Future of Festivals - Der Podcast

Life on tour is an exceptional state. Lack of sleep, high pressure, irregular meals, and constant travel – it’s an intense strain on both body and mind. But who actually takes care of the health of artists and their crews?


Moderated by Rosalie Ernst (Zwischen Zwei und Vier), touring doctors Dr. Sriskantharajah Arun-Castro (RoadieMedic), Dr. Jochen Habsch (Jochen Habsch Eventmedizin), and Julia Frank (tour and production manager) discuss the physical and mental challenges faced by performers on tour. From exhaustion, sleep deprivation, and chronic pain to psychological strain that often remains invisible – they share how medical care can be integrated into touring life, the importance of preventive approaches, and why a comprehensive health strategy is long overdue. This conversation sheds light on the realities of health on the road and explores how medical and organizational support can help artists and crews stay healthy and perform at their best in the long run.


Moderation: Rosalie Ernst (Zwischen Zwei und Vier)


Speaker: Dr. Sriskantharajah Arun-Castro (RoadieMedic), Dr. Jochen Habsch (Jochen Habsch Eventmedizin), Julia Frank (tour and production manager)

Auf Festivals werden Container zu mehr als nur mobilen Hüllen. Sie werden umfunktioniert zu Bars, Einlasstresen, Bühnen oder Showrooms. Festivals wie Parookaville gestalten damit temporäre Städte, in denen große Marken etwa mit eigenen Container-Supermärkten präsent sind. Dienstleistende wie HKES und JP SPACES entwickeln dafür modulare Eventmodule vom Einzelcontainer bis zur mehrgeschossigen Stahlkonstruktion mit Glasfronten und Aussichtsplattformen. Gleichzeitig werden Container zu Kunstobjekten, wie bei den North West Walls in Belgien oder dem Containbow in Australien.


Moderation: Li Smilgies


Speaker: Jasper Poensgen (JP SPACES), Berend Koll (HKES), Frank Bollwerk (Next Events GmbH / Parookaville)

It doesn’t matter how big your festival is, how much money you’ve spent, or who’s headlining. When the rain comes, when the wind picks up, or when the heat becomes unbearable, there’s only one question that matters: are you prepared?


More and more festivals are being forced to rethink, postpone, or cancel altogether. Because the ground can’t take it. Because safety can’t be guaranteed. Or because no one is willing to take the risk anymore. This panel brings real-world experience to the table. Vivian Belzaguy Hunter, who leads sustainability efforts at Ultra Music Festival and Ascendance Sustainable Events, shares what it means to plan for climate extremes at large-scale events. Oliver Guy Watkins from PMY Group contributes insights from the production and technology side, while Maarten van Denderen of No Risk adds the insurance and risk management perspective — a critical component as weather unpredictability grows.


Moderated by Linnéa Vågen Svensson of Greener Events, the panel explores why a solid safety plan isn’t something you add at the end, but something you build everything else around. Why sustainability and resilience are deeply interconnected. And why asking hard questions early on matters more than ever.


We’ll talk site layout, crisis communication, insurance, and crowd movement. But most of all, we’ll ask: how do we keep making festivals happen in a world where the climate has stopped playing by the rules?

Will booking soon be taken over by algorithms? Are AI systems already filtering out bands in advance – based on sound profiles, reach, or image? And will international touring still be necessary if DJs can perform as holograms on multiple stages at once?


In this panel, Isabel Roudsarabi (Höme) moderates a conversation with Marine Rivollet (2am Music), Alex Stevens (Bookr.fm), and Chang Liu (XR Remote Live), who bring insights from booking, festival strategy, and hologram technology to explore how touring, booking, and live experiences are evolving.


Moderation: Isabel Roudsarabi (Höme)


Speaker:


Marine Rivollet (2am Music)


Alex Stevens (Bookr.fm)


Chang Liu (XR Remote Live)