Amy Macdonald at Herrenacker: folk-rock choruses in the heart of Schaffhausen
Amy Macdonald returns to the Stars stage, and her concert repertoire combines almost two decades of well-known songs with material from the album "Is This What You've Been Waiting For?". The concert at Herrenacker is not a separate indoor evening, but the closing performance of a festival programme in which KAMRAD and Baschi appear on the same day. The audience therefore gets a gradually built programme: from modern radio pop and Swiss pop-rock to Amy's recognisable combination of acoustic guitar, folk-rock and big choruses.
For Amy Macdonald, this is a return to a familiar place. The festival's history lists her among the performers from 2014 and 2019, so the 2026 performance represents her third appearance at Stars in Town and her first return after seven years. Some members of the audience already know how her songs sound in the open-air setting of Herrenacker, while newer listeners will hear the current phase of her career for the first time in the same urban surroundings.
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A musical signature that connects different generations
Macdonald achieved her international breakthrough with the 2007 album "This Is the Life". The title track has remained her most recognisable hit, but her concert identity was not built around just one chorus. "Mr. Rock & Roll", "Poison Prince", "Run", "Slow It Down", "Dream On", "The Hudson" and "Statues" demonstrate a range from harder-edged folk-rock to melodic pop based on guitar, the band's rhythm and a voice with a distinctive Scottish colour.
Such songs work well outdoors. They are direct enough for an audience familiar only with the biggest hits, while also containing enough detail for long-time fans: acoustic openings, changes in dynamics, prominent guitar sections and choruses that the audience can take over. Macdonald does not build her performance around choreography. The songs, the voice, the band and brief communication with the audience remain at the centre.
The festival reports more than 12 million records sold over the course of her career. That figure helps explain the broad audience profile. Herrenacker will attract those who listened to "This Is the Life" when it was released, as well as younger visitors who discovered the songs later through streaming and festival performances.
The new album gives the tour a fresh direction
"Is This What You've Been Waiting For?" was released on 11 July 2025 as Amy Macdonald's sixth studio album and her first after a five-year break. The title track was conceived as an ode to the energy of a concert, the light, the sound and the moment in which the performer and the audience meet in the same space. For that reason, the new material is particularly well suited to a summer festival stage.
The album retains the guitar, clear melody and storytelling voice, but brings more contemporary production and a stronger sense of movement. The title track, "Can You Hear Me?", "Forward" and "I'm Done (Games That You Play)" belong to a current chapter that is livelier than a conventional greatest-hits tour. "Can You Hear Me?" was created under the impression made by a younger festival audience that knew the old songs and reacted more strongly than the performer had expected. That background also describes the potential audience in Schaffhausen well: the concert is intended not only for fans from 2007, but also for people who see Amy Macdonald as a current festival performer.
At concerts on the tour during 2026, the new material appeared alongside songs such as "Dream On", "The Hudson", "Fire", "Run", "Slow It Down", "Statues" and "This Is the Life". This is not confirmation of the repertoire for Schaffhausen because the setlist has not been published in advance. Nevertheless, the performances so far show a clear pattern: the new album is given a prominent place, while the biggest hits remain the foundation of the evening.
What Amy Macdonald is like live
Recent reports from the tour describe an energetic opening with new songs, after which the programme expands towards the older albums. Macdonald performs with a band, and the live arrangements give more power to the drums and guitars than the studio recordings. During the quieter songs, the focus returns to the voice and acoustic guitar, giving the concert clear changes of pace.
Communication with the audience is usually understated and direct. She speaks briefly between songs, without long monologues, and the feeling of closeness comes from a performance that does not hide behind a large-scale stage narrative. For the audience coming because of "This Is the Life", the shared chorus will be the key moment. Fans of the entire discography will find the contrast between the early songs and the new album more interesting. Folk-rock fans will get more guitar-driven sections, while the programme remains accessible to a broader pop audience because of its clear melodies.
It is worth securing tickets in good time.
Evening programme on the main stage
The current festival schedule for Friday lists the following sequence:
- StreetFood and Talentstage begin at 16:30.
- The entrances to the Herrenacker Mainstage open at 17:30.
- KAMRAD performs approximately from 18:30 to 19:30.
- Baschi performs approximately from 20:00 to 21:15.
- Amy Macdonald performs approximately from 22:00 to 23:30.
Some event announcements list 17:00 as the starting time, while the current festival programme states that the entrances open at 17:30. Visitors who want to avoid rushing should plan to arrive earlier because the ticket is exchanged for a festival wristband. The exchange takes place at the entrance, and from 16:00 to 17:00 it is also available at the festival ticket office on Fronwagplatz.
Programme times are approximate and may change. Before setting out, visitors should therefore check the daily schedule once again, especially the entrance opening time and the start of the performances.
Herrenacker as an urban open-air stage
Herrenacker is the largest square in Schaffhausen's old town. It is surrounded by historic buildings, restaurants and cafés, and during Stars in Town it is transformed into the main festival area. The transition from the city to the concert is therefore not abrupt: the pedestrian streets, Fronwagplatz and the approaches to the square become part of the audience's evening movement.
