The new year began turbulently and it can be a torture for some people. I don’t care because there’re silver linings with concerts. Jaunty Productions kicked off the new concert season at the venue Rockfact with a diverse program. Felskinn  was announced as headliner and Stepfather Fred and Loma were the support acts. Although I wondered whether these different styles would work live, I took the plunge and bought a ticket in advance. I made my way to the venue when the long-awaited day arrived. Loma started the evening. The four-piece from the town of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne had previously flown under my radar.

Presented by Rockfact Music Club & Jaunty Productions

Rockfact Music Club, Münchenstein,  Switzerland – 17.01.2026

The band members took to the stage at 8 p.m. The intro was the theme song “I'm Always Here” from the American TV series “Baywatch” by former Survivor singer Jimi Jamison. A brilliant move to grab the audience's attention. “Generation Z” was the first song they played. The mix of punk, metal, and R&R with hardcore influences sounded powerful from the speakers. Singer and guitarist Heinz impressed with his stage presence and hit every note vocally. His guitar colleague Alain played solos and repeatedly sought contact with him and temporary bassist Benny Sachs. He integrated the groove with some great bass playing and approached the audience in the front rows. He also engaged in guitar duels with Alain and Heinz, and there was a lot of side-to-side movement despite tight space conditions.. Heinz was the main vocalist, but Benny and Alain supported him with occasional vocal contributions. There was no time to catch their breath, as they kept their foot on the gas the whole time. Their sound was well received, with lots of movement and singing along during the penultimate song, “Oh Oh Oh.” Then they played their last song, “Butterflies of Total Annihilation”, and for that track alone, they earned a ton of respect. They played for 30 minutes to get the crowd going and made a good impression. They left the stage when a hip-hop outro sounded. Setlist Loma Generation Z Stolen Youth Last Dance Evan Change For You Oh Oh Oh Butterflies of Total Annihilation There was a short break and the stage was rearranged. A good opportunity to catch your breath and get some drinks to prevent dehydration. At 8:50 p.m., it was time for the German heavy alternative rock band Stepfather Fred to take the stage. The band from the Allgäu region had played at Mom's Place in Pratteln some time ago (editor's note: this venue has since closed). Unfortunately I had missed that show, so I was looking forward to seeing them live. The Gorillaz classic “Clint Eastwood” played as an intro, and the musicians took to the stage. “The One” started their set. Singer Basti hit every note with precision. He put a lot of emotion into his vocals and lived it up with passion and honesty. Guitarist Simon clearly enjoyed rocking out at all times. He laughed and provided the riffs. Bassist Matze, wearing a red headband and a tank top with “Taker”, often engaged in guitar duels with Simon. He and Simon also contributed background vocals, and this polyphonic singing was a perfect fit in terms of atmosphere and pitch. The lighting was another plus during the performance, although the flashing made it a little difficult to concentrate on the performance at times. This adversity was defied with courage and determination, which was reflected in headbanging and singing along. There's no throwing in the towel (except for Helene Fischer and Heintje). Their music showed influences from alternative metal, light progressive rock, Black Sabbath/Saint Vitus doom shades, and a dash of heavy rock. These were woven together into a successful sound that was delivered in an exciting way. The audience responded with loud applause and enthusiastic participation, clapping and singing along. Guitarist Simon and bassist Matze engaged in guitar duels and frequently switched sides. The song “Blue Pride” was dedicated to the German American football team “Allgäu Comets.” A trip with “Cocaine” was next. Basti explained during “Kingdom”: “This song is about the forest and the animals. I want you all to raise your hands in the air and imagine you‘re a tree.” It was a little quieter and the audience waved their hands in the air from left to right. Actually, that should‘ve been the end. However, the show was so good the audience demanded encores loudly. Basti, Simon, Matze, and Julius returned to the stage immediately and played “Queen of Mine” and “Relief.” Then the entire set was played, and they said goodbye. 60 minutes of live music made a great impression. Setlist Stepfather Fred Intro Clint Eastwood - Gorillaz The One Collecting Faith Tripped Have a Good Time Alone In The Ground Unlock Blue Pride Cocaine Kingdom Queen of Mine Relief There was another break while the stage was rearranged and set up with stage decor for the last band. Then it was time for the headliner. The intro “Everybody Loves Somebody” by American singer and actor Dean Martin played, and at 10:05 p.m the members of Felskinn stood in the spotlight. Last year, they celebrated their 20th anniversary, and to my shame, I had to admit that I was familiar with their name but had no experience with their sound. “Remember My Name” kicked things off. Singer Andi Portmann, wearing a dark cap, was on fire for this performance and showed it with his stage presence and a sensational vocal performance. He was always on the move and actively sought contact with the fans. Guitarist Tom Watzinger impressed with his dexterity and dueled with bassist Kusi Durrer. Drummer Gregory Birrer got to show off his talent with a drum solo and did so with confidence. This catchy mix of hard rock and heavy metal sparked a firework of hard riffs, great rhythms, and lots of joy. Meanwhile their career spans four albums and various line-ups. These include international musicians such as Mike Terrana (Rage, Axel Rudi Pell, Taria Turunen, etc.), Mandy Meyer (Asia, Katmandu, Unisonic, Krokus, etc.), Igor Gianola (U.D.O, Jorn, Gotthard, Coreleoni, etc.), Flavio Mezzodi (Krokus, Gotthard), and Cyril Montavon (Shakra). They put on a fantastic show, technically and musically. They played a brand new song, “Gone Forever.” Things calmed down a bit with “Wake Up On Mars,” and the chorus was sung along. When they played “Bastards Out,” the audience had to shout the words on command. After that, Andi, Tom, Kusi, and Gregory wanted to go backstage. However, the demands for encores increased and they returned. “170105” was played as an encore, and that was the end. The four-piece received much applause and love for their magnificent live performance. This was Swiss metal at Champions League level, and it was no surprise they were invited to play as support act for “The Hollywood Vampires” featuring Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper, and Joe Perry at the sold-out venue “The Hall” in Dübendorf, Switzerland. Setlist Felskinn Intro Remember My Name Close Your Eyes Pictures In My Dreams Send The Angels Down Rain Will Fall Sleep Well Drum Solo Darkness In My Eyes Gone Forever Crush My Balls Wake Up On Mars Life Was Better Your Life Is Mine Bastards Out 170105 The equipment on stage was dismantled and music played in the back. All band members waited behind the merchandise stand and took  their time to chat and sign CDs on request. A big thank you goes to Jaunty Productions for organizing and hosting this event. The sound was mixed by GB. Thank you for your contribution to this successful evening with high-quality sound. Live report by Dominic Latscha