Umsonst & Draußen Zollernalb

U&D Zollernalb — Free and Outdoors Since 1987

Umsonst & Draußen Zollernalb, or U&D Zollernalb for short, is a non-profit open-air festival held annually in the Zollernalb district since 1987. It's one of the few larger festivals in Baden-Württemberg that consistently offers free admission. The event is organized by the volunteer-run Förderverein U&D Zollernalb e.V., which brings the festival to life with the help of volunteers, sponsors, and members. The concept: live music under the open sky, with no admission fee, featuring a mix of young local bands and established headliners from the Heavy Metal and Rock scene.

Bisingen — Home of U&D

Bisingen has been the festival's permanent venue for years. The community of around 9,800 inhabitants, located at the foot of the Swabian Jura (Zollernalb district), offers space for approximately 2,000 expected visitors on the festival grounds on Humboldtstraße. The professional festival stage, technical equipment, and catering stands are set up by the association's members. The festival grounds are within walking distance of Bisingen's town center.

Heavy Metal, Melodic Death Metal, and Rock

The musical program has always focused on the heavier spectrum of rock: Heavy Metal, Melodic Death Metal, classic Rock, Power Metal, Gothic Metal — the styles vary from year to year. Confirmed for 2026:

• Grave Digger — German Heavy Metal institution from Gladbeck, founded in 1980, with classics like “Heavy Metal Breakdown”, “Excalibur”, and “The Reaper”. A headliner with European renown.
• Hiraes — Melodic Death Metal from Germany, founded in 2020 with former members of Dawn of Disease and Britta Görtz (Critical Mess).
• Further acts will be announced on u-d-zollernalb.de and on social media.

Newcomer Stage and Inclusion

Over the years, U&D Zollernalb has regularly featured young, local bands — bands from the Zollernalb district, the Black Forest, and all of Baden-Württemberg, many of whom had their first major performances here. Newcomer bands can apply for future festivals on the association's website. A notable initiative is the festival's inclusion program — accessibility and low-threshold participation are important to the association.

Bisingen at the Foot of the Swabian Jura

Bisingen lies at the transition from the Black Forest to the Swabian Jura, about 7 km north of Hechingen and the famous Hohenzollern Castle. The Zollernalb district combines the rugged Jura rocks with the wine-growing valleys of the lower Neckar. Easy access: Bisingen train station is on the Zollern-Alb-Bahn (Tübingen–Sigmaringen line), and the festival is within walking distance from there.