Sara Hammerzmith

A lot earlier than I would probably personally prefer I got up and started getting myself ready. Which basically means, I put together what I wanted to wear for the day, then put all of the other clothes into a bag and walked all the way back to my car to dump the stuff there. Essentially, my idea is that I’d start putting things back in order to give me less and less to carry. Once dumped, I headed back to the area to catch the first show of the day: Vanity Blvd.

Vanity BLVD

I can’t even remember when it was I last saw this band. I mean, I know I saw them at Peace&Love a million years ago, but I can’t recall seeing them once since then, and it just blows my mind. I know for sure it wasn’t in 2009, but either 2007 or 2008. It’s at least EIGHT YEARS! Holy hell. It’s hard to grasp sometimes how rarely you see some bands…

Well, regardless! It was an early day, so the crowd was a bit so so when it comes to amount, but despite that they still delivered a good set! I love how charismatic Anna is, she did get the few that showed up going. But! Despite – a good energetic set. I was well pleased, and it was worth getting up for!

Right after the show I headed to the merch to pick up their latest release – I’ve been postponing way too long to get it, but, at last! Then, it was back to the campground to have some late breakfast, because apparently I have got no time for that in the morning. I pulled out Pinky McSpin to blast some music, and essentially just enjoying life. In the high and damp grass, overlooking the fields. Skogsröjet is really great that way, I must admit.

The hours passed, and off to the area I went to catch the second band of the day: Art Nation.

Art Nation

So, Art Nation is one of those bands I discovered by listening through the entire set of artists playing (I need to get better at doing that really) and was met by a pretty crowded place. The band? They were on fire. Seriously, what a show! I enjoyed every single minute of it, and to judge the crowd, so did they! Seriously, thank you!

Right after this, I, again, went back to the merch to pick up their CD – and see, pay attention to this: For once in my life, I literally only made the already planned CD purchases. How is this even possible? How is it possible that I actually managed to stay within my budget this year? It blows my mind.

I went outside heading back to the camp in order to pick up a long friend of mine – Elias. I haven’t seen him for four years, so it’s been a long time no see! And it was a bit awkward. He was standing and talking to some friends, and me and a girl who were friends to them approached them at the same time, where Elias says “Ah, so this is your entourage?” to the guy and I was like “well, ok” before he recognized me, haha! It sure as hell have been some time.

We spent the next couple of hours catching up about everything and nothing, sunbathing in the high and damp grass listening to music on Pinky McSpin.. yes. This is life, you know? Sitting in your campchair on a sunny day outside your tent, hearing a band play somewhere in the distant, hearing the other camps stereos competing a bit with yours… Festival life at it’s finest.

The Quireboys

Well, by the time the hours passed, it was time for us to get to the area again to catch The Quireboys. I must admit, I’ve never been a big fan of The Quireboys (it’s mostly Elias who likes them) but despite that, I can’t complain about them delivering a set worth seeing! They have this.. partyfeeling, you know? You get happy. Thanks guys, it was awesome!

Quiet Riot

Right after this, I headed over to Quiet Riot’s stage where I very gladly found Robert and Sindra, so I could accompany them (Elias had gone to the beertent) to enjoy this show. I really like Quiet Riot, it’s one of those bands I never really thought I’d ever get to see, but you know, festivals makes it happen. It was a great set, and everything culminated in the singer from Quireboys joining them for “Cum on Feel the Noise”. Seriously, what a moment!

Helloween

After this, I went back to the camp to start pack up. Since the festival is very close to home, it’s convenient to go home already after the last band, rather than getting stuck in the jams the next day. So, in the wait for Helloween I, with help from Elias, started packing everything up, pausing to got and catch the show.

Like I’ve said about literally every other band on this festival – it was a good show. I enjoyed it a lot, and I’m superglad I decided to go to see this.

After this, we went back to the camp, wrapped everything up and got it back to the car. On our way back to the festival area we took the moment to distribute some flyers for Sabaton Open Air before having very very very late dinner (1 am), listening to a few Lillasyster songs before we got in the car and on our way home.

Which became a bit of a nightmare. My car has gotten this sudden electronic problem, so it shuts off the lights when it feels like it. Which is not so pleasant on pitchdark countryside roads. The funniest thing is of course the fact that Elias freaked out a lot more than I did, haha, jesus christ.

Eventually, everything worked out and we all got home safely.

Thank you, everyone that I got to meet on this festival, thank you Skogsröjet for another pleasant festival this year, and thanks to all the bands who made it worth! A little extra shoutout to the professionals in Hardcore Superstar and the saviors in Freedom Call. You made it a little extra special.

// Sara

So, after a few ifs and buts I decided, very last minute, to go to Skogsröjet on Friday morning despite previously planned on Thursday evening. Regardless, of course, later than planned as always, I got on the road towards Rejmyre, or well, Röjmyre as it’s called nowadays. It’s a fairly short drive to be honest – at least compared to Sweden Rock – it takes about an hour and a half down from where I live to the festival area.

I was getting a little stressed since I really, really wanted to make it to this band called Haunted by Destiny who played at 11:45, but gladly I saw on my clock I’d arrive about 30 minutes prior, which would be enough to arrive at the stage just in time, despite having to get my bracelet and all.

Ha. Ha. Ha. Jokes on me. When I get to Rejmyre, and pay for the parking they tell me to keep driving quite a bit and I wind up on a parking site in the middle of nowhere. Well, as much as nowhere can be in a little town like Rejmyre. The parking guard told me there’d be a bus going at 11.40 to the are. Well shit.

