[cowboy71]

Time to kick this into gear!

HEADLINERS (75 minute sets)
Emperor (got 75 in 2020. This is a given, unless they are given 90)

60 Minute Sets
Stratovarius
Candlemass
The Kovenant (Maybe? NO IDEA!)
Kalmah
In Extremo
Sonata Arctica
Subway to Sally
Hammerfall
Sepultura (farewell shows, MAYBE 75?)
Twilight Force
Finntroll
Swallow The Sun (at least 60 you would think, Maybe 75)
Ihsahn

45 Minute Sets
Tankard
Flotsam & Jetsam
Benighted
Majestica
Samael
Delain
Septicflesh
Beyond Creation
Arcturus
Decapitated
Unleash The Archers
Crownshift
Mork
Onslaught
The Zenith Passage
Trouble
Krisiun
Trollfest

[aleyeahed]

Both Emperor records are an hour long, I don't see them filling 90 minutes. If memory serves, they didn't even fill the full 75 during the '20 sail, either sets. The theater lounge they ended at about the hour mark and I can't recall if it was Ihsahn's or Emperor's pool deck set that had the wind issues, but he's not big on small talk and let's be honest, does anybody really want 90 minutes of Emperor? Haha

[MuzakMaker]

Sonata Arctica has actually only played 45 minutes in their past two cruises

I do have them on the list of bands who could get bumped up to 60 but given how they've dropped in popularity since their last boat, I don't see it happening

The Kovenant, I have at 45 minutes. Nexus Polaris is 51 minutes so it's in that awkward spot but I see it more likely they'll squeeze it in to 45 than to bump it up to 60 or that they'll be allowed to go over their set time (Looking at you Evergrey playing for 80 minutes for a 60 minute set)

For the rest of the announced repeat bands there aren't a lot that I see getting the bump to 60.

I could see UTA getting the bump up to 60. Heavily requested and coming off a string of strong festival showings. HOWEVER they also have said they've got a few of their longer songs removed from sets for the foreseeable future (Apex and The Wind that Shapes the Land which represents 17+ minutes of their set time)

[Pellaz]

Both Emperor records are an hour long, I don't see them filling 90 minutes. If memory serves, they didn't even fill the full 75 during the '20 sail, either sets. The theater lounge they ended at about the hour mark and I can't recall if it was Ihsahn's or Emperor's pool deck set that had the wind issues,

It was Ihsahn's pool-deck set. As far as I'm concerned, Andy still owes him 15-20 minutes.

...but he's not big on small talk and let's be honest, does anybody really want 90 minutes of Emperor? Haha

I would love 90 minutes of Emperor, but I expect they'll get 75.

I'm thinking Covenant ("of Norway") might get one 60-minute set for Nexus Polaris and one 45-minute set.

[MuzakMaker]

I could see UTA getting the bump up to 60. Heavily requested and coming off a string of strong festival showings. HOWEVER they also have said they've got a few of their longer songs removed from sets for the foreseeable future (Apex and The Wind that Shapes the Land which represents 17+ minutes of their set time)

Well, UTA is officially 60 minutes at Wacken. Andy's always going to do his own thing but given the bands we currently have announced, the fact that they're still our most requested band, and just the fact they've only grown since then they're currently my highest pick to get the bump up.

[DeadPoet]

UTA getting 60 mins would be well deserved! And I'm sure both of their sets will be heavily attended.

[mooyagi]

So 45 for Crownshift and Mork.

We thinking Sepultura gets the bump up to 75 for the farewell shows? I recall a very crowded pool deck in the past.

[MuzakMaker]

So 45 for Crownshift and Mork.

We thinking Sepultura gets the bump up to 75 for the farewell shows? I recall a very crowded pool deck in the past.

I'm thinking still 60 but prime running order slots. But given the rest of the line up so far definitely the best contender of another headliner

[MuzakMaker]

UTA getting 60 mins would be well deserved! And I'm sure both of their sets will be heavily attended.

Well, if Andy needed any more convincing, Wacken caved to fan pressure and removed the conflict with Blind Guardian and upgraded their stage.

