Roadburn versus the Volcano Or how I tried to beat Eyjafjallajökull and almost lost my mind PT.I

The following is my personal account of spending two days working like hell to beat Eyjafjallajökull and trying to secure the lineup for Roadburn 2010. Unfortunately about 11 bands had to cancel, which led to last minute additions, scheduling second sets and finding ways to announce the new running order. All of these were spur-of-the-moment decisions. In retrospect certain things could have been done way better, but it simply wasn’t possible at the time. High on sleep deprivation, torn by emotions and struggling with production affairs, it simply turned out the way it did – Walter/Roadburn.

Thursday, April 15th 2010

08:53: I get an e-mail from Dave Kelly, a Roadburn attendee from Liverpool. He tells me that all flights out of Liverpool are cancelled for the day. I just woke up after getting only about four hours of sleep. I don’t really grasp the magnitude of his news. Stupid me!

11:53: I get an e-mail from Sarke’s manager saying he’s trying to find alternative ways to get Sarke to Tilburg. Utterly unaware of the volcanic eruption in Iceland at this point, I assume that they had run into a flight delay or two; nothing more, nothing less.

13:30: On my way to Roadburn’s business lunch at the Midi Theatre, I get word about a volcanic outburst in Iceland and how it could potentially seriously affect all air traffic in the UK, Northern Europe, including the Netherlands, and Germany. Nobody, including bands and ‘burners, can confirm this.

An unsettled feeling comes over me and I start getting more anxious. Something is definitely going on. Reports of people and bands getting stuck at airports are starting to flood in.

13:43: I get an e-mail from Candlemass’ Leif Edling: apparently all airports in Northern Europe are being shut down, and that this could go on for as long as four to five days. He’s getting nervous, and doesn’t know what to do. I don’t know either, as I’m focused on the production. However, I decide to call an emergency meeting. We decide to wait for some updates.

It’s virtually impossible to digest all of this. Here we are coping with last minute production affairs and this volcano stuff sounds so crazy, especially as anticipation for the festival is now reaching fever pitch.

14:15: Candlemass’ tour manager is trying to figure out alternative ways to get to Roadburn. Damn, this is getting really serious, and suddenly I’m not worrying about the start of the festival anymore, but more about a possible Candlemass cancellation due to some volcanic eruption in Iceland. What is going on?

Then it truly hits me that Sarke is struggling with the same problems, and quite possibly Trinacria as well; after all, everyone has to fly in from Norway. Instead of enjoying the opening of Roadburn, I’m on the phone gathering more info. In hindsight, it’s the start of a complete logistical nightmare!

14:16: Jesu’s flights have been delayed as well. The band is stuck at the airport in Liverpool. It’s looking really bad as more and more airports are shutting down.  But info is still sparse.

15:00: Roadburn 2010 starts, but instead of enjoying the moment, I’m talking to ‘burners who have friends stuck at airports and can’t make it to Tilburg. It really breaks my heart!

Overwhelmed by emotions, I call another emergency meeting, and suddenly we’re fully aware of the scope of the situation. I decide to stay put in the production office, and start working on getting as many details as I can and trying to figure out how to get bands over to Roadburn by car, bus or a different flight. But wait: there are no different flights. By 17:00 virtually the entire European airspace is closed.

In the meantime, I’m trying to get hold of Tonje, Enslaved’s manager, who is also in charge of Trinacria and Sarke at Roadburn. I meet her at the loading dock. She has been desperately trying to get both bands on a nightliner to Tilburg. More news will follow.

Unaware of what’s going on, some bands need to talk to me about minor production details, and others try to get extra meal tickets, drink tokens or backstage passes. Normally I don’t mind fielding these requests, but I just can’t handle their questions right now. It’s all getting too much. I’m starting to get edgy and more strung out by the hour.

17:00: Back in a meeting with Tonje: Trinacria and Sarke are renting a nightliner, and will leave in a couple of hours. It sounds like financial suicide but we will be sharing the costs just to get the bands over here. We don’t want to compromise the festival if there is any way to get these bands over! Sarke and Trinacria are facing a 22-hour coach journey.

17:45: Candlemass’ tour manager gets in touch. Maybe they can rent a VW van and drive up to Tilburg? They need to know before 18:00 if we can chip in.

17:46: It’s official. Jesu can’t make it to Roadburn. All flights from Liverpool are canceled. (Wait a minute, didn’t I get an e-mail about this early this morning?!)

17:53: We’re going to help out Candlemass with renting a van.

18:01: Candlemass secures a bus, and will drive to Tilburg. Yes!

18:01 – 19:53: I’m also trying to help out several bands at the loading dock: there are some problems with Jarboe’s backline, and other bands need hospitality. Comus has made it and I show them their rehearsal room. Finally I start to feel like I’m getting into the Roadburn swing of things. However, I decide to check my e-mail frequently.

18:30: After talking to Tom G Warrior, the decision is made to have Church of Misery open on the main stage instead of Jesu, followed by Trinacria in order to avoid a clash with Death Row in the Midi Theatre.

19:34: Black Math Horseman is stuck in LA. Their flight has been delayed, postponed or canceled.

19:45: Evoken’s flight from New York is canceled.

19:53: Various members of Yakuza are stuck at different airports.

19:55: What the hell is going on? Another production meeting is being held. Now it seems that the Americans are being affected by the volcanic ashes from Iceland as well!

20:50: An e-mail from Vince from Evoken. They are hoping for a miracle, but it’s looking really bad.

21:00 – 00:45: I’m worn out. I’m rambling incoherently to bands, staff and friends. Everyone is concerned about me. I’m fully aware that the Friday and Saturday Roadburn days will suffer from some major setbacks, and I’m really not looking forward to breaking the news to Tom G Warrior and our beloved attendees.

22:15: I ask Earthless if they would be willing to play a second set on Friday, replacing Church of Misery at the Midi Theatre. Luckily, they are into the idea and their set the next day is nothing short of breathtaking.

00:45: After Goatsnake’s MASSIVE performance, I take the stage and tell some 2000 Roadburners in the Main Hall what’s going on. I’m so nervous and anxious. It’s really hard making the announcement that Jesu has definitely cancelled. Luckily, however, I can tell everyone that Church of Misery will open up the main stage, and that Trinacria, Sarke and Candlemass are on their way to Tilburg. Or so I think. At this point I have no idea what Friday has in store for me.

Continue reading: Roadburn-versus-the-volcano-or-how-i-tried-to-beat-eyjafjallajokull-and-almost-lost-my-mind-pt-II

Continue reading: Roadburn-versus-the-volcano-or-how-i-tried-to-beat-eyjafjallajokull-and-almost-lost-my-mind-pt-III

Tags: Roadburn, roadburn 2010, Roadburn Festival, Roadburn Festival 2010

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 21st, 2010 at 1:13 pm and is filed under 2010, Festival News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.