The Swiss weekend part I
Traditions
It has become a tradition for me to finish my concert year with either Eisheilige Nacht or a Swiss band. This time, I can combine the two and spend the weekend near Basel with my two metal buddies. I will pick them both up from Basel airport and train station, and we will check in at our hotel in Sissach. The first show we are going to see is the Eisheilige Nacht tour kick-off at the legendary Z7 in Pratteln. We have to take the train there first, and we’ll meet some fellow metalheads on the way who are also heading to the venue, so we’ll share a beer with them.
Introduction
As soon as we arrive at the venue, we will check out the merchandise stalls and, of course, the bar. Z7 has its own brew, so if you go there, be sure to try it — it’s a tasty, not too heavy IPA. After a while, the lights dim and a man carrying a bagpipe enters the stage. This guy is, of course, Eric Fish, the leader of our hosts tonight, Subway to Sally. He plays the intro to one of their oldest songs, explains a little about Eisheilige Nacht, and introduces the bands who will be performing over the next five hours.
Haggefugg
The first band is from Cologne, and their musical style is best described as medieval folk rock. You might already have heard of them – please welcome Haggefugg! During their set, they take us on a journey through ten years of the band’s evolution, performing in front of a highly enthusiastic audience. After Haggefugg‘s short set, when I look around, I see only happy faces — no one seems disappointed! Well done, Haggefugg, very well done!
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Kupfergold
The short break gives us enough time to visit the restrooms and get a drink at the bar before the second band performs in Switzerland for the first time. Like Haggefugg, they are from Cologne, and they are already joking about it. It’s Folk Rock again with Kupfergold and its impressive vocalist. The band is three years younger than Haggefugg, but no less inspiring. Kupfergold Live means lots of fun on stage and in the audience. This provides a solid foundation for the two headline acts.
Schandmaul
The first is co-headliner Schandmaul from Gröbenzell near Munich. When Kupfergold played their first Swiss show, it was also the first time that Schandmaul had been part of the Eisheilige Nacht tour, even though they have been friends with Subway to Sally for a long time. It is lovely to see how well the new vocalist, Till Herence, is accepted by Schandmaul’s loyal fans. However, it is heartbreaking to hear the former vocalist, Thomas Lindner, speak about cancer and losing his voice. Nevertheless, we should be grateful that he is still with us and performing with Schandmaul, even though he can only rely on his guitar and keyboard skills nowadays. Nevertheless, these folk rock veterans, who have been around for 27 years, put on a great show.
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Subway to Sally
Then it is time for the band that has hosted Eisheilige Nacht since 2009. A fantasy bird, perhaps inspired by the phoenix, dances in front of the drum kit until the band members join the stage one by one. We are, of course, more than happy to welcome Eric Fish and Subway to Sally to the stage. They are the longest-running band on the tour, having been active since 1992 — although the original members have known each other for 12 years longer than that. Subway to Sally is the heaviest band on the tour, although they are still far from bands like Metallica or Slayer. Medieval instruments take centre stage for the next 90 minutes of the finest German folk metal. The show is great and entertaining; everyone in the audience can sense the fun on stage and the excitement of being back at Z7. For the finale, all three previous bands are invited to join Subway to Sally on stage, creating one big family.
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What makes Eisheilige Nacht so unique?
This was the Eisheilige Nacht tour kick-off. What makes the Eisheilige Nacht tour so unique is that it is much more of a family gathering than a simple rock show. After the final song, it’s time to meet the bands at the merchandise stalls. The bands are more than happy to take pictures with everyone or share a drink, and the audience is more than happy to take this opportunity. At a certain point, the audience must finally go home, while Haggefugg, Kupfergold, Schandmaul and Subway to Sally travel to Im Wizemann in Stuttgart, the next stop of the tour. The three of us, of course, leave with smiles on our faces, knowing that more adventures await us on Saturday in Basel and Sissach. Read more soon.
These are all dates 2025, try to get a ticket for one of the remaining shows and look out for 2026 already!
12.12.25 Pratteln
13.12.25 Stuttgart
19.12.25 Oberhausen
20.12.25 Wetzlar instead of Giessen
21.12.25 Dresden
26.12.25 Braunschweig
27.12.25 Würzburg
28.12.25 Bielefeld
29.12.25 Bremen
30.12.25 Potsdam
Online:
Eisheilige Nacht 2025, Eisheilige Nacht 2026
! Please buy merch and physical music or downloads from the bands official sources or at the live shows and don’t stream it for free because it steals your artists’ income.
Concert photos by Friend.X aka Mr. Deep, Z7 Pratteln, 12. December 2025