AEF2026: Rampen

This June marks a poignant milestone in Athenian venue history. Before the legendary Odeon of Herodes Atticus falls silent for a multi-year restoration, the Athens Epidaurus Festival presents the 'Farewell Festivities'. It is the last chance to catch a performance under the stars before the "ancient shell" is tucked away for its essential makeover.
The legacy of the two Romans, Emperor Hadrian and Herodes Atticus, redefined the architectural and cultural landscape of Athens. Upon ascending the throne in 117 AD, Hadrian became a visionary patron who inspired the young Herodes Atticus to dedicate his immense wealth to the city's public works. Together, they gifted Athens monumental landmarks that remain iconic today: Herodes oversaw the complete reconstruction of the Panathenaic Stadium in marble by 143 AD and later, in 161 AD, gifted the city this magnificent, then cedar-roofed Odeon on the southern slope of the Acropolis.  Their shared vision continues to pulse through the capital’s modern identity. These historic sites remain some of the most breathtaking places we still gather under the Athenian sky.

Berlin’s "collapsing new buildings" arrival for a performance feels like poetic justice. For nearly half a century, Einstürzende Neubauten has shunned traditional instruments in favour of an "orchestra" built from scrap metal, jet engines, and plastic tubs. Their 2026 tour, featuring material from their recent work Rampen, provides a "metallic lullaby" that serves as a fitting industrial farewell to a theatre about to undergo its own reconstruction.

Blanche Bargeld’s avant-garde collective doesn't just play music; they transform the space into a sonic laboratory. Expect the unexpected, the band once caused structural damage to venues with their intensity, but here, they act as a "gentle" demolition crew for the soul. The contrast between the ancient marble and their industrial noise creates a unique urban stage that pulses with raw, experimental energy. If you want to see the boundaries of sound pushed to the limit under the Athenian sky, this is your moment.