I waited for the bus since I didn’t wanna take any chances, and to my delight, once at the area, the line for wristbands were short, and no line into the area, so gladly, I didn’t miss a whole lot.

Haunted by Destiny

Haunted by Destiny is a local band (I guess we can call it that? Norrköping?), melodic metal I’d say to make it easy for myself. They delivered a very good and energetic set, I was not disappointed! It was well worth coming out early to see.

Right after their show I went for the merch to pick up their album before heading back to the parkinglot to start getting my stuff out. That’s when someone jumps me from behind.

I guess most of you guys know me – I’m not easily scared so I really just inhaled and looked behind me because in all honesty, there’s only so many people who could actually be doing this. Of course, it was my dear friend Robert saying hi in the manner that he and I say hi to each other – by jumping each other.

He then proceeded to pick up me up and run away with me with the words “No time to explain, Ztringtroza starts now!”, and I can honestly say – as someone who keeps a low profile at festivals and don’t party, this must be one of the most random things to ever happen. At least this early at a festival. I explained to him I had to go and set up my tent and he says “So why are you still here?” Seriously. I love this guy.

I got on the bus back to the parking, which was easier said than done since apparently the bus company and Skogsröjet had some communication problems or so – Skogsröjet said the buses would circulate, the bus got confused as to where I wanted to go. Like ok. Eventually, like, 45 minutes later I managed to get back, and this time, since I had a lot of time, I would try to walk. With the luggage, it took maybe 15 minutes – mind you, with packing. So that was a relief. Spent the next hour or so to walk between the camping and the parking lot, setting up everything. And then, I changed my clothing and went back to the area to enjoy what was left of The Hooters.

The Dead Daisies 

Right after The Hooters, I headed over to the smaller stage to catch The Dead Daisies. In case you’ve missed it – The Dead Daises are essentially one of those supergroups, I guess you could call them. I have been listening a little bit to them prior to the festival, so I looked forward to see them.

And they delivered! Sadly, it seems to me either it was a bit of a boring crowd or they were too starstruck or something, because yeah, not the best reception. BUT – the band put on a good show!

Freedom Call

After the Dead Daisies I went and bought food and made my way over to Bandit stage again… With a bit of a heavy heart – in all honesty. The 69 Eyes were supposed to be playing, they were more or less the band I actually went to this festival for (aside always going here, hehe) so I was.. yeah I can’t deny it, I was really bummed. But, with my hamburger as a good company I figured I’d at least check this band out, seeing a lot of my friends likes or at least have talked about this band.

And I was not, I Was NOT disappointed, not in the slightest. I really, really enjoyed the set, and I salute the singer for making me feel less alone with my wasp problem (seriously, they were creeping on my face) so, I was really, really glad they came. It, in the end, was a very good replacement.

Right after Freedom Call I headed back to the camp to first and foremost get changed, and then secondly pick up the last few things from the car before hurrying back to the area to catch Kamelot

KAMELOT

So Kamelot! It’s a band I’ve been meaning to check out for the longest of time but never really done so until very recently before this festival. I’ve heard the stuff Elize Ryd has done with them, obviously, but aside that not a lot. I did however figure I could expect a lot from them – and seriously, I was not disappointed!

The lightshow! It’s probably, for Kamelot fans or people who’ve seen them a lot, not anything special, but I love these kind of bands, like Kamelot, that has a thoroughly worked through set and show. They don’t just get up there and play, but actually makes it a SHOW. Some bands could learn from it! And Kobra absolutely slayed it on stage. I’ve gotten myself  a new love in her.

HARDCORE SUPERSTAR

I left Kamelot a little, little early in order to not miss a single second of one of my favorite bands – Hardcore Superstar. As you all know, they play pretty much every year at Skogsröjet, and I really hope Skogsröjet keep on booking them every year, as it’s always pleasant to know that “no matter what band plays, you will always have Hardcore Superstar there”.

As usual, I mean, nothing can literally go wrong with Hardcore Superstar. They are a superdedicated and energetic band, and just watching them fills you with adrenaline. It was a pretty average show in a way – no real surprises songwise, but still amazing. It was also good to see Angelina be on stage again and get to be one of the first customers on Hardcore Superbar… And when they played “We Don’t Celebrate Sundays”, and you just feel the adrenaline starts going up, as you are all getting ready for that very last chorus…. Just as it’s about to come…

The electricity is cut. 

Some confetti blew out, the stage went completely silent, but the crowd kept on singing, at least the full chorus. The band stood like frozen on stage, and it was like someone just paused everything. It was the most anticlimactic moment I’ve ever been to at a show. That timing of the powercut, it’s priceless! Jocke asked us to wait, so we did, and after fibbling a lot with the electricity, they came back and finished the set with “Moonshine” and “Above the Law”.

Seriously though. Something that got me, is that most of the crowd stay. I won’t hold it against the people who left – as W.A.S.P was starting on the other stage, but most of the crowd actually stayed. It’s the love and dedication for a band that keeps up. It’s beautiful to see.

W.A.S.P

So, after HCSS I headed over to see one of those bands I’ve seen so many times, or well, many times without actually trying perhaps I should say. I wasn’t sure if I was gonna stay all of W.A.S.P, since I’ve never been that big of a fan of them, and my legs were extremely sore from all the walking, but, I wound up staying all the while.

It was a decent show. It was… pretty much what once can expect from W.A.S.P actually – it was good, but yeah. Something is lacking, but I don’t know what it is.

After W.A.S.P, I found my way back to the camping and fell asleep to the tones of the orchestral versions of Powerwolf songs, getting ready for the second and last day of the festival.

// SAra