Rocco del Schlacko: The last festival with heart against the mega-hype!

Rocco del Schlacko: The last festival with heart against the mega-hype!

In a surprising twist, the Rocco del Schlacko Festival 2025 will be held for the last time in Püttlingen, Saarland. The organizers justify this decision with a clear positioning on independence and sustainability, which has characterized the event for over 25 years. According to [RLP Today](https://www.rlptoday.de/rheinland-pfalz/rlp- Veranstaltung/rocco-del-schlacko-festival-2025-lesens-mal-aus-saarland-puettlingen-absage-grund-4766901), the festival will not be bought by corporations in the future, but will remain locally rooted and subsidy-free.

The focus has always been on creative freedom and passion, rather than on commercial hype. The operators criticize the changes in the music and festival industry. Exclusive deals and tours by headliners dominate events, while monopoly-like structures dominate the market. A key point is that the operators do not want to position themselves as money collectors for the corporations, which further consolidates the festival's position.

Challenges for the festival industry

Despite the benefits of small, independent festivals, there is an alarming trend in the events industry. Many smaller festivals are reportedly struggling to survive. This development is supported by Tagesschau, which explains that high ticket prices and economic uncertainty mean that lesser-known artists can hardly generate any income. The affected festivals include TabulaRaaza and the Melt Festival, which had to file for bankruptcy.

At the same time, major concerts by international megastars such as Beyoncé and Adele are being held in Germany, which bring positive economic impulses for local companies. These events create jobs in areas such as security, event management and catering, but the question arises as to how this trend affects the existence of smaller festivals.

Sustainability in focus

Another important aspect that shapes the event industry is the pressure for sustainability. Environmental awareness is becoming increasingly important and there are efforts to make festival events more climate-friendly. The arrival of fans contributes significantly to the carbon footprint, so initiatives to promote sustainable forms of travel and climate-friendly food are being discussed. Sarah Lüngen from The Changency agency says that it is necessary to make sustainability more attractive in order to avoid rising ticket prices.

Overall, the organizers face a variety of challenges. While large companies like Eventim and Livenation seek control over the entire value chain, this could further threaten the independence of smaller festivals. The temporary farewell to the Rocco del Schlacko Festival raises questions as to whether there will be room for similar independent formats in the future or whether they will fall victim to the dominance of large concerts and economic structures.