The location gives the event a different character from a concert in an isolated arena. After leaving the railway station, the venue can be reached within a few minutes on foot, and before the programme it is possible to walk through the old town without additional transport. The historic façades and open sky create a clear urban setting, although the acoustics of a concert hall should not be expected. The experience depends on the position: closer to the stage, the sound is more direct and the energy more concentrated, while the outer areas make movement easier and provide a wider view of the space.
A return after seven years and the beginning of a Swiss run
The performance in Schaffhausen opens a short series of Amy's concerts in Switzerland. After Stars in Town, her calendar lists Lakelive in Nidau on 8 August and Heitere Open Air in Zofingen on 9 August. Herrenacker is therefore the first of three consecutive festival evenings.
This does not make the date her only Swiss performance, but it gives it a clear position within the tour. The band begins a three-day open-air rhythm in Schaffhausen, and Amy returns to a festival where she has already performed twice. At the same time, KAMRAD brings contemporary pop, Baschi brings Swiss pop-rock, and Amy closes the evening with a catalogue that has international recognition.
Arriving by train and car
The festival recommends public transport. The train journey from Zürich to Schaffhausen takes about 40 minutes, and Herrenacker is approximately a three-minute walk from the railway station. This is the simplest option for visitors who do not want to look for a parking space in the centre.
Paid parking garages are available for those arriving by car. The festival particularly highlights Parkhaus Bahnhof because of its proximity to the railway station and concert area. Additional public parking spaces are located in the Breite area near the Zeughaus. Bus lines 3, 4 and 7 run from the Schützenhaus stop towards the railway station at intervals of approximately 10 minutes.
It is useful to allow for denser pedestrian flows after the end of the concert. Visitors who have a specific connection for their return journey should check the timetable in advance and leave enough time to exit the festival area.
- For the simplest arrival, choose the train and continue on foot from the railway station.
- If you are arriving by car, set off earlier and allow for parking charges.
- Save your return connection before entering and agree on a meeting point for the group.
Entry, payment and venue rules
Two entrances lead to Herrenacker, one from the direction of Tanne and the other from the direction of Neustadt. The ticket is exchanged for a wristband that must remain on the right wrist and is non-transferable. Payments in the festival area are cashless, using standard cards and the TWINT system. Rechargeable cards are also available at the Welcome Desk.
Bag checks are carried out at the entrance. Suitcases, backpacks and bags larger than A4 size should not be brought. Glass bottles, cans, larger drink containers, umbrellas, chairs, professional video and photo cameras, audio-recording devices, pyrotechnics and laser pointers are prohibited. Visitors may bring their own water container with a capacity of up to 0.75 litres per person. Animals are not permitted.
Because the event takes place outdoors, a lightweight waterproof jacket is more practical than an umbrella. In warm weather, it is important to drink enough water. Free hearing protection is available at the entrance portal.
The festival has no general age limit. Children under nine do not need a ticket, while a limited number of cheaper day tickets are available for visitors aged nine to 16 inclusive. A valid document is required for age verification. Families are advised to use hearing protection and choose a position from which it is easier to leave a dense crowd.
Herrenacker and Fronwagplatz are generally accessible to wheelchair users. A limited number of places are provided on a separate platform overlooking the stage, with accessible sanitary facilities nearby. The medical service is located at Herrenacker by the entrance, with an additional point on Fronwagplatz next to the Welcome Desk.
A short guide to Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen is a city on the Rhine with a compact historic centre, painted façades and the Munot fortress above the city. Herrenacker is located within the old town, so the concert can easily be combined with a shorter walk before entering. Fronwagplatz, Vordergasse and the surrounding streets offer restaurants and cafés, while the Museum zu Allerheiligen is located close to the square.
For visitors staying longer, the Rhine Falls are the best-known attraction in the wider Schaffhausen area. Because the concert ends late, sightseeing is more practical earlier in the day or the following morning. Accommodation in the centre makes it easier to return on foot, while accommodation outside the city requires more careful checking of late connections.
The most pleasant rhythm for the evening is to arrive early enough to exchange the ticket, briefly explore the old town and enter before the first performance on the main stage. This avoids the largest crowds and allows the audience to experience the full daily programme rather than only the closing concert.
Tickets for this event are in demand.
Final check before departure
Before travelling, the schedule should be checked because the festival states that times are subject to change. The ticket is valid for all concerts on the main stage on the same day, so separate tickets for KAMRAD, Baschi and Amy Macdonald are not required. Visitors should bring a valid document when it is needed for the relevant age category, an accepted cashless payment method and a bag that does not exceed A4 size.
Amy Macdonald comes to Herrenacker with an album inspired by the feeling of a live concert and with songs that the audience recognises after the first few bars. The combination of a new chapter, a return to the festival and an open urban space defines the character of the evening in Schaffhausen.
Sources:
- Stars in Town - artist profile, Friday programme, travel information, entry rules, accessibility and festival history.
- Amy Macdonald - current concert calendar and the sequence of performances in Switzerland during August 2026.
- Official Charts - release date and status of the album "Is This What You've Been Waiting For?" as the sixth studio album.
- The Scottish Sun - interview with Amy Macdonald about the inspiration for the title track and the song "Can You Hear Me?".
- Reflections of Darkness and Setlist.fm - report from the concert in Cologne and the repertoire pattern on the 2026 tour.
- Schaffhauserland Tourismus and Switzerland Tourism - the location of Herrenacker and the context of Schaffhausen's old town.