Thousands of metalheads expected on the banks of the Soča
Tolmin, 22 July - The pristine nature at the Soča river in Tolmin (W) will turn a slightly darker colour starting Sunday, as thousands of heavy metal music fans will pitch their tents for another edition of the internationally acclaimed MetalDays festival, the largest music event in the country.
Ljubljana
A concert by the band Marilyn Manson
Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA
More than 110 performances are scheduled at the week-long festival, including by Marilyn Manson, Amon Amarth, Opeth, Doro, Iced Earth, Katatonia, Pain, Blues Pills, Bloodbath, Death Angel, Abbath, Shining, Loudness, Kadavar, Equilibrium, and Sanctuary.
A novelty at the meeting of the metalheads, which was first organised in 2004 and was known as MetalCamp until 2012, will be a third stage, dedicated exclusively to up-and-coming bands.
The festival, taking place at one of the most beautiful spots in the country, will also keep visitors busy during the day. Yoga, a fitness studio, painting and sports events are only some of the activities organised.
MetalDays, which is the biggest music festival in Slovenia and only one among several on the same location, has been attracting thousands of visitors each year, from Europe as well as increasingly also from other parts of the globe.
Tickets, usually sold-out months in advance, were capped at 12,000 in 2010, and the festival received the A Greener Festival Award in 2016 for progress made in environmental conscientiousness.
The size of the event, located at a sensitive spot and supported by a town that only has 4,000 inhabitants, however continues to raise eyebrows.