18. Let The Bad Times Roll Open Air

From Village Festival to Small Festival Myth

What began in 2007 as a modest village festival with a few local bands has developed over the years into one of East Frisia's most distinctive open-air festivals. The Let The Bad Times Roll e. V. – a purely volunteer-run association – organizes the festival with a dedication that is unparalleled in the North German festival scene. Every detail, from stage technology and catering to camping, is managed by the crew themselves.

Musical Profile

The festival thrives on musical diversity within a clearly defined spectrum: Rock, Punk, Hardcore, Stoner Rock, Doom, and classic Metal. International underground acts perform alongside emerging bands from the East Frisian-Dutch-Bremen scene. The crew emphasizes careful program curation, avoiding repetition and creating a new musical overall picture each year.

Structural Highlights of the Festival

• Two open-air stages with a carefully coordinated schedule
• Pogopalast – legendary aftershow location for the late hours
• Large campsite directly at the festival grounds, included in the ticket
• Fair pricing structure – one of the most affordable weekend festival passes in Lower Saxony
• Family atmosphere – the crew knows a large portion of their regular audience personally

Manslagt – A Village Becomes a Festival Venue

Manslagt is one of the smallest districts of Krummhörn, normally home to around 200 inhabitants. For one weekend in June, the population swells many times over, without the relationship between the festival and the village community ever being strained. The villagers are as much a part of the festival as the festival is of the village – some actively help out, others simply enjoy the musical backdrop of their East Frisian summer.

The Pogopalast – More Than Just Backstage

The Pogopalast is the secret main attraction of the late hours. A small hall with its own stage and bar, it becomes the aftershow location once the main stages close. DJs spin records, small bands play impromptu sets, and the audience dances until the early morning hours. Anyone who survives the festival has spent at least one night there – an unofficial must-do.