Aarhus Festuge 2015 – Our Guide For You

Photo of The Entrepreneurs by: Tue Blichfeldt via Bitchslap

It is time again to transform the entire city of Aarhus into a melting pot of art, music, and other cultural forces. Like the previous years, the supply of things to do, see and hear is simply overwhelming. Therefore we have decided to create a musical guide for you to bring along on your expeditions into the next week’s version of  cultural Aarhus. Whether you want to use it, be inspired by it or trash it is totally your own call. No matter what we just hope you will inspired by the vast range of musical offers. Maybe you will discover new emerging artists to include on your personal chart, or maybe you will go experience some of the more established bands and artists performing during Aarhus Festuge 2015. Here is our personal guide of must see gigs.

Let me first clear the hard facts for you. This year Aarhus Festuge will officially take place from August 28 to September 6. Even though I know it official opens today, I still would have loved to include yesterday’s Radar gig with Tidlige Armbånd and Transit Pop, but unfortunately I have to admit that we were unable to publish our guide in time for it to be included. That said, luckily for us there are a lot of awesome concerts left on to feature. You can find the entire program below.

First off, today legendary Danish D-A-D will pay Aarhus a visit, and conquer Pier 3 at the harbour area with their payback show. You might remember their show in May, where they performed along side Dizzy Mizz Lizzy and Dúné, but unfortunately Stig slipped on stage after only four tracks, and suffered a complicated fracture in his arm. Now they have decided to pay Aarhus a payback visit. Besides D-A-D you will be able to experience Electric Guitars and our SOA favourites from I’ll Be Damned. It will be located at the area where Mols-Linien enters the harbour every day. 

On Saturday, the day after your giant hangover from the D-A-D show, we recommend that you kick-start your day at Tir Na Nóg. Here our very own Bobby McBride will cure you completely as part of the Irish festival. Entrance will be free of charge. After grabbing some food you have to tie those boots again and head either towards CANblau where Peter Sommer will perform. For some weird reason they have decided to set the age limit to +25; Guess those tapas-eating suits wants an excuse to not bring their kids. Another possibility is located at Voxhall. Here one of the most amazing Danish bands, When Saints Go Machine, will once again be back in Aarhus. Usually their gigs are both a mindblowing atmospheric experience, and a musical journey to the time before saints became machines. As support they bring another SOA favourite, the blooming band Astronaut, to pleasure your ears with their David Bowie inspired songs. Remember to enjoy the official Allez #4 afterparty af Café Paradis with Kenton Slash Demon as the headliner.

If you are more into rap music, than electronic indie, then you should stop by Amfiscenen and enjoy Aarhus er FRESH instead. The event, which is free of charge, focuses on the local hip-hop scene so expect an amazing line-up with both established and emerging artists.

After Saturday, with two days of potential hangover making events, it is time to chill out a little and enjoy some of the non-music related things that Aarhus Festuge 2015 has to offer. Having said that, if you do want more music to complete your weekend, I recommend you to stop by Christianskirken at 20.00. Here Jonas Petersen (Hymns From Niniveh) invites you to a solo concert. The church and Jonas did the same thing last year, which as far as I know, was a major success with the big church filled to capacity, combined with Jonas’ musical interpretations of the world.

Next up on my list are two rather different things. On September 1st you will be able to discover what legendary Efterklang sounds like as the soundtrack for an opera. On this day Efterklang will perform the music from ‘Leaves – The Colour Of Falling’ live in concert with a total of ten musicians and five singers. To be honest I am pretty sure this concert at the town hall will be indescribable in the most possible way. Another thing you simply have to experience is Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones & The Who Was Here 45 Years Ago on September 2nd. Here Rockmuseum Aarhus will mark that, in 2015, it is 45 years ago the three legendary rock artists visited Vejlby-Risskov Hallen in Aarhus – hard to imagine, right! You will be able to see old footage and film from the Rolling Stones gig, and hear more about the Jimi Hendrix gig in our little town. A gig he performed only 16 days before his death.

After seeing learning more about unimaginable previous concerts in Aarhus, grab your jacket and head to Fatter Eskil. On September 2nd they will host their annual Fatter Eskil Prisen Final. Experience Northern Assembly, Lou Francis, Retro Future and The White Dominos.

