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Overkill, Die Toten Hosen & Gum Bleed: Festival Dust and Club Sweat in NRW

Over 30 shows in one week – anchored by Dong Open Air, a stadium double-header, and several hidden gems you won't see on a stage around here again soon.

The Bangers of the Week

Dong Open Air in Neukirchen-Vluyn is THE essential date on the Lower Rhine from Thursday to Saturday: Amorphis crown Thursday, Friday pits Satyricon against closer Skindred for the contrast of the year, and Saturday belongs to Overkill and Alestorm – with locals like Night In Gales further down the bill. Meanwhile Die Toten Hosen play Cologne's Rheinenergiestadion twice (Fri+Sat) – Saturday with the Beatsteaks as guests. Craving something filthier? Jungle Rot bring old-school death metal to Münster's Triptychon on Saturday, supported by Ruhr-area deathers New World Depression.

Underground Gems and Local Heroes

Slumcult Gathering at FZW Dortmund (Fri) is the deal of the week at ten euros: Austrian deathgrind (Distaste) plus four local forces including Scalpture and Oppression Denied. Iron Ritual VI at Sojus 7 Monheim (Sat) pairs Mexican speed metal (Phantom) with Malevolent, Duisburg's new death/thrash hope. Beijing punks Gum Bleed celebrate 20 years at Clubschiene Münster on Tuesday – with Macsat as the perfect local counterpart. Fresh from Paris: Flippeur dismantle the Sonic Ballroom with synth-punk (Thu), supported by Aachen disco-punks Minoh.

From Punk Rock to Psychedelic

Skate-punk institution Strung Out open the week Tuesday at Zentrum Altenberg Oberhausen – support: The Corps, who return Saturday alongside Satanic Surfers at Sputnikhalle Münster. Streetpunk arrives Friday with Booze & Glory at Ratinger Hof, Saturday brings the Alarmsignal Open Air at Druckluft Oberhausen with Alarmsignal, and queercore pioneers Pansy Division stop by Sonic Ballroom on Wednesday. Fancy some glam? Starbenders from Atlanta at Pitcher (Thu). Duisburg krautrock legends Bröselmaschine play FOR FREE on Kantine Köln's open deck Friday. DEAD PIONEERS close things out Sunday at Don't Panic Essen, alongside Düsseldorf's SAINT SERPENT at Pitcher's daydrinking matinee from 4 pm.