Heidevolk return to Poland as part of Heidenfest 2026, one of Europe’s most prominent folk metal tours. The Dutch band, known for their powerful dual vocals, lyrics sung in Dutch, and a strong focus on history and mythology, will perform four shows in Poland alongside Korpiklaani, Finntroll, Trollfest, and The Dread Crew of Oddwood.
Following an intense year in 2025, which saw the band conclude Paganfest and continue work on new material, Heidenfest marks a natural next step for Heidevolk — both as a summary of recent years on the road and a clear signal of what lies ahead.
After Paganfest 2025 you mentioned that you were finishing the writing process for a new album. At what stage is the material now, and what proved to be the most challenging part of this creative cycle?
Jacco: We have some great ideas floating around, some of which you can almost call complete. We are not there yet, though. Last year has proven to be quite a turbulent one, especially in the personal sense for a couple of us, which at times throws a spanner in the works. We also set out to write the album with the six of us, and with everyone coming in from a different angle, that also takes quite a bit of sculpting, pushing, shoving and the like.
But rest assured, we will get there!
Heidenfest returns with a particularly strong and diverse lineup. From your perspective, what makes this tour different in terms of atmosphere and energy compared to Paganfest?
Rowan: i don’t think there is a lot of difference, both pagan and heidenfest have a strong lineup with bands that were in the genre since the early days. The combination of the bands, Korpiklaani, Finntroll, Heidevolk etc has not happened since a veeeery long time. I think the anticipation is high, and it should be, because we do not only catapult you into the old days; we all have a new story to tell as well.
You have hinted at performing songs that could not be included during the Paganfest tour. How are you approaching the setlist for Heidenfest — will it lean more toward established classics or newer material?
Jacco: We are always the band that tends to play a combination of what we think the people want to hear (again and again), but also include songs in the set that we ourselves want to do. This time that’s not different, and with a limited set time, we had to choose carefully. Expect some old, some new and some unexpected.
During the first dates of the tour, Finntroll are replaced by Moonsorrow. Does this change the overall flow of the evening, and does it influence your own setlist decisions in any way?
Jacco: I don’t think it will, although I have to admit that we won’t know that until we are playing the shows of course haha! But I am confident that the evening will be flowing like horns filled with mead and beer. Our set will be prepared for just such an evening.
Korpiklaani and Finntroll are often described as cornerstones of the folk metal scene. How does sharing a tour with bands of such long-standing status affect the dynamic backstage and on stage?
Jacco: In my experience, we are basically one big family. Both on- and offstage. We have shared stages with both bands before and it’s always been good fun.
The Pagan Metal Brotherhood extends to both sides of the stage, and rivalry is never really an issue.
Heidevolk is strongly associated with lyrics in Dutch and themes rooted in history and mythology. When playing for international audiences, do you feel a greater need to contextualize your songs from the stage?
Jacco: Not really, actually. I personally believe that the message of a song translates not just by their lyrics, but also by something far less obvious; the music itself.
Even though we do venture out and sing some songs in English, that’s mainly a means for us to pull more people into the band’s Dutch heritage and make them interested in listening to the songs in our mother tongue. That is still what we prefer to do, since our lyrical message is always better conveyed in your native language.
The Polish leg of Heidenfest includes four consecutive shows in four different cities. What stands out to you about Polish audiences, and are you planning any variations between those concerts?
Rowan: We are very excited to have no less than 4 shows in Poland. There is something about the Polish crowd that makes the evening different, more intense. The audience is more raw, more wild yet also more serious and very eager to move. This is a perfect match for our music and we always look forward to play these shows. We will try to keep the shows consistent but the energy build up will be more every day, you’ll see!
With bands like Trollfest and The Dread Crew of Oddwood on the bill, the tour offers a wide stylistic range. How do you maintain Heidevolk’s distinct identity within such a diverse package?
Jacco: Heidevolk does what Heidevolk does. We always do. We have our own style and, by doing so, carve out our own niche within the folkmetal scene. I think variety is the spice of life, so with a travelling festival this diverse, I think there’s something for everyone.
After an intense 2025 filled with tours and festivals, how do you take care of your voices and physical condition during long touring periods, and what methods have proven most effective for you?
Jacco: For me, it is getting as much rest as possible in between the shows. I quit smoking a long time ago, I drink in moderation, and I try to keep in some kind of shape by doing a bit of exercise in between. To be fair, on tours there is usually plenty of time every day that you can either hang around in musty backstages stuffing yourself with bad food, snacks and drinks, or choose the other thing, which is to actually get out and be a bit more active. I generally try to eat somewhat healthy anyway, but on tour that counts extra.
And take your daily dose of vitamins!
