spot festival - katalogue

THE MUSICAPRIL 30th - MAY 3rd 2015

Beats to Blanca consists of danish-moroc-can Nadine Ezzaaf and Mathias Vang. Beats to Blanca is inspired by everything from world music, EDM and R’n’B. Ezzaaf’s harp both bridges and creates a space between beats and vocals – as heard on for example “Let Me Show You What I Got”, which has a groovy beat, rhythmic percussion and impressive vocals that will get your legs moving.

Danish hip hop trio Benal combines electronic soundscapes and un-conventional beats, adds intelligent (Danish) lyrics, and tops it all off with a dash of disregard for dogma and convention. Their latest EP, ‘Hvad Med Nu’, is a dark journey into a world of experimental lyrics and electronic hip hop beats. Benal de-mands your attention – and rewards you for it!

Big Dust is Simon Skjødt Jensen and Mads Bordinggaard Christensen. They have a long history of recording and releasing records with, among others, Own Road and Darrell Slim & the K-Hooch. They spent most of 2014 on an album under the Big Dust moniker. The music is founded on a dark electronic universe with ener-getic synth beats and twangy guitars with crooning vocals on top.

The Copenhagen-based stoner rock band positioned itself solidly on the Danish rock and metal scene with the release of the debut-album “Tundra” last year – now it’s time for the rest of the world. Black Book Lodge might just be the concluding piece of evidence that the perfect marriage of stoner, progressive and alternative rock indeed exists!

With their modern take on 90’s stoner and grunge rock, the three young women in Baby in Vain have thrown themselves into a maelstrom of musical buzz, which has already seen them play with guitar legend Thurston Moore, as well as San Francisco’s own Ty Segall. Amidst rave reviews from Mojo Magazine and Intro Magazine, what stands out is this: Baby in Vain bring noisy and youthful energy to a genre usually dominated by middle aged males.

AsbjørnWith his great stage presence and empathy, 22 year old Asbjørn has been making a name for himself as an excellent performer of electro pop, and not only in Denmark. Over the last couple of years, he has played a number of successful concerts in both Switzerland and Germany, including Montreux Jazz Festival and the Reeperbahn Festival. His most recent releases are “Pseudo Visions” (chapter one and chapter two) from 2014.

AstronautDuring the summer of 2013 Astronaut kicked off with songwriter Martin Zeppelin as frontman. Astronaut finds their inspiration in the British pop tradition, and in their vibe one senses resonance from acts such as The Beatles, David Bowie, and Oasis. After a range of concerts in their hometown Aarhus, Astronaut released the debut EP ”Cloud of Ink”, which invites its audience on an empathic and emotional voyage.

The 17 year old Norwegian electronic-pop artist Aurora Aksnes has gained a lot of praise from a unanimous press after her debut at the music trade festival by: Larm 2014. Several newspapers gave her top marks, 6/6, and wrote: ”With a clear, flexible, slightly drawling and tender voice, she’s in full control of her fluttering phrasings.” ”How liberating. How fabulous. How starry.”Her debut album is expected in 2015.

Three producers from Copenhagen who meet in Scandinavian cabins close to water to produce albums. The trio has been hailed as Den-mark’s new electronic super group by the Danish music magazines Sound-venue and Vice. The first song from ELOQ, UNKWON and DJ E.D.D.E.H. “All Good” from June 2014 quickly be-came an international hit on Sound-Cloud. The band has succeeded in fusing their projects into a new sound of atmospheric beats, vocal clips, percussion and bold melodies.

Arsenal: DANCE! DANCE! DANCE! (BE)

To kick off this year’s festival SPOT premieres acclaimed DANCE! DANCE! DANCE! On stage, the Belgian electronica duo Arsenal are at the centre of what they describe as a poetic-euphoric film concert. The film part fuses with Arsenal’s music, to tell the story of a young, Japanese musician who leaves his village to go to Tokyo, but ends up paying a price far too high for trying to reach his goals.

Anna BellWith two albums under her belt, Bell has already created quite a stir in both California and the South, where she’s been touring periodically for the past couple of years. Her catchy 60s-inspired pop songs have been played extensively on both American and Danish radio stations, and several of her songs have featured in ads, short films, and TV series. Her ‘Ses-sions (2013) was ‘Album of the Week’ on Danish radio channel P4.

Antonio GramEsben rose to fame as one half of Reptile Youth, but he has left the reins of the band to lead singer Mads Damsgaard in order to focus on his solo career as Antonio Gram. Under the new alias, Esben has chosen to unfold himself as an electronic artist. The first release “Demons” is a melodious, synth pop gem produced in collaboration with Eloq and with Emma Sehested on the vocal duties.

ANYACreamy electronic R&B on a crisp hip hop beat. One of “VEGA’s Chosen” in 2015, ANYA has already been selected as an interesting new act on the Danish music scene; she’s opened for Julias Moon. Inspired by acts such as D’Angelo, Jill Scott and Raphael Saadiq, ANYA creates ‘naked bodies’ of text, and lets Carl Barsk and Frederik Carstens dress them in hip electronic clothes. ANYA will release her first EP in 2015.

