11.08.2024 VNV Nation

M'era Luna

Hildesheim (Germany)

It is 20:45 and the M‘era Luna 2024 is slowly heading towards its end but not before regular VNV Nation has not played. That was besides Schwarzer Engel and ASP the band that I absolutely wanted to see live. Since meanwhile 34 years the project of Ronan Harris already exists and has produced 11 albums. He was supported on this evening by three musicians: one drummer and two keyboarder.
The opener was formed by “Space & Time” of the 2011 album “Automatic” and the audience is directly from the first second to 100% with him. The hands are up in the air and loudly each single note is sung along. Harris great lyrics combined with the spheric or hard electric sounds also gladly supported by orchestral parts and above all the gently and sensitive voice in combination with a terrific video projection in the background. There were really again and again heavy goosebump moments arising. During “Gratitude” there was a funny moment. Several balloons were thrown into the crowd. Unfortunately, the wind prevented that they were thrown around as he was blowing them within seconds along the stage and up into the Hildesheim night sky. The set was offering older songs but also current ones like “Run” of the 2023 album “Electric Sun”. Again and again, Harris showed himself deeply impressed by the audience and you could really feel, how emotional this gig was for him, too. Upon “Illusion” the sun had already set and the crowd put the place into one single ocean of lights and during this song he was encouraging everybody to sing as loud as possible in order to express what this song means to each one. Whereas he does not care whether that are 5, 100 or all singing along, but everyone who sings it should sing it as its own victory song. And that happened: out of thousands of throats it was calling the chorus towards him. A truly moving moment. With “Nova” and “All Our Sins” this impressive gig came to an end not without pointing to the release of a new album in 2025 with the belonging tour.
What a rollercoaster of feelings! I did not see the songs live before, but I did have goosebumps more than once due to the atmosphere in the crowd. Such thing, I did not experience ever before. And by that the absolute highlight of the festival for me was found. I can only entrust everybody to visit one of the upcoming shows of VNV Nation. This will be worthwhile it in each case! By that the M’era Luna 2024 is history. The announcements for 2025 already have been made for the 25th anniversary and also the advanced sales had started very successfully. For met it had been a completely different way of festival and an experience that I am very happy of. Here not only the concerts were taking the center stage but also the surroundings. The great and extravagant costumes or styles of the people, events like readings, courses, or fashion shows. Although the weather has been a little bit too hot, in each case it had been dry all the time. If I will be there again next year that remains to be seen. I will decide dependent on the other festivals. The already confirmed bands are making it to a real hot contender. The only issue could be whether there are then still tickets available as the advanced sales are really running extremely well and this year the festival was completely sold out including the day tickets already before it had started.