Re­lax­ing and hand-craf­ted

At Haldern Pop Bar, up-and-coming artists showcase their sounds at their best in a cosy living room atmosphere. The glasses clink at the bar. In the background, the sound check for the latest newcomer gig is finishing up. The guests are in good humour and are already beaming at the stage. The are already concentrating on their favourite song with their hands in the air. The night is for celebrating, dancing, chatting – and this is the perfect place for it. The village pub oozes charm with its old wooden bar, savings boxes (an old-fashioned local savings scheme) and lead glazing. Hand-crafted live music and cold beer are at home here. Good preparation for the Haldern Pop Festival in the summer. No wonder well-known artists like George Ezra and Philipp Poisel stop off here on the Lower Rhine.

A highlight with passion

Artists, connoisseurs and audiences love Haldern Pop, which is always sold out before a single band has even been confirmed: The Guardian counted it as one of the five most innovative festivals in Europe in 2010, and it was awarded the title of best small festival in Europe in 2011. Part of the reason for this is that (as yet) unknown musicians, who often go on to become big stars play there. Another important special feature is the welcoming, informal atmosphere here: Every voluntary helper from the village is there with passion. On the one hand, this is passed on to the musicians, who often find themselves mixing with the audience after their own appearance.  On the other hand, the musical vibes are increasingly sweeping through the whole village: In addition to the Haldern Pop Bar, the church and youth centre are now festival venues too. 

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