EUROBLAST
Promoters John Sprich and Daniel Schneider have been bringing modern prog to Germany since 2008.
Passion, determination and enthusiasm are among the most important qualities for any up-andcoming music promoter. Fortunately, after 11 years of running Cologne’s Euroblast, drummers John Giulio Sprich and Daniel Schneider still have plenty of all three.
“We said, ‘Let’s do a festival under the bridge of the main railway station, in a 400-capacity venue, and just invite everyone we know!’ That’s how it started,” says Sprich with a laugh. “In the first two years, we had no idea what we were doing and held five Euroblast festivals. We lost money, we made mistakes, and we learned very quickly!”
When the two polyrhythmic music fans began their journey, their only experience of promoting was two local gigs Sprich had organised for his then band, but they were fast learners. Despite early struggles, the event is now fully sustainable and has alumni that include Devin Townsend Project, Leprous and Animals As Leaders.
“Meshuggah headlining [in 2013] was a dream come true,” reflects
Schneider. “To have started with such a small festival and then, five years later, we could book one of our favourite bands… It was pretty emotional.”
Adds Sprich, “We’ve become more professional and, I know it sounds crazy, but neither of us have taken a single euro out of the festival.”
The 15th edition of Euroblast is held at the 1,300-capacity Essigfabrik from September 26-29. Nearly 50 acts will play, including Between The Buried And Me, Dead Letter Circus, Voyager, and Toundra.
“Although it’s an indoor festival, the two stages are connected by an outside area where all the stalls are so you don’t have to leave the venue. It creates a summer festival microcosm where you can walk between stands and still hear the bands,” says Sprich. “With the line-ups, we really try to focus on the next generation of prog and we have a lot of bands playing their first festival shows here. It’s a great feeling.”
Next year, big changes are in the works and Prog can’t wait to see what happens next. NRS
“We lost money, we made mistakes, and
we learned very quickly!”