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Only 130 tickets left, two well-known headliners and, for the first time, concerts in the open air: the metal festival “Ulmich om Braand” is about to enter its biggest edition to date.
Steinau – On Friday and Saturday, June 12th and 13th, the sixth edition of the regional event will take place in the Ulmbach district of Steinau. “If you want to be there, you should grab it quickly, there probably won't be a box office. When the tickets are gone, they're gone – that gives us maximum planning security,” says Matthias Flach from the eight-person board of directors of the organizing association “Ulmich om Braand eV”. Especially the two headliners Dirkschneider and Vitory would have triggered “huge enthusiasm” and boosted advance sales significantly, as Flach reports.
But it's not just the main acts that make metal hearts beat faster. The festival starts on Friday, June 12th at 5 p.m. on the Zeissler stage with Hotwire, followed by VERSUS at 6:45 p.m., Journeye at 8:30 p.m. and headliner Victory at 10:30 p.m. At the same time, Mike Gerhold plays the shell stage several times (6:05 p.m., 7:50 p.m., 9:50 p.m.) before Black Jack closes the first evening there at 12:05 a.m. with 80s rock.
Metal festival in Ulmbach: concerts in the open air for the first time
On Saturday, June 13th, the program begins at 1 p.m. on the Zeissler stage with Sirens Curse. This is followed by Skull & Crossbones (2.30 p.m.), Stepfather Fred (4 p.m.), Machinist (5.30 p.m.), Godsnake (7 p.m.), Dirkschneider as headliner at 9 p.m. and finally at 11.45 p.m. the Linkin Park tribute band Living Theory, which according to the organizers is one of the best of its kind in the world. On the second day, the Rohbau Stage will again feature performances by Mike Gerhold (4:50 p.m., 6:20 p.m., 11:05 p.m.) as well as a set by UOB house band DYKES at 8:20 p.m. Frontman Dirk “Dykes” Müller is also a member of the club’s executive team.
Choosing the bands was particularly difficult for the team this year. “We've had an incredible number of bands requesting to play with us. It's unbelievable how our little festival has developed in such a short time,” says Flach. The hard rock and heavy metal festival was originally started as a replacement party for the Wacken, which was canceled due to Corona, with a small group. According to the organizers, the character “by fans for fans” has remained.
This profile is now also receiving national attention. The renowned Metal Hammer magazine listed UOB as an insider tip for the first time. “We are all as proud as Bolle and are very happy that what we offer is met with so much love!” emphasizes Dirk Müller. According to the club, the organizational team consists of 17 members, supported by numerous helpers from other Ulmbach clubs, from the circle of friends and a constantly growing network. “What so many people do here every year is incredible. We are enormously grateful for that, because the UOB would not be possible if so many people didn't put all their heart and soul into it,” emphasizes Müller.
As the festival grows, so do the demands on the infrastructure. According to the club, there is no longer enough space in the tent where the bands traditionally perform this year. That's why parts of the concerts will take place open air. A large video board will also ensure that visitors have a good view of the bands from further back. In addition, the second stage, the shell stage, will be significantly expanded and upgraded in 2026 in order to be able to present more artists.
It is already clear that the UOB will not be a flash in the pan: According to the club, the date for 2027 has already been set – the festival is scheduled to go into the next round on the weekend of June 4th and 5th, 2027. “Now the Ulmich om Braand 2026 is coming up – and we are sure: it will be the best UOB of all time! We look forward to everyone who wants to celebrate this party with us,” says Matthias Flach in conclusion.
A ticket, valid on both days of the festival, costs 75 euros. If you would like to take your vehicle to the campsite, you can book this for an additional 15 euros. According to the organizer, tickets are available online at uob.de/karten.
