SBAM FEST - PUNK WEEKEND IN WELS (Report - 05.06.&06.06.2026., SBAM FEST, Wels)

 We were at SBAM fest last weekend, in a beautiful town of Wels, located in the Upper Austria.

Friends from Novi Sad picked me up on Thursday, around noon, we had a quick coffee/beer and off we went! And with laughs and music and good company, time passed really quickly. After unpacking it was time to eat something and then to find a good place to have a beer. Of course we ended in a secluded alley in a pub called Musikpub. After more than a few beers and rain starting to fall, it was time to call it a night and have a good night sleep, because tomorrow is the first day of the two day festival.

Friday morning brought sunny sky and festival vibe! We gathered in front of Alter Schlachthof, cool alternative centre, and after a walk through and a beer I went to see HUKIES, four guys from Vienna, playing melodic punk rock, hardcore. After them I saw THE SMITH STREET BAND. This rock band came all the way from Australia, so it was only fair to join them at the party! Saw THE WHOPS, two young brothers playing covers of Rancid and NOFX and Bad Religion and are crazy good. Unreal!!! They are my favourite show of day one. After that cool surprise I headed to meet THE BABOON SHOW because I was on a mission! Had a nice chat with the band, had a beer, saw most of  BUSTER SHUFFLE, four piece ska band from UK and NERF HERDER, pop punk from California. 

After all that beer and just a breakfast, it was time to eat some food and have a lunch, not just liquid lunch.

Last year there was a food truck that I was really excited to visit again, but it was such a disappointment to find out that there is no food truck this year. So we had some heavily overpriced "sandwiches" and continued with the beer. Price of beer was fair, and beer was not bad.

And after a little rest it was time for the last two shows of the first day. First one were THE BABOON SHOW. This crazy and super charged, super energetic punks from Sweden blew the stage up! It is insane how much energy they have. And how good they are at controling the crowd. It is hypnotising! They flew through all of their hits and an hour and a half seemed like a moment. 

Last show of the evening was AUTHORITY ZERO at the indoor stage. I think that was the only mistake - it was to hot and to crowded, so most of us stayed outside. I am so sorry I missed most of them, but it was unbearable inside. So...we had another beer!

Friday afterparty turned out to be The Ramones cover band THE RAMENS. It was fun, we danced and sang with them and it was time to call it a night!

Day two, Saturday, I woke up pretty early, and roamed the city. After a coffee and a shower I headed to the venue. This was the day I was excited about. Templeton Pek cancelled their show and (lucky for me) VICTORY KID stepped in! I saw them and met them last year and I have been in love ever since. Their new album is mind blowing good! But first thing's first! RATSALAD from Australia opened second day at Sbam. Loud, energetic, first time hearing them. PUBLIC SERPENTS I missed, but I was back in time for VICTORY KID. This band is insanely good live. You just can't stand still! They played a few songs from their last album, some old ones and after just 45 minutes of jumping and dancing I was dead! Went to see BLITZKID for the first half and after that I had to rest for a bit, because it was time for BOOZE AND GLORY! And although I am not a big fan of Oi punks, I like these guys. 

At that point I was drained, so I decided to skip The Casualties, mainly because I've seen them a couple of times before, but also to regain ability to breathe and look alive! While drinking alone I met this cool couple, talked with them for a while and hopped to see THE AGGROLITES, reggae band from California, just the thing to cool down a bit and get ready for the main thing of the evening. COCK SPARRER, a band that has been on the scene for over 50 years. Even though I am not a huge fan like my friends are, their last album "Hand on Heart" I really like a lot. They showed us that age is just a number while leaving their heart on that stage. Respect! Final show of the day and the festival were ZSK, antifa punk rock/skate punk band from Germany. And with them our Austrian adventure was over.

This year SBAM fest delivered some really cool shows. My personal favourite were those cool kids THE WHOPS, BUSTER SHUFFLE ( I am so sorry that I didn't get to see the whole show),THE BABOON SHOW and on Saturday VICTORY KID and BLITZKID.

It was fun! I made some new friends, got to hang with some old ones. There was a lot of laughter, some rakija and even some recording, but that is all I can say about for now! 

Thanx SBAM fest for having us. But the biggest thanx goes to my beautiful friends who made this trip a blast! Love you all! Until next time...

                              

Written by I.

Photos by I.