About the Sommerfest - FAQ
Bremen, Summer 1977: Students living in the surrounding houses meet in the atrium of the dorm called „Vorstraße“ to celebrate the beginning of summer with love and music.They play the guitar and dance in the sunshine - some might be wearing flowers in their hair!
If you still remember the classic Hippie-Festival of those days, you will be more than surprised if you visited the Summer Festival of 2011! The unplanned sit-in changed into a highly organized festival, that celebrates its 35th anniversary as a widely known event in the Bremen area. Instead of a few inhabitants, it is now up to 2500 guest each night, that party here and bands from all over Germany that perform on 2 stages 2 days long.
Every second weekend in june the grounds between the houses of student dorms Vorstraße and (recently added) Spittaler Straße transforms into a festival area of an exceptional party zone. As soon as the first guests arrive in the afternoon they are treated with not only culinary, but also musical highlights. Thanks to open-air concerts, party zone, chillout-area, beer- and cocktail-bar, bbq and self-cooked international food, there is not a wish not to be fulfilled during this weekend.
A wide musical spectrum makes sure to please visitors of every taste in music. It reaches from funk and electro via hip-hop to serious rock’n’roll. Especially young bands from Bremen are given the opportunity to rock our stage and hopefully excite the masses.
Late at night the party moves to inside the buildings, where top-class djs continue to spin until the early morning hours.
Of course, one thing hasn’t changed since the beginning: Even today, the Sommerfest presents itself as a students’ festival with a truly non-commercial character. Fun and the pleasure of community are always the most motivating reasons behind the festival. It is organized exclusively by students and inhabitants of the buildings, that do not earn money but involve on an honorary basis to contribute to the Bremen cultural program. That is why admission is still for free and food and drinks moderately priced.
Where else do you get a beer for 1€? :)
Everything you need to know about the Sommerfest:
FAQ
Q: Where does Sommerfest Vorstraße take place?
A: The Sommerfest takes place in and around the buildings of „Wohnpark am Fleet“, Bremen’s largest student housing area. You can reach it via Vorstraße or Spittaler Straße.
Q: When does Sommerfest Vorstraße take place?
A: In the year of 2012 the date ist he 8th and 9th of June
Arrival and Admission
Q: Do I have to pay for admission?
A: No! Admission to Sommerfest is free. However, you should bring a little money for food and drinks. Every year, we try to keep prices low and student-friendly. Since there is no admission, the Sommerfest is financed solely by the catering, so by buying your beer here you do your part in supporting the festival!
Q: How do I get there?
A: There is a map under „Map“ in the menu.
Q: How do I get there by public transport?
A: Either by taking the tram number 6 to stop „Berufsbildungswerk“ and follow the signage, or by taking bus number 22 to end stop „Spittaler Straße“. You can already see the first stage from there.
Q: Can I get there by car?
A: Yes, but it’s recommended to take the bus or tram. There are parking spaces throughout the area but they are not many there is no guarantee for one.
Food and Drinks
Q: How can I buy anything to eat or drink?
A: For reasons of organization we have to work with „money cards“. The systems is easy: You buy a money card at the counter and it has several circles on it that say „50c“. When you buy a beer you simply show your card and the respective amount of 50-cent-circles is crossed out., Essen und Trinken
Q: Can I take back unused money cards?
A: Of course! Even cards that were not completely used can be taken back. Just go back to the counter, show your card and you will get your money back.
Q: Why do you have the system?
A: If we would take cash everywhere on the area, we would need a counter at every food- and drinks-stall. That would mean a lot of bureocratic work for us and longer waiting lines for you. You see, there are advantages for both sides.
Tipp for the money cards:
Buy several money cards at once, even if you think you won’t need them for the whole night. You can change them back for cash anytime. Also, you then have a better overview on what you have already spent that night and you don’t have to get back into the line for buying new money cards.
Q: Can I bring my own drinks?
A: Yes, but please leave glass bottles at home! You get well cooled drinks for low prices at several places on the area. The entire catering is organized by the Wohnpark am Fleet e.V. With every beer, cocktail and food that you buy here, you directly support the Sommerfest!
Q: Why should I leave glass bottles at home?
