The Usina Festival returned to Dudelange on Saturday, 30 May, bringing a free programme of music, performance, and entertainment to the furnaces of the former steelworks site. Among the acts performing was Schlagzeugmafia, a five-piece percussion group from Mannheim that has been appearing on stages, mainly in Germany, since 2010.
For Usina, the quintet crossed the border to Luxembourg and took over the circus tent with a show built around rhythm, humour, and tightly choreographed chaos. With plenty of energy, charm, and a touch of improvisation, Schlagzeugmafia quickly won over the audience.
According to Johnny, one of the members of the group, the show does contain a hint of “mafia” atmosphere, particularly through the outfits and playful gangster-style staging. At its core, however, the performance is about comedy, entertainment, drumming, surprises, creativity, and as much controlled chaos as possible, he said.
The group spends many hours rehearsing in front of mirrors before a programme is ready for the stage. Drums and choreography form the backbone of the show, but facial expressions and comic timing also play a major role in its success.
Johnny explained that the band has recently been touring extensively, especially in Germany, with a full evening programme that has existed for the past two or three years. The group itself has been around for more than a decade, but building a complete show took time because of the complex choreography and the many comedy elements that had to be developed along the way.
The audience was also entertained by Mambo Schinki, whose appearances are known for creating a lively atmosphere. Behind the stage persona is Michel Juncker, a curly-haired psychotherapist who has made crowd entertainment part of his professional life.
His act once again brought humour and energy to the festival site. The Dutch group Bazzookas also managed to get the crowd going, adding to the festive mood around the former Arbed site.
Thinking beyond headliners
The Usina Festival has been held on the former industrial site in Dudelange since 2022. Until last year, the event took place over two days, but the 2026 edition was rethought.
John Rech, who is in charge of the Usina festival, said organisers had realised in previous years that the paid day built around a headline act tended to draw people mainly for that one performance. As a result, the broader festival feeling, which the organisers value most, had somewhat faded into the background.
For them, he explained, Usina is about going out, discovering new things, tasting, touching, taking part in interactive workshops, and experiencing the site as a whole. Even after the sun had set and temperatures dropped, many visitors remained at the former steelworks site, keeping the festival atmosphere alive into the evening.
In 2027, the Usina Festival will take place on Saturday, 5 June.
