Internationales Festival Maritim

In the organizer's words:

I Germany's biggest sea music festival
The program booklet with all musical acts and the supporting program can be found here

WHERE PUNK, FOLK, ROCK AND SHANTIES SHARE THE STAGE

From August 2 to 4, the International Festival Maritim will once again transform Vegesack into a large open-air mile on the waterfront

A festival for everyone, free and outdoors, right on the waterfront, with eight stages full of rock, folk, punk, shanties and more: that's the International Festival Maritim. The Maritime Mile in Vegesack will once again be transformed into a huge open-air festival site this year - as always on the first weekend in August. People of all ages and from all over the world gather there - on and in front of the stages. The musical styles emanating from the stages and streets are as diverse as the languages spoken at the festival. This year, one of them will "catch the ear" much more often, as Ireland has taken over the sponsorship of the Maritim 2024 festival with its Culture Ireland funding program! The country also presents itself as musically open, multifaceted and surprisingly different. This is demonstrated, for example, by the young duo Lucie Azconaga and Consuelo Nerea Breschi from Dublin, better known as Varo, who skillfully mix up traditional Irish music.

Free and outdoors on eight stages

Once again this year, the Maritim Festival is free of charge. "Thanks to the support of the city, many sponsors, the partnership with Culture Ireland and the dedication of numerous helpers, we were able to put on the festival in its usual variety and size," explains Lars Ehlers. "And that despite rising costs and requirements," continues the festival director. According to Ehlers, visitors can look forward to four large and four smaller stages around the Maritime Mile, for example in the harbor forest, on the Utkiek, along the promenade, in the city garden as well as on Kito Square and at the Story House.

Familiar faces, new discoveries and bands with cult status

"Around 30 bands and groups will be giving it their all over the three days of the festival," reports Fritz Rapp, artistic director of the festival. These include faces from the very beginning such as Kimber's Men (Great Britain) and Armstrong's Patent (Netherlands). "But of course there are also many insider tips and new discoveries," promises Rapp. The Jack Tars and the Silver Darlings from the UK, for example. They are performing in Bremen for the first time. Bands such as the Celtic rockers from Triddana (Argentina) and the Pyrates! (Netherlands/UK) with them. "Since their first gig at the Maritim Festival, they have also built up a large fan base in Bremen". They always insist that their favorites return, says Rapp. A wish that the Festival Maritim organization team is happy to fulfil.

Focus on rock, punk, Celtic metal, folk, pop and other styles

An abundance of bands and choirs provide a great deal of musical variety. Some are backed by unusual instruments or demonstrate the diversity of Seamusic a cappella. In general, the musical genre at the Maritim Festival is very broad. Anyone thinking of shanties is in for a surprise, because even though the classics have their place, rock, punk, Celtic metal, folk, pop and other exciting styles are the focus.

Culinary delights and a varied supporting program

In addition to the shows, it is the supporting program that makes the festival what it is. This includes workshops, children's activities, "Schiffe kieken", the traditional church service and a diverse culinary offering ranging from cocktails and fish sandwiches to tarte flambée, wine and more. New is the large beer garden of the Bremer Braumanufaktur in front of the Altes Bootshaus and the FahrradJA! Festival Café in the Stadtgarten. In addition, the so-called Blue Light Sunday will take place for the first time this year.

The events alongside the big shows areanother highlight. For example, the City Saturday, when the musicians conquer the Vegesack pedestrian zone. The grand finale is on Sunday evening. All the bands come together on the main stage in the Stadtgarten for the big shanty slam and are guaranteed to give you goosebumps. Afterwards, everyone will look up to the sky for the fireworks display, which will be the sparkling finale of the International Festival Maritim 2024.