A: For risk of injuries we ask you to not even bring glass bottles to the festival or at least to throw empty ones into the provided boxes. Otherwise, please keep to PET, Tetra-Pacs or cans, there are much easier for us to take away. Someone has to clean up after the festival...
Q: Why the deposit for cups?
A: Since we don’t use disposable cups (for ecological and other reasons), we need the cups back, so you can always get more drinks at the bar ;)
Q: Can I bring my own food?
A: Yes! But we also offer a pretty wide range of catering on the area, at least while stocks last. What exactly there will be this year and how much it costs, will be posted on the website soon before the festival.
Q: Is there vegetarian food?
A: Of course!
Ground Rules
Q: I am not 18 yet, can I still go to the Sommerfest?
A: The festival is open to public, so the Youth Protection Law holds without restrictions. If you are under 18 years old, you can therefore enter the festival area during the legally advised times only. Our staff team and the security staff will be controlling the area and asking you to leave on contravention of the law.
Q: May I bring my photo camera/ picture phone to the festival area?
A: Yes, you may take snap shots. However, if you carry professional photo gear or film cameras, please ask one of our staff members and the bands if they are ok with it.
Q: Can I go bathing in the „Fleet“
A: You can if you want to – but do you really? The canal doesn’t belong to the festival area, so if you go swimming in it, it is on your very own responsibility!
The Association
Q: Who hosts the festival?
A: The Sommerfest is presented and organized by „Wohnpark am Fleet e.V.“. This is a non-profit association whose aim it is to preserve the Sommerfest and to keep good faith with the local residents. All of its members work on an honorary basis.
Q: What happens with the festival income?
A: All financial earnings go to the association „Wohnpark am Fleet e.V.“ and are used to provide for the next Sommerfest. No money goes to any private persons since all organizers and helping hands volunteer on an honorary basis.
Q: How can I support the Sommerfest?
A: Actually, there are many possibilities. If you live in the „Wohnpark am Fleet“, come to the meetings and help organizing the festival. However, the easiest way to support the Sommerfest is to leave your own drinks at home and make use of our catering offers.
Q: What do helping hands „earn“?
A: Financially: Nothing. Ideologically: A lot! It is a great feeling to take part in such an event and see your ideas be put into practice.
Q: Do you need more helpers or assisting workers for the Sommerfest?
A: Usually, we can use everyone who is willing to help. To see if or what you can do, ask one of the staff members or come to the regular meetings that are announced at blackboards in every building.
Bands and Music
Q: What kind of bands are playing at the Sommerfest?
A: Check the list of bands on the right side of this website and follow hyperlinkst o more information.
Q: When will the timetable be final?
A: Usually about one month before the festival. You can find the current timetable under „Program“. However, there may always be short-dated changes, p.e. when a band cancels their gig or turns up late.
Q: We are a band and would like to perform at the Sommerfest!
A: Great! Just send a demo tape (CD or MP3, please) to the (e-mail) address you find on the website. Attach band biography and picture. Thank you and please notice the entry deadline for each year!
Q: Do you really need a demo tape?
A: Yes. Either that or MP3 files of your songs. Otherwise we cannot put you in the band pool.
Q: Isn’t a myspace link enough?
A: No.
Q: What kind of bands can apply?
A: Basically every kind. If you are unsure if you fit into our line-up, check out bands from previous years to see what’s adequate. But we are always trying to offer a broad range of music styles!
Q: When do we get notice after our application?
A: As soon as we are interested in having you play. However, you should get a message, if it doesn’t work out. If not, we apologize. We receive more than a hundred applications each year, some things are just bound to „get lost“.
Q: We haven’t gotten a notice e-mail?!
A: Then please ask again. As said before, sometimes we are just overwhelmed with e-mails.
Q: How about salary?
A: Unfortunately, we do not have the funds to pay any salary. However, we do provide you with free food and drinks on the festival area and cover your gas money as good as we can.
Q: When is the closing date for band applications?
A: Differs every year. Usually we need the application until the end of march. For more precise information check
www.vorstrasse-bremen.de/play
Q: We just found your festival. But we are reeeeaaallly good and do we therefore still fit into the line-up?
A: As soon as the first bands are announced on the website, we are usually also in touch with all the other bands that are supposed to perform. So, unfortunately, we cannot consider late applications. Try again next year!