Time for the last day of TollRock – Day 3! No more rain, but slightly cooler temperatures.

On the last day, the TollRockerz Band Contest starts at noon, where local up-and-coming bands get to perform on the big stage in front of the TollRock jury. Three bands compete: TÖRICHT (punkrock from Düren), LOST SANITY (metalcore from Würselen), and GOOD FORTUNE (hardrock from Gütersloh). This year’s winners were LOST SANITY. So we do expect to see them with a larger set next year. Unfortunately, at this early stage of day, the audience isn’t always abundant, so it’s a slight advantage for the last band when the audience appears slowly before the first main act of the day.

And especially because this year, right after the contest, DEINE COUSINE took the stage. The cheeky voice, the catchy German rock vocals, captivated people all over Germany. The energy and power with which they delivered their songs is simply exhilarating. Whether a happy person from the audience is brought on stage to sing along (at every concert of the band!), singer Ina’s excursion into the audience (with a unicorn scepter from the audience as a sign of the ‘decider’), or bassist Schraube’s polonaise – after all, the Eifel region is right next to the German carnival epicenter.

The following band, ROGERS, had a tough time with their German punk rock from Düsseldorf. They’ve been in the business since 2006 and have achieved high chart positions for their albums. They put on a great, energetic live show, mixing their program with songs from their latest album ‘Rambazamba & Randale’ and classics from their repertoire.

Next up, a drastic change: BEYOND THE BLACK took the stage and PA. In just 10 years, they’ve become a true force in the symphonic metal genre, and they proved why. Musically, they need not shy away from any comparison, and their stage presence is equally impressive. A grand performance!

Finally, the secret headliners, in the truest sense of the word, were up: ROYAL REPUBLIC! Their name had been kept secret for contractual reasons. The music style of the 4 Swedes is hard to describe:  it is a charming blend of funk, Britpop, punk, and plenty of rock ‘n’ roll. You could say they sound somewhat like The Hives, but with even more energy, putting up a spectacular show. From catchy music for singing and dancing to their perfectly choreographed stage performance and an attitude of not taking themselves too seriously, the guys in leather outfits owned the stage. Especially lead singer Adam Grahn, with his grimaces, dance moves, and interaction with the audience. It was pure entertainment for young and old. Yes, there were plenty of kids of all ages in the audience, enthusiastically participating. A true highlight!

Closing out this year’s TollRock festival were BONANSKA. The name says it all. As a local treat, they literally turned off the lights. As a cover band, they take on anything that’s not nailed down, all with a ska twist – after all, the name says it all. An incredible finale to a fantastic festival.

What a day! We are looking forward to 2025 already and see what TollRock will bring to the stage! It’s going to be awesome for sure, so don’t miss it!