This looks like fun: the heavens have mercy and finally rays of sunlight are breaking through the thick grey cloud cover, which is quickly replaced by a brilliant blue. Nice and warm – this is how we all want the local weather to remain during the next days. Yet there is nothing new under the sun as Thomas Jensen reports: "Well, somewhere a fence has fallen down last night, only to be quickly repaired by a security patrol", the festival co-founder tells with a smile. "The less excitement we have, the better for our organisation." One man's pleasure is another man's pain: is this all we can report? How is that supposed to interest our valiant readers?

There is only one solution: to immediately embark on a roundtrip over the festival grounds in the search for stories. At least the aficionados of technology get theirs. Overnight the systems for light and sound have arrived in hundreds of flight cases. The crews are fixing the crossbeams with long chains to the ceiling to be lifted by small motors. A quite special light rig is in the process of being fitted to the True Metal Stage, but well, we do not want to give it all away right now. Take a look for yourself. The Party Stage is in the process of catching up, while the W.E.T. Stage still leads the pack. Then again, the pride of Master Mutz and his crew is not as big as the other stage in the inner area.

The press area has a new entry marking it clearly with a subtle skull of an ox towards the visitors’ area. The souvenir hunters will most likely feel the urge to get hold of it, but that might not be a recommendable idea. Within the press area the team of Heavy Deco is assembling a rusty looking design, which is quite an impressive sight as well as their trucks delivering the parts.

As soon as the sun gets out there is dust everywhere, which the tractors, trucks, and construction machines are unleashing into the air. Well, at least there is still some grass growing on the ground. This won’t last for much longer. The Wackinger village is getting a gate and the knight’s tents are standing in neat rows. Medieval discipline? The popular big mead-dragonship has also been shored again inside this area. At the moment there is not liquid to be had though as well as in the beer garden. Too bad as the sun has a parching effect on the throat and what with all the dust... A "small" group of early arrivals is fighting this effect by the use of beer cans. Many beer cans, indeed as glass bottles are not allowed on the grounds again. The good mood is still rising as fast as the air pressure and temperatures.

The merchants' quarter is growing by the arrival of tons of goods, while the food stalls are being equipped. Whatever you fancy: pizza, pasta, doner, sausage, hot dogs, spring rolls, vegan green stuff, burger, half a pig, chicken or hering and whatever your stomach might be able to digest – you will find it here.

Back to the tech nerds: the first visitors are being enthusiastic about the new Wacken App www.wacken.com/de/woa2011/main-specials/apps/ among them the Northern German Silke: "the search function works amazingly", quips the 25-year old girl. "I just enter the place where I want to go to and my mobile is leading me straight to it." Great, when these modern electronic gadgets function for a change.

Your Wacken diary team