On September 3, I recommend you to grab some early dinner, before you head downtown. At 19.30 the Danish wonderkid Mike Sheridan invites for an unforgettable show at ARoS. He is one of only eleven people in the world who master the rare French instrument Cristal Baschet – an organ-like instrument – which he will use in his performance. After this go outside ARoS to the side of the art museum. Here you can take part in Underland festival. On September 3, local Flux Festival will be in charge of the music. Experience Cathaya, Mischa Pavlovski, Lee Gamle and Container – free of charge.

The next day, wake up late again (pretty great to be able to have a hangover every night, right?!), and head to Underland at Amfiscenen again. On September 4th, Newbees Festival will bring some of the bands that will also be a part of the forthcoming festival at Stakladen in late September. They have brought not one, but a handful of SOA favourites, so go check out The Entrepreneurs, CHINAH, Kentaur, Palace Winter and Spökraket. Forget about Kanye’s new shoes, all in all this Newbees line up will be worth to camp for.

Last but not least, September 5. Again, I recommend you to experience Underland, this time with Danmarks Grimmeste Festival in charge. Especially check out You Work For Me Now, Mads Bjørn and Pede B & DjNoize. I guarantee you that you will have a blast.

Alternatively you should head to Radar. Here you can experience the visuals-meet-music concept Concert-In-Stallation by MALMÖ, and Carl & Cry. The concept is simple: to expand the venue itself visually, and give the audience a complete experience. They will present four Aarhus based artists over the course of four hours of music and visuals. If you do not see yourself as the like-to-see-visuals, or hate to stand at a stage outside in the windy Danish weather, you should head towards Train. Here you can experience sweaty musicians playing rock music, when The Blue Van conquers the club-like venue, and bring the blooming Aarhus bred three-piece Velvet Volume.

 

All in all, there are a lot of things to discover and experience the next couple of days in Aarhus!

 

Aarhus Festuge 2015 – Music Program:

Thursday 27.08
27. august 19.00 – 22.30 Byparken: Tina Dickow with guests
27. august 19.00 – 21.00 Mollerup Golf Club: Opera i Engene
27. august 20.00 – 23.55 Radar: Tidlige Armbånd + Transit Pop

 

Friday 28.08
28. august 14.00 – 17.15 Folkestedet: Mads Toghøj Trio
28. august 17.00 – 18.25 Voxhall: Lord Siva & Emil Stabil
28. august 18.30 – 23.55 Aarhus Havn: D-A-D (Payback Aarhus)
28. august 19.00 – 23.00 Cockney Pub: Celebrating 80 Years of Elvis
28. august 19.00 – 20.00 Folkestedet: Nixale
28. august 20.00 – 23.00 Tivoli Friheden: L.I.G.A (Fed Fredag)
28. august 20.00 – 23.30 Voxhall: Kesi & Lord Siva
28. august 20.00 – 21.30 UNGK: Johnny Cash (Church Concert)
28. august 20.00 – 23.00 Radar: Slaraffenland + Calico
28. august 20.15 – 21.15 Folkestedet: Oskar Jefsen Group
28. august 21.30 – 23.00 Gyngen: Tony Moreaux & Friends
28. august 22.00 – 01.00 Gårdhaven Jacob’s BarBQ: Hit Me
28. august 22.00 – 04.00 Tir Na Nóg: Rich Vargas & Eamon O’Connor (Irish Festival)

 

