country’s new Tourism Law.

South American promoter CKConcerts believes the revised regulations will enable it to take advantage of a lower tax withholding of 15%, compared to the previous 25%, when paying foreign artists who perform in Ecuador.

CKConcerts manager Cristian Sosa, who has worked on recent shows in Ecuador by acts such as Laura Pausini, Il Divo, Julieta Venegas and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, tells El Universo a 10% reduction in taxes “is super good and can encourage more and bigger shows”.

The firm is bringing Swedish metal band Amon Amarth to El Teferico in the capital Quito on 24 October, and Sosa notes that, at present, around $30,000 of his $150,000 budget for the show would be allocated for taxes, but that amount would be reduced to $20,000 under the new rules. Tickets cost $47 (€43) or $77 (€71) VIP.

Dfabis Producciones owner Fabián Vallejo agrees the potential tax reduction would be a “great attraction for event producers”

Despite the Tourism Law being drawn up in March, Sosa says he has thus far been unable to access the lower rate due to a lack of clarity with the authorities. However, he is now hopeful of a breakthrough after the rules were published in the Official Registry last week.

Dfabis Producciones owner Fabián Vallejo agrees the potential tax reduction would be a “great attraction for event producers”, but adds that clear rules must be in place as there are local regulations to consider in each city.

Ecuador witnessed its biggest rock gig in almost three decades last year when Roger Waters performed at the 40,000-cap Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito on 9 December 2023, presented by Move Concerts, DG Medios and Sight Concerts.

The event, which served as the finale of the Pink Floyd co-founder’s 2022/23 This Is Not a Drill Tour, was the South American nation’s biggest rock show since Bon Jovi played the venue in 1995.

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