Among the summer’s major events, Amphi remains a must-see for fans of ‘dark’ music in Germany. The festival will take place on 25 and 26 July in Köln. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, it has put together a line-up full of familiar faces (“as usual”, some grumblers might grumble), but also some newcomers (13 of the 41 bands performing will be appearing there for the first time).
Whether or not you’re planning to go, here’s a spotlight on a small selection of artists we’ve hand-picked – not necessarily the headliners – whom you might come across there or discover from the comfort of your own home starting today. We’re bringing you five projects a day, trying to mix up the genres, where the ‘newcomers’ rub shoulders with the must-sees with a good reason to go back and see them the umpteenth time.
For full details of the festival, please visit the official website.
SATURDAY 25 JULY
Echoberyl
Cocorico! This year, France is well represented on the line-up with three bands taking to the stage! The Parisian duo Echoberyl will be playing for the first time at the Amphi Festival in the early afternoon on the Theatre Stage... Their dreamlike blend of darkwave and cold wave will be the first poetic interlude of this year’s edition and is not to be missed.
Das Ich
Do you need our guidance to see Das Ich? They’ve been around forever, and you can catch them at least once a year at a German festival… but they’re MUCH harder to see outside their home country! If you’re a regular of the Amphi Festival, you’ve probably had enough of them. Otherwise, this is a rare chance to discover their macabre theatre, which is both unsettling and irresistible… Whatever happens, this is a first: for the first time in 18 years – since the Kannibale EP – Das Ich have new tracks for the festival season thanks to their recent album Fanal (review)! You may have seen them 666 times already, but this one is bound to be different.
Soror Dolorosa
Ouch! A cruel clash of timetables has caused a collision between the end of Das Ich and the start of Soror Dolorosa. This French cold wave act will take to the stage at the Amphi for the very first time; it’ll be rock ’n’ roll, romantic, over-the-top and exhilarating – something that borders on being a bit too much, an eruption of shimmering darkness that’s intense and full of spirit. How long will the shirts last? We wouldn’t bet on more than two tracks.
Selofan
Yes, well, the grimacing gargoyles of Das Ich, the bare-chested exuberance of Soror Dolorosa and all that – it’s all very well, but when do we adopt that dark and nonchalant air to dance whilst staring at the floor? Well, during Selofan, of course! Don’t go thinking, though, that their minimalist coolness is synonymous with boredom: the show is theatrical, baroque, expressionist, and strangely offbeat thanks to the surreal and extravagant presence of the singer Joanna.
Calva Y Nada
Yes, we know, you’ll be dying to go and dance to VNV Nation and hear Ronan Harris tell you, ‘Woah, you’re so amazing!’ at least fifty times! Or perhaps you’d rather wallow in melancholy with Pink Turns Blue… But at the same time, on the Theatre Stage, you’ll be treated to one of Calva Y Nada’s rare live appearances. If you’re into gritty electro with industrial, gothic and EBM influences, bear in mind that the rarity of Calva Y Nada’s live shows isn’t the only reason to go: Constantin Warter’s project released La Pura Mierda earlier this year, his first studio recording since… 1998!
SUNDAY 26 JULY
Motel Transylvania
Well, do we go to a festival just to see a bunch of dead serious people playing whilst staring at their feet, or bald blokes in shirts who aren’t much funnier? No, of course not – we want over-the-top antics and glitter too! So on day two, we’re kicking things off with the Italians from Motel Transylvania for their first Amphi gig. Horrific industrial metal, heavy on the make-up and a mishmash of influences, ranging from NDH to catchy pop hooks and Manson-esque shadows: we’ll be clapping our hands and having a right good time!
Kllsignl
Making its debut at the Amphi, Kllsignl intrigues us as much for its nightmarish, horror-inspired world as for its blend of dark electro, bass music and heavy, hypnotic trap. What’s more, with their mask and hooded musicians, Kllsignl will probably be the band with the most black metal look of this year's edition!
Emmon
Her's another project that has never before had the honour of taking part in the festival. After more than two decades of career, it was high time to invite Emma Nylén, aka Emmon! This key figure on the Swedish electro scene will be here to get you sweating with her modern EBM, to which she adds her own unique touch.
Potochkine
Potochkine is returning to the Amphi after having already performed there in 2023 and their slot is very tricky! The duo, now based in Paris, find themselves caught in the middle, sandwiched between Diary of Dreams and Empathy Test… Yes, but regulars at German festivals have already seen Diary of Dreams and Empathy Test 47 times! We’d still recommend you borrow Hermione Granger’s gizmo so you can catch all three gigs. Potochkine’s theatrical and visceral performances lend their techno/EBM mix a dreamlike quality, a raw, poignant and intense sense of urgency.
Empathy Test
It’s not entirely clear where Empathy Test stand at the moment, with Isaac Howlett leading the band on stage: there’s been no sign of any new material since 2020's Monsters and the singer seems to be focusing more and more on his ‘solo’ career. Gigs are becoming increasingly rare and, just in case, we’ll have to make the most of what might be the penultimate chance to see this wonderful project on stage, savouring its gentle melancholy, Howlett’s voice… but also his humour, which still manages to disgust ‘true goths’ just as much as ever! It will be a bittersweet moment, a reunion that will feel like a farewell – one that we’ll need to savour right to the very end.
