Thousands of metal fans, festival staff, and artists are having a great time at Alcatraz: “Full Edition! This feels like going home.” | Kortrijk

Anyone wishing to enter the Alcatraz Festival must pass Hall 3 of the Kortrijk Fair where they must present a vaccination certificate or take a test. Music lovers can use the bus to reach the site, as mouth masks and distance rules are no longer applicable. Once in, all brakes are released. Alcatraz Metal Festival is the first major event to take advantage of the facilities provided by the government.

Lots of metal fans over the moon. The 700 employees can also indulge themselves after a long break. Tony Decruyenaere of Kortrijk, one of the oldest members of the crew at 61, is a kind of jack of all trades. “I contacted the Alcatraz organizers years ago, when I was chauffeuring for Mayor Vincent of Quicenborn,” says the man. “In 2014, I started helping build and tear down the site. In the meantime, I’m also a photographer and bringing people to the site. I’m really glad we’re back 100 percent this year. We all missed her so much last year. Then I came here to take a picture.” To our Holy Land and had a barbecue with the staff. We are a close-knit family and it’s great to see all these guests again. I’m here from 6:30 in the morning until the evening, and they can’t get me out of here for 3 days.”

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Tony is not afraid of corona infection. “No, really no,” said the sixty-year-old. I’ve been vaccinated twice and have worn a face mask until today. It’s strange that we don’t have to do that anymore, but if necessary I’ll put that mouth mask on again, no problem.”

Among the visitors, we spotted Mayor Ruth Vandenberg (The Mayor’s Team). She wears black high boots, in strict accordance with the festival dress code. “I am really proud and happy that this is possible,” says the mayor. “I see a lot of happy people, which makes me happy. I have always had confidence that the organization will be able to manage Alcatraz in a safe way. These people have taken everything into account and it seems to be paying off now.”

Not only have many happy faces in the audience, but the musicians also express their happiness at being able to play again for a full-fledged audience. “We almost had to shed a tear,” say Jean Coudron and Jason Bernard, singer and drummer with King Hiss respectively. “As a musician, you start playing a lot and when they take that from you, it’s like you lose a part of your identity. So it was great to be here.”

“It feels so amazing,” says communications director Bernard de Reymaker. “Everyone is so grateful that we were able to make this happen. To many, it feels like some kind of Hizb ut-Tahrir. Many artists are happy to be back on stage again. Many were very nervous because it had been so long since they were able to perform. It is a complete release” .

During the Corona examination, it was found that 3 positive cases were recorded as of Sunday morning. “Immediate evidence that our system is working,” says Bernard de Riemaker. “I was surprised that we did not register a single positive case when applying. When you see how the numbers are going up again. However, the organization can look at itself in the mirror: we have done everything, but everything, to keep our festival safe.”