World stars of rock history live in Nuremberg
Rock im Park is one of Europe's largest and most traditional rock festivals. Year after year, international stars and the biggest acts in rock history take to the stages at Nuremberg's Zeppelin Field, creating unforgettable live moments. The location is unique: the festival takes place close to the city center on historic grounds — right in the middle of Nuremberg, yet with a genuine open-air feeling. This special combination of history, urban atmosphere, and musical diversity makes Rock im Park a festival experience in a class of its own.
Matt, what makes Rock im Park unique and why does the festival take place in Nuremberg? How did that come about?
"Rock im Park has been based in Nuremberg since 1997. The urban location, perfect transport links, and green backdrop around Dutzendteich lake and Luitpoldhain public park create a festival experience that is unrivalled in Germany. Rock im Park offers real comfort and is the festival of short distances. It combines three days of music and a break from everyday life in the middle of the city. There is no other festival like it in Germany."
What has always interested us is who is responsible for the line-up and how does band booking work?
"My team and I at PRK DreamHaus are jointly responsible for booking. The first step naturally depends a lot on the availability of the bands, but also on their fee expectations and how well an act fits into the overall concept of the festival. We are in regular contact with our community and use surveys to gather feedback on line-up requests. Ultimately, we book the program for our fans—we want them to see their favorite bands, discover new acts, and have an unforgettable time at the festival."
A little bit of gossip—do the bands or musicians have any diva tendencies, and what was the strangest thing that ever happened to you in connection with the bands?
"In the 25 years that I've been working for the festival, I've seen a lot. It's particularly striking that the placement on the line-up poster has become much more important in recent years. Some acts now have very specific ideas about this. Usually, a solution can be found, but there have been cases where an act has canceled because they didn't like their placement on the artwork. Backstage, things have become much more relaxed. Today, freshly squeezed juices, vegan catering, and physiotherapy are more likely to be on the wish list — but I've also seen some very different riders."
What was your most memorable experience during the festival?
"The 2022 edition after the pandemic is clearly one of the most special moments in the festival's history for us. After a two-year hiatus, the return was emotional — the excitement in the run-up to the event was palpable for everyone. But our team consists of true professionals, many of whom have been involved with the festival for decades. When everything came together smoothly and the first notes rang out on stage, there was one thing above all else: pure relief and immense joy at finally being able to do what we all love again."
About the person: Matt Schwarz
Matt Schwarz (44) worked at MLK for 13 years as Vice President of Touring & Festivals before being appointed Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Live Nation in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in September 2015. Schwarz has collaborated with artists such as Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Billie Eilish, Coldplay, Drake, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Eminem, Backstreet Boys, and Justin Timberlake. Since January 2021, Schwarz has been Chief Executive Officer of PRK DreamHaus GmbH. PRK DreamHaus organizes tours for artists such as Iron Maiden, Linkin Park, Muse, Green Day, Volbeat, Pink, Apache 207, Shirin David, Måneskin, Slipknot, and has been organizing Rock am Ring and Rock im Park since 2022.