Andy's going to do what he's going to do, but if there's any indicator that UTA has a large enough fanbase to deserve decent slots and set time, this is it

[Downvod]

So 45 for Crownshift and Mork.

We thinking Sepultura gets the bump up to 75 for the farewell shows? I recall a very crowded pool deck in the past.

I'm thinking still 60 but prime running order slots. But given the rest of the line up so far definitely the best contender of another headliner

The 18 month timeline they gave for the farewell tour, makes their 70k appearance one of their last shows ever. Given that it will likely be a career spanning set, I would expect 75.

[MuzakMaker]

So 45 for Crownshift and Mork.

We thinking Sepultura gets the bump up to 75 for the farewell shows? I recall a very crowded pool deck in the past.

I'm thinking still 60 but prime running order slots. But given the rest of the line up so far definitely the best contender of another headliner

The 18 month timeline they gave for the farewell tour, makes their 70k appearance one of their last shows ever. Given that it will likely be a career spanning set, I would expect 75.

Also given that we generally have 2 headliners by public sales, I agree that it's a strong argument for Sepultura to get the upgrade to headliner. Only other band I'd argue in the 60 minute bucket that is worthy of the upgrade is Candlemass who also have special set notation (but 40 years isn't as celebration worthy as FINAL SHOWS)

[TOM CRUISE]

Candlemass deserve a 90 min set. 40 years of doom? Bring it. And play shit off the last LP. it's fantastic!

[MuzakMaker]

Since we've got a bit of a break and public sales are open, here's what I've got.

Repeat bands default to their previous set length, bands new to the boat get predictions based on relative popularity and Andy's patterns (like Majestica getting 45 because Andy's almost refusal to give power metal more than 45 minutes regardless of popularity )

Headliners - 75 Minutes (normally but sometimes get boosts up to 90 minutes)
Emperor

"Supporting" - 60 minutes
Candlemass (40 years of doom might give them the boost to Headliner, lately playing 75-90 minute sets)
Flotsam & Jestam
Hammerfall
In Extremo
Kalmah
Sepultura (Might get the upgrade to headliner because these sets are two of their last shows ever) Very strong contender for the set right before Skipper's farewell
Stratovarius
Subway to Sally

"Opening" - 45 minutes
Arctus
Benighted
Beyond Creation
Crownshift
Decapitated
Delain
Majestica
Mork
Onslaught
Samael
Septicflesh
Sonata Arctica
Tankard
The Kovenant (Special sets might push them up to 60)
The Zenith Passage
Unleash the Archers (High demand and massive growth since their last appearance might push them up)

[DeadPoet]

With 25 bands in the lineup, I imagine that we have our second headliner/75minutes band (with a safe bet of Emperor being the first one). If that's the case, I can see Sepultura playing 75 minutes, especially with their farewell tour. Last year, when they toured with Kreator, they were playing 75 minutes, same length as Kreator who happened to be one of the headliners for 70k that year. I definitely agree that they could be the band that plays right before Andy's thank you speech. I'm expecting big turnouts for both Sepultura sets.

[MuzakMaker]

Looking like Twilight Force is a 60 minute band.

Dawn of the Dragonstar even without the bonus tracks is 57 minutes long.

[DeadPoet]

With boat logic, they would fit the 45 mins timeslots. Could it be like Moonsorrow from 2020 where they had a 70mins set and another 45 mins? Personally, I would prefer 2 full 60mins sets. Either way, however long, both sets are gonna be hyper fun!

[MuzakMaker]

With boat logic, they would fit the 45 mins timeslots. Could it be like Moonsorrow from 2020 where they had a 70mins set and another 45 mins? Personally, I would prefer 2 full 60mins sets. Either way, however long, both sets are gonna be hyper fun!

I'm just shocked that Andy is letting a cheeseball band (not an insult, it's the best kind of band) get a whole 60 minutes even if it is for just one set.

If it weren't for explicitly saying it was a Dawn set and a best of set, I would assume it was like Unleash the Archer's first boat where even though they were heavily requested, they had to split their "Apex in full" set across both sets

[DeadPoet]

Finntroll had an hour in 2020. I expect something similar this year.

