A fixed highlight in our festival calendar: STARS IN TOWN in Switzerland. One of the staple events in our Swiss festival calendar is this festival. Since 2010, STARS IN TOWN on the Herrenacker square in Schaffhausen has thrilled rock and pop fans with a huge variety of music. The special atmosphere in the heart of Schaffhausen’s old town always adds a truly unique vibe to the event.

In addition to the ‘Talent Stage’ in the pedestrian zone—where promising newcomers perform for a wide audience surrounded by food trucks offering delicacies from around the world—the main acts take to the big stage.

As every year, the festival kicks off on a Wednesday with the so-called ‘Super Wednesday’. The honour of opening this year’s festival went to the local heroes ELLIS MANO BAND. These Swiss blues rockers launched the lineup with musical finesse and soulful tunes reminiscent of Joe Cocker. Neither the band nor the audience let the rain dampen their spirits—they simply enjoyed the performance.

Next up to take the stage were UGLY KID JOE. The Californians delivered their signature blend of hard rock, metal, and funk. Always in tow: their two massive hits from the early ’90s—‘Everything About You’ and their cover of Harry Chapin’s ‘Cat’s In The Cradle’. Both songs still earn the band plenty of radio airplay and recognition across generations. Only their cover of ‘Ace of Spades’ might have been better left out—at least according to the author of these lines, a passionate Lemmy fan himself.

ALICE COOPER: The Shock Rock Icon! What else could you maybe say about ALICE COOPER? The embodiment of shock rock took to the sacred stage to close out the evening and showed exactly why it’s called ‘Super Wednesday’. The grand stage setup—with staircases on both sides and massive LED backdrops alternating between live footage and videos—was pure cinematic spectacle. The standout alongside Alice was ‘Hurricane Nita’ Strauss, whose high-energy stage presence electrified the crowd. Perfect sound, brilliant choreography, and classic shock effects—including the ever-present guillotine and Alice’s mock beheading—delivered everything the audience could hope for from a major show. Alice as a living rock legend himself was bursting with energy, showing no signs of his 77 years. Not a single person in the packed Herrenacker crowd went home disappointed.

It was a night to remember – this ‘Super Wednesday’ truly lived up to its name! We’re already looking forward to next year.