Alphaville criticizes festival cancellation over political stance

The band Alphaville has criticized the organizers of the Glücksgefühle Festival for canceling their performance. The festival, a project by Markus Krampe and Lukas Podolski, stated it would not tolerate political statements or topics on its stages.

Lead singer Marian Gold described the decision as a “gag order” similar to those used in dictatorships, calling the restriction of freedom of speech and art “absolutely unacceptable and shocking.” In response to the cancellation and broader political tensions, including the AfD's electoral success, several musicians in the Saarland region have expressed their commitment to opposing far-right ideologies and promoting tolerance and democracy.