The magic island

Hendrik Hadlich & Thomas Naumann

Ten years ago, a small festival celebrated for the first time with a fire show and theatre on the Schloßteichinsel. At the end of May, Fuego a la isla will once again fill this place with good humour, fine music, spiced up with a little magic and a pinch of luck. Behind the festival are a whole host of movers and shakers from Chemnitz's alternative scene. Hendrik Hadlich from Pyrocatharsis and Thomas Naumann from the Chemnitz label Krawallzwang Records took the time to talk to us.

How did you get started ten years ago?
Hendrik Hadlich: The first event was called Circus a la isla. It was created by the fire theatre group Pyrocatharsis and we wanted to make circus and theatre education better known in Chemnitz. The mixture of music and workshops developed from this. The festival has changed and grown from year to year. While at the beginning we mainly wrote to associations that, like us, are involved in theatre education, many cultural associations from all over the city are now on board.

Where do you see your niche?
Hendrik Hadlich : The original idea ten years ago was that Chemnitz lacked a festival where you could also take your children. We wanted to offer good culture for a small price.
Thomas Naumann: Either you focus on headliners, then people are willing to pay up to 25 euros, but the people of Chemnitz are usually less willing to experiment with small and new events. There are also places like Aaltra, Subway and Exil that offer culture for a small fee.

Ten years ago, there were 300 to 350 visitors at the start of the festival, but last year up to 2,500 people came to the island. "We always think about how we want to develop the festival from year to year," explains Hendrik, listing the various names that the festival went by in the beginning. After Circus a la isla, the decision was made in favour of Theatro a la isla, followed a year later by Arte a la isla. In 2010, it was called Fuego a la isla for the first time and took place over two days.

Why did you choose Fuego?
Hendrik Hadlich: The origin is this fire theatre group. And the title is most in keeping with its character. We had over 1000 visitors to the first Fuego at Whitsun. So we thought: before we try to find a new title every year, let's stick with Fuego. With 1000 people, the name was a given.

Who else is behind the "Fuego a la isla" festival?
Hendrik Hadlich: The Pyrocatharsis association and the AJZ provide the framework for the festival. There are two stages that we play on directly, while the rest is organised by crews or individuals. The island lounge floor is organised by a group of friends around Grüne Helene.
Thomas Naumann: People know each other in Chemnitz. We started out in the techno scene in the early 90s and are still on the road as organisers today. I myself am on the road as Mr Spooky. A good spirit who sees what he can make possible.

So is Fuego a la isla a joint project of the Chemnitz subculture?
Thomas Naumann: I would say that part of Chemnitz's alternative scene is working well together on this project.
Hendrik Hadlich: Compared to the early days, our focus has shifted a little more towards music. However, the workshops have also remained an important component.

"It's about doing it yourself and experiencing it for yourself," explains Hendrik. In addition to the music, Fuego a la isla has a lot to tinker with, experiment with and marvel at. "We don't just want to set up a bouncy castle where the children are entertained. We want them to be encouraged to make something themselves, which they can then take home with them, for example," he explains his team's aim. Building Hulahup tyres and a training workshop are things that the children will remember for a long time to come. Also on offer: screen printing, pottery and creative lamp making from natural materials.

Has the weather always worked out so far?
Hendrik Hadlich: Almost. At the seventh Fuego a la isla, we had to move the event to the AJZ. That was the year in which the floods in Chemnitz destroyed a lot of things. That was also the first time the Sanistelle crew took part. The guys from the Spinnerei asked on their own initiative if they could take part. That was a great honour for us. We are a festival organised purely on a voluntary basis and are delighted that local professionals are taking part.

What do you all have in common?
Thomas Naumann: We want to work without hierarchies as far as possible, trust each other, leave decisions to others, organise things ourselves and try things out for ourselves, and work together in an error-friendly way.
Hendrik Hadlich : Following the motto "Another world is possible" or the "Do is yourself" culture as a role model, we inspire ourselves and other people by working, learning and growing together. Doers are very much in demand here. When someone asks if they can join us, we first ask them what they want to do. We believe that people are good where they like to be.

What is musically special this year?
Hendrik Hadlich : I actually wanted to go for a headliner this year because of the 10th anniversary. But luckily the crew dissuaded me from this idea. We already have a lot of headliner festivals in the region and our concept works.
Thomas Naumann: The majority of our visitors don't know the bands. All the bands are simply good.

But there are still a few tips in there, aren't there?
Hendrik Hadlich: We have a perennial favourite, the Provinztheater Krefeld. It's a twelve-piece band that plays street music. They're also bringing another band with 16 musicians and a kind of brass hip-hop that will make the stage shake. Organic Waldtechno, live electronic sounds with guitar and violin, will be provided by Moglebaum from Düsseldorf. The Inexplicables from Bristol will be performing beatbox, reggea and hip-hop.
Thomas Naumann: " Every band is unique in its own way. As we are a large team, everyone brings their own suggestions and the result is a wide range.
Hendrik Hadlich: In the summer after the festival, we evaluate everything together and then go looking for new acts. The booking is usually finalised in November. At the beginning of the new year, I still received band requests every week. It has now become a self-runner.

What is special about the Schloßteichinsel for you?
Thomas Naumann: It's an incredible paradise. The view of the water, the backdrop of the castle church - these are impressive images.
Hendrik Hadlich : Of course, the proximity to the city centre also has its disadvantages when it comes to noise protection, for example. We briefly considered going somewhere else. But many people encouraged us to stay. We are the only ones playing a festival in this location. We have now joined the nearest clubs with an after-show programme: the aaltra, the Zukunft and the Odradek. And they were all full last year too.

Is it difficult to organise such a festival on a voluntary basis?
Hendrik Hadlich : We've had really good, trusting cooperation with the Parks Department and the Public Order Office for years. What is difficult is the ruined building, because we have additional costs for setting up an extra stage. And the noise protection requirements are not easy. But there is also a positive innovation: we have found an eco-compost company that can deliver our toilets, so we are acting ecologically here. The caterers will also use ecologically degradable packaging material.

On the same day, Megaloh is playing at Rock am Kopp in the city centre. Did the overlap annoy you?
Hendrik Hadlich : When I heard about it, yes at first. But it's actually great. There are a lot of people in the city centre who want to experience something around 6 pm.
Thomas Naumann: When there's a lot going on in the city as a whole, it helps everyone.

What do you think a festival like yours does for the city's image?
Hendrik Hadlich : It's simply good for the kind of culture we show. It exists. And it lives in this city. The fact that we bring exceptional bands to the city and that our festival is successful fits in here. And ultimately, the input from outside also inspires us. When we see that there is now the city centre festival Fete de la music, which has similar cultural aspirations. That's a huge benefit for the city.
Thomas Naumann: Many people I know who have moved away from Chemnitz come back to Chemnitz on this very weekend. Sometimes as helpers or simply as visitors. I think that's really nice.

Do you have to encourage the people of Chemnitz?
Hendrik Hadlich: Definitely not in the summer. I think we have a good festival season. From the Aaltra Open Air and Kosmonaut Festival to the Slackfest. There are lots of small events, like the spontaneous parties. If you go out and are open to new things, you can discover a lot in Chemnitz. And for me, the Fuego is proof that there are a lot of people here who are interested in good quality and want to get something going.
Thomas Naumann: You can do more in Chemnitz than people give the city credit for. The club scene is of an extremely high quality compared to other major cities and has grown over the years. Chemnitz has nothing to hide.