GALLERY & REVIEW | Wanda by Kathrin Waschke - Brass Wiesn - Munich, 2025

For thirteen years the Austrian band Wanda has been known for their attitude that’s as unique as the word for it: “Wiener Schmäh”. It’s their way of interacting with the crowd, the way they don’t take life too seriously while still holding onto their charming way, their Viennese humor. This way of going through the world paired with their immense musical and lyrical talent brought the band to the top of the charts, over 600 thousands of listeners on Spotify and into the hearts of thousands of fans.

Before the lead singer Marco Wanda will be on his way to do a reading tour to his first novel “Dass es uns überhaupt gegeben hat”, a book about fame and its down sides, a reflection about a generation of artists and about the people of Vienna, the band just played their last concert of this festival summer.

The legendary band was the first headliner of this year's brass band music festival “Brass Wiesn” near Munich. On August 1, 2025, the Indie-Rock band mesmerized the crowd with a mix of their upbeat songs, fan favorites and melancholic lyrics. 

Starting their set with ‘Bologna’ from their first album was the perfect way to hit the crowd with a banger as everyone was buzzing and screaming with them. Wanda kept the audience on their toes with a mix of songs from their six albums, playing slow songs like ‘Wach geküsst’, ‘Bei niemand anders’ and ‘Va bene’ in between upbeat tracks like ‘Luzia’, ‘Meine beiden Schwestern’ and ‘Kairo Downtown’. While most of the audience was singing their hearts out to songs like ‘Bussi Baby’, every so often there were couples and friend groups who danced together; some in traditional Bavarian costumes and others in eye-catching self-made costumes; some dancing a waltz and others simply swaying back and forth in union.

As a true entertainment wonder the band kept the crowd on edge as they performed Nirvana’s 1991 song ‘Territorial Pissings’, giving it their own vibe while keeping the punk. Another highlight that the lead singer initiated was the Mexican wave to bring the fans in the back of the festival venue all the energy that the front has shown so far. Even the weather storm in the afternoon couldn’t bring the mood down as the crowd was packed to the last corner for Wanda in the evening - seemingly enjoying themselves, laughing and singing, being blissfully in their own world. A true testament of the connection that the band and crowd made during their 1,5 hour set were the constant interactions: supplying the crowd with beer cans, pointing at fans who were sitting on someone else's shoulders, waving at children and their parents and making the whole crowd turn around, jump and hug strangers for the sake of unity and love. When Wanda played ‘Bologna’ for a second time during the end of the set it was clear that neither the fans nor the band were ready to end this experience just yet. Every single one made sure to put all their heart, soul and voice into screaming and shouting the bridge ‘Wenn jemand fragt, wohin du gehst, sag nach Bologna. Wenn jemand fragt, wofür du stehst, sag für Amore, Amore’ [‘If someone asks where you’re heading, say to Bologna. If someone asks what you stand for, say for Amore, Amore’]. As the final notes of ‘1,2,3,4’ ended the crowd was as buzzing and full of adrenaline as in the beginning with smiling faces and happy hearts leaving behind a shared experience while celebrating love, friendship and unity.

GALLERY: Wanda at Brass Wiesn in Munich, 2025

All photos: © Kathrin Waschke