Also, I was thinking about this the other day. In 2024 for a North American tour, Kataklysm opened for Decapitated. On boat, Kataklysm had 60 mins for both sets. Would this make Decapitated a possibility for a boost to a 60 mins timeslot?

[MuzakMaker]

Finntroll had an hour in 2020. I expect something similar this year.

Also, I was thinking about this the other day. In 2024 for a North American tour, Kataklysm opened for Decapitated. On boat, Kataklysm had 60 mins for both sets. Would this make Decapitated a possibility for a boost to a 60 mins timeslot?

Both albums they're playing in full clock in at less than 45 minutes. They'd have to add in quite a bit to hit 60.

I think Kataklysm gets preferential booking on the boat because they've been on board multiple times already and Maurizio manages a bunch of other boat vets and is also high up in Continental touring which is also filled with boat vets.

[DeadPoet]

I imagine Swallow The Sun will be having 60 mins for each set. They are playing Plague Of Butterflies at the start of each set, which is 35 minutes long, followed by a regular set. This would mean minimum 60 minutes.

[MuzakMaker]

I imagine Swallow The Sun will be having 60 mins for each set. They are playing Plague Of Butterflies at the start of each set, which is 35 minutes long, followed by a regular set. This would mean minimum 60 minutes.

Plus, they were 60 mins last time they played the boat. Bands are rarely downgraded

[Pellaz]

I imagine Swallow The Sun will be having 60 mins for each set. They are playing Plague Of Butterflies at the start of each set, which is 35 minutes long, followed by a regular set. This would mean minimum 60 minutes.

As I read the announcement, they are playing 4 sets. Maybe not, though.

[toby]

I imagine Swallow The Sun will be having 60 mins for each set. They are playing Plague Of Butterflies at the start of each set, which is 35 minutes long, followed by a regular set. This would mean minimum 60 minutes.

As I read the announcement, they are playing 4 sets. Maybe not, though.

You're not the only one, but I think it's two sets. Both start with Plague of the Butterflies and then it's going to be the rest of the set (theoretically not the exact same after Plague both times).

[Pellaz]

As I read the announcement, they are playing 4 sets. Maybe not, though.

You're not the only one, but I think it's two sets. Both start with Plague of the Butterflies and then it's going to be the rest of the set (theoretically not the exact same after Plague both times).

I'm fine with that. I like StS, but 2 sets would be enough.

[DeadPoet]

I imagine Swallow The Sun will be having 60 mins for each set. They are playing Plague Of Butterflies at the start of each set, which is 35 minutes long, followed by a regular set. This would mean minimum 60 minutes.

As I read the announcement, they are playing 4 sets. Maybe not, though.

You're not the only one, but I think it's two sets. Both start with Plague of the Butterflies and then it's going to be the rest of the set (theoretically not the exact same after Plague both times).

Yeah, that's how I understand too. Start the set with 35 minutes of Plague of Butterflies, and fill the rest of the rest with other songs, ideally different songs in both sets. They got 3 sets in 2018. I would be extremely surprised if they got 4 sets this year. Has that ever happened before?

[toby]

As I read the announcement, they are playing 4 sets. Maybe not, though.

You're not the only one, but I think it's two sets. Both start with Plague of the Butterflies and then it's going to be the rest of the set (theoretically not the exact same after Plague both times).

Yeah, that's how I understand too. Start the set with 35 minutes of Plague of Butterflies, and fill the rest of the rest with other songs, ideally different songs in both sets. They got 3 sets in 2018. I would be extremely surprised if they got 4 sets this year. Has that ever happened before?

Not that I know of. I know a few have gotten 3 with an acoustic set at the Pub before, but don't think anyone has gotten 4 yet.

[Pellaz]

Yeah, that's how I understand too. Start the set with 35 minutes of Plague of Butterflies, and fill the rest of the rest with other songs, ideally different songs in both sets. They got 3 sets in 2018. I would be extremely surprised if they got 4 sets this year. Has that ever happened before?

No, but no single band has ever gotten three full sets before...except Swallow the Sun.

[MuzakMaker]

With so many band announcements coming with setlist descriptions, I'm kind of bummed with how easy predicting set lengths are this year.

Given what Krisiun is playing, we know they're staying at 45 minutes.