Saturday 29.08
29. august 11.00 – 23.55 Aarhus Havn: Vi Elsker 90’erne
29. august 12.00 – 12.35 Multisal, Dokk1: LIGHTS
29. august 12.00 – 15.00 Gårdhaven Jacob’s BarBQ: 4 Gram Blandet
29. august 13.00 – 13.35 Multisal, Dokk1: LIGHTS
29. august 14.00 – 16.00 Tir Na Nóg: Bobby McBride (Irish Festival)
29. august 14.00 – 14.35 Multisal, Dokk1: LIGHTS
29. august 14.00 – 16.00 Folkestedet: Anni Flint
29. august 14.00 – 16.30 Lokalcenter Møllestien: Festivalerne
29. august 15.00 – 16.30 Musikhuset Aarhus: The Light & Love Of South Africa
29. august 16.00 – 18.00 Tir Na Nóg: Nick Ennis (Irish Festival)
29. august 17.00 – 18.30 Voxhall: Astronaut & Mathias Winther
29. august 18.30 – 19.30 CANblau stage: Peter Sommer
29. august 19.00 – 20.00 Café Gaya: Kamp Olesen
29. august 19.00 – 20.30 Musikhuset Aarhus: The Light & Love Of South Africa
29. august 19.00 . 21.15 Folkestedet: Peter Christian
29. august 20.00 – 23.30 Voxhall: When Saints Go Machine & Astronaut
29. august 21.00 – 23.00 Fairbar: Koncert med Tuning
29. august 21.00 – 00.00 Amfiscenen: Aarhus er FRESH
29. august 21.00 – 05.00 Cafe Paradis: Allez #4 Kenton Slash Demon (DJ Set)
29. august 21.15 – 01.00 Gårdhaven Jacob’s BarBQ: Den Røde Tråd
29. august 21.30 – 23.00 Gyngen: MC Einar & Kuntakt
29. august 22.00 – 04.00 Tir Na Nóg: Rich Vargas & Eamon O’Connor (Irish Festival)
29. august 22.00 – 05.00 Fatter Eskil: AC/DC Jam

 

Sunday 30.08
30. august 10.00 – 22.00 Kammermusiksalen & Rytmisk Sal, Musikhuset: Mere Lys
30. august 14.00 – 16.00 Folkestedet: Preisler & Fogh
30. august 14.00 – 15.00 Der Liebe Bisp: Harmonikaorkestret Tonica
30. august 14.00 – 16.30 Lokalcenter Møllestien: Susanne Lana
30. august 15.00 – 16.30 Musikhuset Aarhus: The Light & Love Of South Africa
30. august 15.00 – 18.00 Tir Na Nóg: Streetbillis
30. august 15.00 – 19.00 Cockney Pub: Adrian Cox & Friends
30. august 15.30 – 17.30 Gårdhaven Jacob’s BarBQ: Saxgroup Aarhus
30. august 16.00 – 16.50 Amfiscenen: Carl Quist-Møller & Thomas Buttenschøn
30. august 16.00 – 17.00 Ravnsbjergkirken: Bach i Aarhus Festuge
30. august 17.00 – 18.00 Folkestedet: Koret Zenit (007 Theme)
30. august 17.30 – 18.00 Amfiscenen: Recovery of the Nuts
30. august 18.00 – 20.00 Tir Na Nóg: Jazz by Retroflex
30. august 19.00 – 20.00 Café Gaya: Seegert, Bæk & Nygaard
30. august 19.00 – 23.00 Cockney Pub: Celebrating 80 Years of Elvis
30. august 19.00 – 21.15 Folkestedet: Loveless/Frimer/Poulsen
30. august 19.30 – 20.30 Lisbjerg Kirke: Classic Guitar w. Carsten Pedersen
30. august 20.00 – 21.00 Christianskirken: Jonas Petersen (Hymns From Niniveh)
30. august 20.00 – 22.30 Atlas: Trio ft. Joe Henry, Rhiannon Giddens & Annika Norlin
30. august 22.00 – 02.00 Tir Na Nóg: Ken Warner (Irish Festival)

 

Monday 31.08
31. august 15.00 – 23.00 Amfiscenen: Mere Lys
31. august 19.00 – 21.15 Folkestedet: Rasmus Stenholm Band
31. august 19.00 – 23.00 Cockney Pub: Adrian Cox & Friends
31. august 20.00 – 21.00 Ambassaden: Eide:Balvig & Balvig and the Buddhas
31. august 20.00 – 21.00 Rytmisk Sal, Musikhuset Aarhus: SWARDI (Mere Lys)
31. august 22.00 – 02.00 Tir Na Nóg: Ken Warner (Irish Festival)

 

