No surprises: German metal festival bans bands using backing tracks

If your band use pre-recorded music at gigs you must know that The No Playback metal festival in Germany is guaranteeing all their acts will be live and real. So, it means that there is no chance to hear backing tracks or pre-recorded music from any of the musicians that hit the stage. No way!

No Playback Festival is going to take place at Kulturhalle Remchingen in southwest Germany on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th April 2023. The line-up features 12 bands including ex-Manowar guitarist Ross The Boss, Raven and US speed metal veterans Vicious Rumours among others.

A message on the festival’s website annouces that the event will be:

“The real LIVE experience, international top bands of the rock and metal scene, who still embody the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll, that’s what the No Playback Festival stands for.”

Kiss and Mötley Crüe have both been criticized for using pre-recorded music in recent live shows. Shinedown, Falling In Reverse, Fozzy and W.A.S.P., among other bands, have admitted to using backing tracks in their sets.