Kessel Festival 2025: This Is What Saturday Looked Like
Every year, the Kessel Festival doesn't miss, and this time was most definitely no exception. On July 4th and 5th, Stuttgart’s Cannstatter Wasen hosted two days filled with performances and a lineup that was not to be ignored. Unfortunately, we only made it for Saturday, which was more than enough to show why this festival keeps pulling in the people. With artists like Ski Aggu, Paula Hartmann, Deichkind, Ennio, Esther Graf, Kontra K, and more, the festival was packed with variety and a few surprises along the way.
Ski Aggu: Perfect for Warming Up
Ski Aggu’s set was precisely what you want to kick things off: no nonsense, all fun. His beats are never too heavy, but enough to get the crowd moving. There were mosh pits pretty much right away, and the energy was contagious. His widely known songs like Friesenjung and Mietfrei got everyone going, but when he pulled out Egoist, things slowed down a bit and got a little more personal. It was the kind of moment where the crowd actually starts to pay attention, which felt a bit different from the usual energy associated with Aggu. And yeah, he even threw in some English for his song Germany and cracked a few Swabian phrases, which the crowd definitely appreciated. All in all, it was a solid set to set the tone for the night.
Paula Hartmann: A Change of Pace
Next up was Paula Hartmann, and the vibe completely shifted. If Aggu was about high-energy chaos, Paula’s set was about connection. The tent stage she performed on gave everything a more intimate feel, and you could tell the audience was with her for every word. It's always more than just hearing her music; it's like being part of the world she writes about in her lyrics. Songs like kleine Feuer and Kugeln im Lauf just feel different in that space. It wasn’t some over-the-top performance; it was just her: no frills, no gimmicks, just good music. It felt like one of those sets where you wanted to stick around a little longer, just because the energy was right.
Kontra K: The Big Finale
By the time Kontra K hit the stage, the crowd was already in full festival mode. As the headliner, he obviously had everyone’s attention, and he held it for a solid 90-minute set, which was a good mix of everything: rap, rock, and those melodic beats he's always associated with. Keine Helden (with SDP) and Die Sonne (with Nico Santos) were huge moments for the crowd, but the real surprise came when Kontra K brought out NESS to perform Geboren um zu leben. It was an unexpected but perfect move, and the crowd went crazy. It was a perfect moment, and that’s what made it stand out.
So, what's the verdict?
If you want a weekend full of music that covers all the emotional ranges, from high-energy party tracks to soul-stirring lyrics, Kessel Festival is definitely worth checking out. Whether you’re looking to mosh with Ski Aggu, get lost in Paula Hartmann’s world, or listen to Kontra K’s genre-blurring songs, there’s something here for everyone. If you missed it this year, don't worry, next year’s lineup is sure to be just as good.
2026 Kessel Festival tickets are available here.
