Tells Bells 2025: the breakdown
We’ve been going to Tells Bells Festival (Villmar, Germany) for quite a few of years now and it’s always been a blast. This year the festival was held on August 8–9 and as expected delivered two summer days of amazing punk and hardcore energy.
For those of you, who are not so familiar with German geography, Villmar is a very small town between Frankfurt and Cologne. Over the years we’ve been to a lot of festivals in Germany like Rock am Ring, Rock im Park, Hurricane, Southside and most recently Ruhrpott Rodeo, but what we love about Tells Bells is its incredible sense of community that we haven’t experienced anywhere else. Every year you see the same people setting up the festival, hanging out together, enjoying their favourite bands and passing on the excitement to their children.
This year was the 20th anniversary of Tells Bells and the lineup was a proper representation of the punk and hardcore roots the festival has. Despite the blasting sun, the crowd was as much a part of the show as the bands themselves. People came for the music, not flashy effects and the festival kept it real as every year, just live bands and raw energy.
Day 1
The first day of the festival included heavy-hitters like Agnostic Front, Ignite and Battery, each with high-intensity sets fueling mosh pits and shout-alongs that pulsed with raw energy. On the other side of the spectrum, bands like Gob and Zebrahead injected pop-punk singalongs into the mix, offering moments of pure joy amid the aggression. It was also very special to see Gob for their first time ever European tour and to see their singer, and former Sum 41 guitar player, Tom Thacker join Swedish pop-punk band Misconduct performing The Hell Song. It’s probably quite important to mention the performance of Ignite as well. It’s been a few years now since singer Eli Santana joined the band and it took a while for the fans to fully accept him but he’s been doing an incredible job and their set was for sure one of the most impressive ones of day one. The night closed with the legends Agnostic Front and as expected they delivered on all possible levels. It’s always a blast seeing the godfathers of New York hardcore live and Tells Bells was no exception.
Photos by @tijsvl & @stories.from.the.pit
Day 2
Day two started at noon with local acts Morty, Captain Asshole and VMZT, a group that plays the festival every year. Dutch punk band Antillectual followed, then Makewar. Next came The Iron Roses, delivering a powerful set dedicated to equality, feminism and love. The intensity escalated with Madball, Bane and Walls of Jericho, each running like crazy on stage and unleashing the most intense hardcore energy they are capable of. Their shows were absolutely incredible to watch and a true definition of the hardcore spirit.
In contrast to the hardcore chaos of the day, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls headlined the festival and completely shifted the mood, but in the best way possible. The pit gave way to dancing and clean vocals replaced shouting as the entire crowd sang along. The night ended with Belgian NOFX cover band NØFX, who expectedly went completly wild on stage.
One thing is certain about Tells Bells: it’s more than just loud music, it’s a true community. The bonds between the crowd, the bands and the organisers are tangible, creating an atmosphere that feels personal and welcoming. Every band took a moment to thank organiser Andy, a gesture that spoke volumes about the respect and appreciation he’s earned over the years. It’s clear this festival is built as much on heart, dedication and shared passion as it is on the thunder of amps and drums.