Tuesday 01.09
1. september 15.00 – 17.00 Folkestedet: Ghita Nørby & Lars Hannibal
1. september 15.30 – 19.30 Amfiscenen: Ung Rock på Amfiscenen
1. september 16.00 – 16.30 Ambassaden: Andrea Brink Siem
1. september 16.30 – 17.00 Ambassaden: Thomas Brink
1. september 20.00 – 21.30 Rådhushallen: Efterklang w. ’Leaves – The Colour Of Falling’
1. september 20.00 – 22.00 Musikhuset Aarhus: The Full Electronic Blood Sweat Drum + Bass Concerto
1. september 20.00 – 22.00 Kvindemuseet i Danmark: Tania Viit ft. Michael Lund
1. september 20.00 – 22.30 Atlas: Trio ft. Joe Henry, Grant-Lee Phillips & Billy Bragg
1. september 20.30 – 22.00 Casa Carola: Flamenco Recital
1. september 21.00 – 23.00 Amfiscenen: Mere Lys
1. september 22.00 – 02.00 Tir Na Nóg: Owen Stephen (Irish Festival)

 

Wednesday 02.09
2. september 12.00 – 21.00 Remissen, Godsbanen: Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones & The Who Was Here 45 Years Ago
2. september 13.30 – 15.30 Rådhushallen: Birthe Kjær & Aarhus Jazz Orchestra
2. september 15.30 – 19.30 Amfiscenen: Ung Rock på Amfiscenen
2. september 17.00 – 17.45 Ambassaden: I Just Came From The Moon
2. september 17.00 – 18.00 Train: Vild $mith
2. september 19.00 – 20.00 Café Gaya: Slow Architect
2. september 19.00 – 02.00 Fatter Eskil: Fatter Eskil Prisen 2015 Final
2. september 20.00 – 21.00 Ambassaden: Horn Please!
2. september 20.30 – 22.00 Skt. Lukas Kirke: Vocal Line ”Out of the Darkness”
2. september 21.00 – 23.00 Headquarters: Vild $mith
2. september 21.30 – 23.00 Gyngen: Shades of Blues

 

Thursday 03.09
3. september 16.00 – 23.00 Tivoli Friheden: Studiestart
3. september 17.00 – 19.15 Folkestedet: Paul Eastham
3. september 19.00 – 20.00 Café Gaya: HØST
3. september 19.30 – 20.00 AroS: Mike Sheridan on Cristel Baschet
3. september 19.30 – 21.30 Symfonisk Sal, Musikhuset Aarhus: Stefano Bollani
3. september 20.00 – 23.00 Train: The Savage Rose
3. september 20.00 – 00.00 Amfiscenen: Underland (Flux Festival)
3. september 21.30 – 23.45 Voxhall: Howe Gelm ’Way Too Much Light’

 

Friday 04.09
4. september 15.30 – 23.30 Atlas: Ujazz
4. september 16.00 – 22.00 Amfiscenen: Underland (Newbees Festival)
4. september 17.00 – 18.00 Train: Cisilia
4. september 17.00 – 21.00 Food Festival: Mejlgade For Mangfoldighed Support Foodfest
4. september 18.00 – 18.30 Ambassaden: Hejohannes
4. september 19.00 – 21.15 Folkestedet: Satori Boost
4. september 20.00 – 23.00 Tivoli Friheden: De Eneste To (Fed Fredag)
4. september 21.00 – 22.30 Voxhall: Ujazz + Daniel Lanois ’Flesh & Machine’
4. september 21.30 – 23.00 Gyngen: La Liga Latina
4. september 23.55 – 04.00 Tir Na Nóg: Sasha Karcher (Irish Festival)

 

Saturday 05.09
5. september 12.00 – 00.00 Amfiscenen: Underland (Danmarks Grimmeste Festival)
5. september 14.00 – 16.00 Folkestedet: Aarhus Jazz Orchestra
5. september 14.00 – 18.00 Tir Na Nóg: Martin Dale + Owen Stephen (Irish Festival)
5. september 16.00 – 17.00 CANblau stage: Christian Pelly
5. september 19.00 – 22.00 Radar: Concert-In-Stallation by Malmö, and Carl & Gry
5. september 20.00 – 22.30 Atlas: Trio ft. Daniel Lanois, M. Ward & Randi Laubek
5. september 21.00 – 23.00 Train: The Blue Van & Velvet Volume
5. september 21.30 – 23.00 Gyngen: Anders Andersen & Grønt Lys
5. september 22.00 – 01.00 Tir Na Nóg: Owen Stephen (Irish Festival)
5. september 23.30 – 01.00 Gårdhaven Jacob’s BarBQ: Preisler Trio
5. september 23.55 – 04.00 Tir Na Nóg: Sasha Karcher (Irish Festival)