Trafostation 61 Festival

Rock festival with a DIY soul

The Trafostation 61 Festival is the complete opposite of a large festival: 800 visitors, three days, about 20 bands, a site on the outskirts of Frechen-Grefrath, a core team of about 15 organizers, and countless volunteers. The open-air event, which has consistently positioned itself as non-commercial since 2011, is not backed by a corporation or major sponsorship battles, but by a group of music lovers who have been building their own festival for 14 years.

August 7-9, 2026 — the 14th edition

The 2026 edition runs from Friday, August 7th to Sunday, August 9th. The first wave of bands has already been confirmed and shows that Trafostation 61 has a good eye for the international rock scene between Stoner, Psychedelic, Indie, and Heavy.

Line-up 2026 (first band wave)

• Sons of Arrakis (Canada) — Stoner/Heavy Psych
• MARCH (Netherlands)
• Farewell Spit
• Masuria
• King Father Baboon
• Cloudspotter
• New.topia
• ØL (Germany)

More bands will be confirmed before the festival. The full stage schedule and set times will be published on the festival website shortly before the date.

"By friends for friends"

The festival motto has remained consistent since its first edition in 2011 and is more than just a slogan: Trafostation 61 is a community festival. Visitors don't come for the headliner experience like at a large festival, but for the camaraderie between the stage, the campsite, and the bar. Bands often join the campfire after their sets. The beer is cheap and good.

Camping and Arrival

The campsite has been relocated for the 2026 edition and this time also offers parking spaces for vehicles directly at the camping area. Frechen-Grefrath is located about 15 kilometers west of Cologne and is easily accessible by car via the A4 motorway. Arrival by public transport is also possible, but slightly more complex due to its location on the outskirts of the city.

Tickets from €61 — the name says it all

Tickets start at €61 — a little inside joke that fits the festival's DNA. Advance sales are via the festival website. A Spotify playlist with acts from past editions and the current 2026 band wave accompanies the preparation.

Frechen — the city of the clay industry

Frechen is located in the Rhein-Erft district west of Cologne. With around 53,000 inhabitants, Frechen is primarily known for its centuries-old clay industry — the "Frechener Bartmannskrug" (a type of jug) was a standard European item in the 17th century. The district of Grefrath is one of the more village-like districts on the western outskirts, with forest and meadow areas that surround the festival site.