
Germany’s premier americana gathering is entering its 9th year with an expanded venue and extended programming. With its signature “living room atmosphere”, Static Roots made the decision to expand into a larger room within Oberhausen’s Zentrum Altenberg venue, increasing capacity by 50%.
The festival’s remarkable growth story reached new heights in 2025 when 30% of the ticket allocation sold as early bird tickets within just 10 minutes of going on sale – a testament to the Static Roots family that has grown organically over nearly a decade- and achieved complete sellout status within four weeks without announcing a single artist! “We were completely blown away,” reflects festival founder Dietmar Leibecke. “To think that people would commit to joining us before even knowing who was playing speaks to something much deeper than just a music festival – it’s about the connection, the atmosphere, and the shared love for roots music that feeds the soul.”
For the first time, Static Roots festival extends beyond its traditional weekend format with the introduction of a welcome night on Thursday, 10th July 2025. This inaugural honky tonk special features British acts Dom Glynn & His Sunday Best and Savannah Gardner & The Recovering Good Girls. The weekend’s lineup includes Michele Stodart, Pearl Charles, and Hayley Reardon, while The Godfathers headline Saturday night, bringing their legendary rock ‘n’ roll energy to close the festival with explosive power.
The weekend features an international cast including Texas’ Uncle Lucius, Canada’s Bywater Call, UK Americana stalwart Peter Bruntnell, Norwegian “nordicana” pioneers Embla & The Karidotters, and rising stars like French songstress Bobbie. Friday’s lineup delivers soulful storytelling with Todd Day Wait’s Mississippi delta blues, Ireland’s The Southern Fold weaving their folk magic from Kilkenny, while Saturday brings bluegrass from Minnesota’s Pert Near Sandstone.
Static Roots sees itself as music with a mission: supporting global healthcare, with 100% of merchandise revenue – not just profits – donated directly to Doctors Without
Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières. Since 2016, the festival has raised over €23,000 for the organisation’s life-saving medical missions worldwide, with 2024 alone contributing €3,000 to support emergency healthcare in conflict zones and disaster areas. “Every t-shirt, every poster, every piece of merchandise becomes a way for our community to make a real difference in the world,” explains Leibecke. “it’s about more than just great music – it’s about using our shared passion to create positive change.”
The festival takes place 11th and 12th July 2025, with the welcome night on 10th July 2025. Weekend passes and single-day tickets are available through the festival website here.
You can get a flavour of Static Roots with the compilation video below from the 2023 festival.
Thanks for the great preview, Richard!