Aqua SonicAqua Sonic neither looks nor sounds like anything you’ve ever come across before. On stage are five large aquari-ums, one for each musician. They take a deep breath, delve into the water with their instruments, which include Tibetan singing bowls, a carbon fibre violin, and a Zetiphone invented for the project. At SPOT you can get an exclusive insight into what happens when you play music under water.

Agent Side Grinder (BE)

Although released late in 2014, Agent Side Grinder’s newest single “This Is Us” managed to climb onto many annual “Best-of” lists. The track was the first sample from their highly anticipated album “Alkimia”, released on March 25 this year. “Alkimia” is the band’s fourth effort, and is easily their most accomplished work to date. According to the band, their magnum opus.

Alex VargasAlex Vargas was born in Copenha-gen, but moved to London at the tender age of 17, to pursue a career as a musician. Since then, Alex has worked with producers and song-writers on both sides of the Atlantic. Inspired by legendary artists such as Jeff Buckley and Sam Cooke, Alex Vargas still remains his own. His vo-cals carries a warmth and conviction rarely heard, and the musical output is pop of the soulful kind.

Amin KaramiA sinister and encasing r&b sound inspired by artists such as Frank Ocean and The Weeknd. Since Kara-mi won KarriereKanonen, he’s been playing gigs like TrailerPark Festival and Offspring Festival in Tivoli. In the spring, he will be opening for The Minds of 99 on their tour, and he is currently in the studio with his team of producers record his first album.

And They Spoke In Anthems (BE)

A one-man-band consisting of Arne Leurentop, who spent 14 months travelling Australia and New Zealand as a street musician. This experience was captured on his debut ‘June’ (2014), where he played almost all the instruments himself. On stage, he crafts soundscapes in guitar, loop station, bass drum, and hihat. Alone as always.

Aarhus kalder HoustonDon your spacesuit, and experi-ence “The Planets” up close. When music and film merge in Aarhus Calling Houston, you are in for a real treat – Aarhus Symphony Orchestra and Randers Chamber Orchestra performing Gustav Holst’s “The Planets”, a musical masterwork set to film sequences from the planets of our Solar System, filmed by NASA satellites.

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AURORA (NO) AV AV AV

Beats to Blanca Benal Big Dust Black Book Lodge Black HorseWith references to the American songwriting traditions, Black Horse treats universally applicable subjects such as love, longing, life and death in ways entirely their own. Musi-cally, they span from the poetic and melodious to pushy drums, off beat guitars, and driven bass play. 2015 is the year of the Black Horse, and will contain koncerts in Denmark and abroad, as well as a full length debut, from which the single “Liar” is already out.

Baby In Vain

Bands A-B

Arranged in cooperation with Aarhus Symphony Orchestra.

Presented in association with Urban Music Network.

Presented in co operation with Labelmade

SPOTACROSS

SPOTACROSS

SPOTACROSS

Presented in cooperation withMetalized & HeadQuarters

Presented in cooperation with KarriereKanonen.

M’era Luna presents“Nordic goth & industrial night”

Presented in cooperation with Excite/ORA

Presented in co operation with DUP

Presented in cooperation with The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, RAMA

*Special ticket required

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Emil Stabil makes crazy and catchy hip hop and had the whole country singing along with his hit song ”Er det en fugl?” last March. Along with his friends Lil Producer and Young Bong he founded Lil Label. Emil Stabil’s de-but album is expected to be released soon. Until then you may enjoy his new singles “Swimmingpool” and “R. Kelly”.

The hype surrounding Ericka Jane started, when at 16 she released a cover of Drake’s ‘Marvin’s Room’ on YouTube. In the spring, she will be releasing the single ‘Favorite Lie’ from her upcoming EP, which was produced in cooperation with produc-er Hennedub, who recently produced the hit single ‘6 Liter’ for TopGunn.

Mathilde Böcher and Jeppe Madsen from Battlekat are back at with a new project: FAE. They pick up where Bat-tlekat left off in terms of approach to synth pop, but the duo has developed a more experimental sound: a mix of techno rave and art pop. Even though FAE has only released one song, the nearly 10 minute long “Ruok”, they ap-pear on MTV Iggy’s list of ‘14 Danish Bands We Just Can’t Get Enough Of’.

Eivør has been described as “a pure Viking goddess”with “an extraordi-nary presence”, and her music has been praised as “painfully beautiful”. The vocalist, instrumentalist and songwriter covers a wide musical and emotional range. She has a voice with effortless virtuosity and a multitude of colours, which is evident from her first recording at the age of 16 to her most recent, her ninth, released in Feb 2015 (Bridges).

Daniel Norgren (SE)

Swedish singer songwriter Daniel Norgren debuted with “Kerosene Dreams” in 2006, and has been touring Europe on and off ever since. A native of the folk/blues genre, Norgren brings almost a decade of live experience to the stage. At SPOT, he will be performing material from his upcoming album “Albursy”. Like his previous releases, “Albursy” is being recorded in Daniel’s home, on an old school 4 track recorder.

