Indie-Pop and Electronic: Grünlandfest gets twin sister from FM4

The FM4 Unlimited Festival is a safe bet for those familiar with the alternative music scene; not only because City Councillor for Culture Katrin Auer (SP) has already bought early bird tickets herself, the event on September 14th in the castle park should not be a flop. If a minimum capacity of 93 percent is reached, the city council will receive 49,920 euros back from the proceeds of ticket sales, which it used to pre-finance the concert event. The city council has just approved the cultural policy deal.

The “FM4 Unlimited”, which takes place every year at Attersee (this year on July 19th and 20th) and then has a second date elsewhere, has become a trademark for electronic and indie pop beyond Austria’s borders. The same track is also used by the traditional Grünlandfest in Steyr (this year again as part of the town festival from June 28th to 30th), whose sponsoring association has maintained a close cooperation with the ORF radio station FM4 for years. The FM4 Unlimited was brought to Steyr by the head of the cultural office, Sebastian Schuster, with the firm backing of his superior, head of the cultural office, Hansjörg Rangger, and Auer. “The FM4 Unlimited is not a competitor to the Grünlandfest,” says Auer, “but both concerts complement each other perfectly. Music fans now have a big event at the start of the holidays and then after the holiday season.” The OÖNachrichten knows, and not just by hearsay, that the Grünlandfest association also sees it that way. There is even a cooperation between the two organizers in the electronic and indie pop music scene.

The line-up announced so far – with Paul Wetz, Joyce Muniz, Functionist, Caorli, Dalia Ahmed and Pau – has no program overlap with the Grünlandfest and only partially with the festival date at Attersee. The main stage will be set up on the new culture meadow in the castle park after the location had its premiere at this year’s Grünlandfest. Up to 2,500 fans are expected at Steyr’s FM4 Unlimited, so there would be enough leeway to ensure that the city’s calculations, which also support the festival with services from municipal companies worth 17,000 euros, work out. The after-party in Lamberg Castle is already sold out, and there is already a huge demand for tickets for the main act and a “secret floor” in the castle moat, say the organizers. Auer says that they will try to make FM4 Unlimited a fixed date in the city’s cultural calendar. The station will broadcast live from Steyr for six hours, including advertising slots.