Kraftklub inspires in Jamel: Festival against the right with a surprise guest!

Kraftklub inspires in Jamel: Festival against the right with a surprise guest!

On August 24, 2025, around 3,500 music lovers gathered in the small village of Jamel in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to take part in the remarkable “Jamel rocks the forester” festival. The event has been organized since 2007 by the artist couple Birgit and Horst Lohmeyer, who have long been campaigning against right-wing extremism in their community. Kraftklub's surprise appearance as a secret headliner caused excitement and highlighted the political dimension of the festival, which is seen as a strong symbol of democracy. Nordkurier reports about the synthesis of music and social engagement that characterizes this festival.

Kraftklub's festival performance, with frontman Felix Kummer, was enthusiastically received by visitors. Kummer emphasized the importance of events like these in the fight against right-wing extremism. Before Kraftklub, several other artists such as Dota, Hinterlandgang and Paula Carolina had already taken the stage. Die Toten Hosen, who played on Friday, were back in Jamel after ten years - a truly memorable comeback. NDR reports.

Political dimension of the festival

The festival's mission is to fight against the hostility of right-wing extremists in the region. Jamel, with around 40 residents and a dark legacy from the influx of right-wing extremists in the 1990s, needs such events to assert itself against the local neo-Nazi scene. There are efforts by certain actors to establish Jamel as a “National Socialist model village”. Tagesschau points out the importance of the festival and notes that the event also counteracts the emerging unease in the community.

A sensitive topic was an Instagram post from the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state representation, in which new bureaucratic requirements were criticized. The CDU, led by state chairman Daniel Peters, described the post as unacceptable and wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig in which officials' neutrality requirement was addressed. This led to lively exchanges between the political camps and underlined the tensions between the festival organizers and politicians. Nordkurier also addresses this discussion.

Safety precautions and caveats

Security precautions during the festival were extensive. Around 260 officers ensured the security of the event, which was peaceful despite some investigations into property damage, bodily harm and the use of unconstitutional symbols. An impending storm front also led to a short-term evacuation of part of the area, but this took place without any major incidents.

The Lohmeyers, who have received several awards for their commitment to combating right-wing extremism, were presented with the Solbach Freise Foundation's prize for civil courage before the festival. Their work is recognized not only by the community, but also by politicians, which is a strong sign of solidarity in the arduous defensive battles against right-wing tendencies. NDR emphasizes how important the Lohmeyers' commitment is.

The festival remains a shining example of solidarity against extremism and the importance of art as a mouthpiece for resistance. Despite the challenges facing organizers, there is a strong will to continue the fight for democracy and diversity.