“Identity is a reality“ – happy – Electronic Music from Leipzig

The Queer Music Festival will take place for the second time from April 24th to 27th in various Leipzig locations, including the new wave and UT Connewitz. You can read with us which events you shouldn't miss and how you can win tickets.

Zacker is a Leipzig awareness. And when he reads this here, I see him in front of me as he waned and says: “I've been doing it for a long time, I would not say awareness now.” But yes, yes, Zacker and his events have been known and popular in Leipzig for many years.

A little extravagant, always dressed in black, with a hand for newcomer bookings and unbroken, absolute dedication for the music and cultural industry in Leipzig. This is Zacker, who has been organizing parties and concerts in Leipzig for more than 20 years.

His festival, the Queer Music Festival, will be presented by Frohfroh. It is already the second edition with a focus on queer music, queer joy, drag and queer nights. We asked which events should have techno and electric fans on the radar and which acts the initiator and organizer are particularly looking forward to.

Frohdroh: We talked about your archive for queer music, bouygl, a few years ago. At that time you already spoke of wanting to build a festival. How did it happen, how could you make it true?

Zacker: That was very organic. I have been organizing parties in Leipzig for 20 years, and concerts early. In the course of the Bouyglhl archive to Queerer Music, I then have the first Queer Music Night Organized, that was at the end of 2022. But I wanted it somehow bigger – because I had the right contacts and got many emails from queer bands and artists who wanted to play with me. Then I said to myself: I'll start again. And, for the first time, I took care of funding to realize that.

You organize the festival almost exclusively. Why?

Basically, the idea, the conception and implementation are alone with me. Applications, Venues and artists: Book inside, press work and graphic, everything runs over my table. I discuss my ideas at regular intervals with my husband who gives me feedback. And I want to emphasize that, fantastic partners: NATO, UT Connewitz, my Helping Hands. It wouldn't work without them. In addition, this year I also have two sponsors who also help me a bit.

Why I organize the festival at all is a difficult question. I hardly question it because it is a habit. I have not been doing anything else for 20 years, I have always organized events. During Corona I thought for the first time Why I do it all. To design the festival for the community, to be loud together, to tell stories and to take the room very clearly – that is, remains and becomes more and more important in these times. And personally is very important to me personally.

The second edition of the Queer Music Festival will take place in Leipzig from April 24th. With concert nights, film screenings, dance course, industry meeting, reading. What is different about this second edition, what is new, what has proven itself?

All events have the link queer music, every event is about it. The films are also documentaries about queer musicians: inside. This year we are with the festival in the Gewandhaus, which is a special highlight. In an intimate frame, with piano music. I also want the topic this year Artist Talk Focus on more in order to learn more about the work of the artists together with the audience: on the inside on stage. The two concert nights are still at the center. Something smaller than last year, but all the more wild the club night will be in the new wave.

What moment do you particularly look forward to this time, what is the most important thing for you when making festival?

The most beautiful thing, the most beautiful thing for me is really the reaction of the participants and the audience. Among the participants is really a mood like a school trip. I also stay in contact with many afterwards, continue to watch their careers, you support each other. And of course the audience on these evenings. Seeing people how they dance, empathize, have tears in their eyes, that's really a fantastic feeling.

And what makes you get nervous?

Well, that's one thing that has been making me nervous for 20 years: you can never be sure in Leipzig. I had the situation several times to have booked a great, large act in summer – and the Leipzig audience sometimes prefers to be at the lake. Which is completely okay, but that's something you have to deal with. The city is not that big, it already depends on the target group audience.

Rising costs are also something that really drives me. Every euro that I have to increase at the price hurts me. There is therefore a lot of free program again this year. And there are support tickets for those who can and want to afford to support the project a little bit financially. Money, money, money – of course that is a big topic for all of us.

Which acts are that absolutely have to be seen? And what is particularly interesting for our cheerful readers: particularly interesting inside?

I only book acts that I stand a hundred percent behind. If I still have to lift a person out, it is Lie Ning. Lie Ning has an incredibly great voice that is paired with melancholic indie dance electro, which I love very much-in combination it is simply a real superstar for me that comes on stage. The drag performance of Hungry will also be a highlight of the festival. Many know Hungry as art director from Björk's make-up of their past two albums. This is Hungry's artistry on Björk. Both perform both on Friday, April 25th in UT Connewitz.

For the cheerful readers: Inside, the party night will be interesting on Saturday, April 26th. In the new wave we start with Motto Very pop and eccentric. After that it becomes technoid and quite eclectic with The Menstruaters. And, absolutely, the event with Bertolt Meyer In the take – he controls his arm prosthesis with his thoughts, and thus his analog synthesizer, that's totally fascinating. I would highly recommend the talk and performance, both take place on Saturday, April 26th, but a little earlier, from 5 p.m. it starts.

And then there is a film about Genesis P-Orridgewhich I recommend that I am enthusiastic about the history of industrial and experimental electronics. The film screening will take place on Friday, April 25th in the cinema bar Prague Spring.

Die Ahno- and the Glitter and traumaParties will also be organized by you. Then there are the said Queer Music Nights And the big one Queer Music Festival. How do you do it all?

I get up every day at six o'clock. Then I work until 17, 6, 7 or even until 11 p.m. I actually work through. My friends already know that-I'm completely in the festival tunnel for a month.

Above all, advertising and announcing that has changed a lot over time, so I can't get far with a flyer and posters (laughs). All of this has to be designed in a contemporary way, but of course I also enjoy it. I would not call it a 'hobby', that's not enough. When I say it is 'life', it sounds too pathetic. I am somewhere in between.

Your festival will be funded by the Kulturamt in Leipzig. How did you have any tips for other organizers?

Corona was a big reason here. During this time everything was strange, the admission prices were already extremely increased in the club area and they wondered where it was still going. I shy away from the paperwork and the bureaucracy for funding, but I can really give everyone the tip: work and try it. The people at the city are extremely nice and advise you. They listened to me very well.

What is the motto of the festival?

The motto does not change, it is and remains “identity is a reality”. Because the statement is becoming more and more important, I think. A lot has happened in urgency, unfortunately. So the slogan remains. This year the motto will be read for the first time on Merch.

The festival motto does not change, it is and remains: Identity is a reality.

It is always a bit strange, even before the second edition took place after the future. But I still do it: Are you planning a third edition?

Yes! At least now I say that we can compare my statement next year with reality (laughs). I am actually already in conversations with some artists: inside – but I don't want to talk about it yet, only when it is ready to say.

Anyone who read carefully: The one now has the chance of winning 1 x 2 guest list places for the concert evening at UT Connewitz or 1 x 2 guest list places for the party in the new wave. Write to us an email [email protected] And tell us which of the two events (Friday, April 25 @ut or Saturday, April 26 @Neue Welle) you would want to go – and which of the acts you really want to see live. It will be drawn on April 20, 2025.

Good luck!

Regular tickets are available here.