JunkYard Open Air

10 Years JunkYard — The Anniversary Edition

In 2026, the JunkYard Open Air is more than a festival — it's the anniversary celebration of JunkYard Dortmund. Ten years ago, the project began to convert a former junkyard at Schlägelstraße 57 into a concert venue. With ship container sculptures, graffiti walls, DIY structures, and an open-air floor, one of Germany's most extraordinary concert venues was created. "10 Years. One Day. Full Volume." — the motto sums up the anniversary edition.

2026 Lineup — Psych Rock and Stoner

The 2026 Open Air brings the style that made JunkYard famous: heavy, psychedelic, uncompromising. Five bands will perform on the main stage:

• Kadavar — Berlin-based heavy rock trio, one of the defining German stoner acts
• Elder — US-American psych rock quartet, progressive heavy
• Dirty Sound Magnet — Swiss psych power trio
• Daily Thompson — Dortmund power trio, one of Germany's most authentic stoner acts
• Love Machine — Düsseldorf-based krautrock combo

JunkYard — Identity Through Atmosphere

JunkYard is not just a venue, but a statement of intent. The industrial atmosphere, the DIY ethic, and the non-commercial self-image shape the festival more than any mainstream festival could. The Open Air is the crystallization of this identity: here, the music, the sound, the connection between stage and audience count — no high-gloss setting, no sterile VIP areas, no brand logos.

Stoner Rock and Heavy Psych — The German Scene

With acts like Kadavar (Berlin), Daily Thompson (Dortmund), and the crew around Love Machine (Düsseldorf), a vibrant scene for heavy psych, stoner rock, and krautrock revival has developed in Germany. The JunkYard Open Air is one of the central festivals of this scene — even though other festivals like the Freak Valley Festival (Netphen, NRW) or the Desertfest Berlin book similar headliners, JunkYard remains unique through its location concept.

Dortmund-Huckarde — Industrial Heritage Meets Concert Culture

The district of Huckarde in northwestern Dortmund (a city in North Rhine-Westphalia) was shaped by mining and heavy industry. Today, former industrial sites like JunkYard shape the cultural transformation history of the district — from a blue-collar location to a concert location. A stoner rock festival on a former junkyard fits perfectly into this transformation narrative.