Der Schwarze Ball:

Main Stage: Vive la Fête, Diorama, Qntal, Rue Oberkampf, Lovataraxx

Luna Stage (zweite Bühne im Musikcafe) mit Konzerten von Le Prince Harry, Auger, Lifeless Past & William Bleak

+ 4 Floors/12DJs

Main Stage:

VIVE LA FÊTE (BE)
Vive la Fête was founded in 1997 when Danny Mommens (then still in his former band dEUS) met Els Pynoo at a party. They recorded a few demos and have since released several albums. Vive la Fête's live shows are energetic bursts of electronic dance music, rock 'n' roll and the unique voice of Els Pynoo.

DIORAMA (DE)
Diorama have been around since 1996 and can look back on numerous releases and appearances in clubs and festivals. The line-up of the four musicians has remained unchanged for many years (apart from a change on guitar). 
Diorama have always been regarded as ‘cerebral and unconventional’. Never before has this label been as justified as in recent years. On their 2020 album ‘tiny missing fragments’, the band makes a consistent break with classic electro arrangements. Instead, they wrap their emphatic messages in glitch beats, complex loops and atmospheric density, as they write. The choruses are epic and melodic, with the melancholic lightness of earlier releases such as ‘amaroid’ and ‘her liquid arms’ shining through. 
Back to the album ‘tiny missing fragments’: it was recorded and produced by Torben Wendt and Felix Marc themselves. In addition to the haunting vocals and the many sound details, Zura Nakamura's psychedelic guitar effects also make a decisive contribution to the character of the work. Its radiance comes from the disturbing, torn aesthetics that unfold particularly in ballads such as ‘irreversible’ or ‘dark pitch’. 

QNTAL (DE)
Qntal is the avant-garde cosmos of two exceptional artists who came together in 1991 to combine medieval songs and words with electronic sound constructions. Electronic beats, medieval and exotic instruments, powerful choirs and Syrah's enraptured vocals - new musical territory was broken here. Over the decades, nine albums were created, recorded with fascinating guests and in long-standing partnerships with producers such as Ernst Horn, Phil Groth and Leon.

RUE OBERKAMPF (DE)  
Rue Oberkampf describe their concerts as magical ceremonies that electrify the masses. The band was founded in mid-2016 by three DJs. They have since played headline shows, such as the one at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen in Leipzig, the Monitor Festival (Portugal) and in London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna etc. In addition to their own tours in Canada and Europe, Rue Oberkampf have supported acts such as Molchat Doma, Lebanon Hanover, DAF and Drab Majesty. The band has released various singles, EPs and albums on Young and Cold Records, Motor Music, Ant Zen and No EMB Blanc/Genetic.

LOVATARAXX (FR)
The Cold-Wave and Minimal-Synth duo from Lyon, France, has been active for over five years. They are part of the dynamic German label Cold Transmission's portfolio.
The band describes their sound with the words: "We bring a personal touch to the Darkwave scene by creating minimal and impulsive beats or more danceable rhythms, which are softened by hypnotic and deadly voices."

Luna Stage: 

LE PRINCE HARRY (BE)
Le Prince Harry is a quirky synth-punk / electro-punk duo from Belgium, known for their energetic performances that combine electronic beats, catchy synthesizer riffs and a rebellious punk attitude. They have played hundreds of concerts across Europe, toured Canada and La Réunion and feel at home both on big stages (Dour Festival, Le Cabaret Vert, La Villette...) and in small clubs. They have already shared the stage with greats such as The Horrorist, The Spits, The Exploited, DAF and The Kids.

AUGER (UK)  
Auger, the band around mastermind Kyle Blaqk, are a hyper-melodic, cross-genre, dark music act. They emerged on an unsuspecting scene in mid-2017 and have since released four albums and played in 70 cities in various countries. Auger have established their sound by fusing rock and electronic styles with deep vocals and a distinct sense of pop.
To date, Auger have released four albums: "The Awakening" (2017), "From Now On I" (2019), "Insurgence" (2020) and "Nighthawks" (2022). All four have entered the Top 5 of the German Alternative Charts. The first three albums were released by DarkTunes Music Group (DE) (distributed by Soul Food Distribution), but since then AUGER has been releasing music through his label The Big Chair.
The latest album from Auger is Nighthawks. It is the fourth album in her discography and yet in many ways her first. After three albums, a range of collaborations, covers and singles, Auger have honed and solidified their sound. This new album, inspired by American art, is the embodiment of that, their piece de resistance.

LIFELESS PAST (NL)
Lifeless Past from the Netherlands plays gloomy darkwave and post-punk music inspired by the gothic movement of the late 80s. The band is notorious for drawing their audience into an atmosphere that is both eerie and irresistibly attractive.
Lifeless Past was formed by Satori in the winter of 2012 in the city of The Hague. The band consists of Satori (guitar, drum beats and vocals) and Brandon on drums. Both members currently live in the Netherlands, but were born and raised on the island of Curaçao. Their cultural background is also reflected in their compositions and some of their songs are sung in Spanish.
The group's distinctive approach to post-punk music is characterized by cold, groovy drums, layering melodic guitars and dark, wintry vocals.

WILLIAM BLEAK (DE)
William Bleak is a post-punk/cold wave band from Berlin that combines hard electronic beats with manic guitars and deep bass to create a grotesque yet celebratory sound.
Originally founded as a dreamy post-punk band, the project quickly evolved thanks to Berlin's grey winters. Melancholy gave way to despair, silent pain turned into anger and a desire for movement.
In the first few months of 2024 alone, the band released four successful singles, four self-produced music videos and completed a successful tour of the American West Coast.
William Bleak's sound is a perfect fusion of dance-punk sensibility and cold-wave despair, a haunting synthesis that is now coming back to haunt Europe.