De UnderjordiskeDe Underjordiske play rock’n’roll with elements from 60s psychedelic rock and the guitar pop of the 80’s. The lyrics are danish and deal with themes like liberation, spirituality and love. The songs move between light, catchy fast-paced songs, grand, heavy melodies and the magic of the repetitive. De Underjordiske released the single “Trold” in 2014, and the band’s debut album will be released in 2015.

Dine Isaksen is new on the Danish music scene. The debut album ”Verden Største Løgn” deal with themes like depression, unresolved expectations and the fear of growing old. The inspiration stems first and foremost from icons like Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and Dire Straits while elements from Danish bands like TV-2 and Kliché turn up here and there.

Copenhagen based Icelander Disa Jacobs returns to SPOT after a 2014, where her debut EP ”Sculpture” was met with critical acclaim. The music can be described as dark, intense pop music, wrapped in an intense beat oriented production, constantly challenged by a universe of ambients and elegant vocals. Dísa has proven herself internationally at e.g. Días Nórdicos in Madrid, By:larm in Oslo, and Iceland Airwaves.

Dad Rocks!Aarhus based Icelandic Snævar Njáll Albertsson is the mastermind of folk pop group Dad Rocks!, and they’ve been busy since starting out in 2010 with more than 150 concerts and 10 different countries in Europe and North America being the current tally. Reviewers have described the music as orchestral folk pop with hip hop inspired lyrics.

CancerCancer consists of Nikolaj Vonsild (When Saints Go Machine) and Kristian Finne (Chorus Grant). Their collaboration is best described as fierce and beautiful future ballads from the room next door, from where you can hear Nikolaj’s quivering vibrato vocals and Kristian’s soothing voice form Cancer’s organic universe.Kristian’s down to earth work on the guitar underlines the uneasy peace emanating from the group.

ChinahOrganic guitar, hard hitting synths, and wistful vocals are the trade-marks of Chinah’s contemplative gourmet pop. With backgrounds in folk, classical piano, and electronica, the three members of Chinah create a universe of thoughtful electronic songs. Recently signed by alternative pop label No3, Chinah are working on their debut EP, which is planned for the fall of 2015.

Coco MoonIn 2010 Coco Moon’s self-titled debut EP was released. The debut spawned positive reviews and solid single rotation on Danish radio channel P3. After a tour around Denmark, the band began working on a follow-up to match the success of the debut. The result was “Marble Mouth” - an electronic album oozing of a gloomy, uncompromising attitude and evoking thoughts of Portishead’s “Third”.

D/troitStefan Andersen, Toke Nisted, Klaus Højbjerg, Mads Larsen formed the band D/troit in 2013.As a band they deliver a potent mix of soul and funk. After hard work in the practice room and a trip to Texas, to record authentic southern backing vocals, D/troit released their first single ”The 45” in November 2014. The single was quickly followed by the band’s debut EP ”Do The Right Thing”.

Blaue BlumeDIYmag.com describes Blaue Blume as ”a very special band, the best thing to come out of Denmark since Schmeichel’s magic hands” – quite the statement, but it just might be true. Blaue Blume makes avantgarde pop centered around lead singer Jonas Smith’s dramatic vocals com-parable to those of Antony Hegarty. The quartet’s EP “Beau & Lorette” ended up on several Danish music magazines “best of 2014” lists.

Brynjolfur (FO)

Faroese DJ and producer Brynjol-fur is one of the most talked about names on the Danish club scene, not least after his show at Sónar, Copenhagen in March. His energetic performance and his personal style have garnered him attention not only in Denmark, but internationally too. Brynjolfur has mixed for e.g. Diplo (feat. Mø), Kasper Bjørke, and Vinnie Who and is now ready for more.

BUDTZTired of making music the traditional way, Danish pop artist Christoffer Budtz has embarked on a solo voyage of DIY pop music. A melancholic sound and brutally honest introspec-tive lyrics combine into an ambient and modern take on themes such as alienation and loneliness. A mu-sical embodiment of the notion that ‘Loneliness is the human condition. Cultivate it!’ from Janet Fitch’s “White Oleander”.

Bye BaratBehind the alias Bye Barat is Na-thalia Barat, who has previously been part of several Danish and English pop, folk and rock bands. Her charac-teristically dark and emotional voice guides the listener in a concentrated musical landscape where layers of tight beats, rhythmic 90’s guitar, floating bass and evocative synth create depth and force.

Dine Isaksen Dísa (IC)

Emil Stabil Ericka Jane FAE

Eivør (FO)

Presented in cooperation with No3//Sound of Copenhagen


Presented in association with Urban Music Network.

Presented in cooperation with Iceland Airwaves and Belgian Les Nuits Botanique.


Presented in cooperation with LabelMade

Black Light Discipline (FI)

Black Light Discipline (BLD) is a genre-breaking band that combines industrial, metal and dance elements when creating their own danceable, yet raw sound. This Finnish band is known for their energetic live shows which attract fans with very diverse tastes in music for a party. BLD is pushing the envelope every time they are playing live. The sky is not the limit.

M’era Luna presents“Nordic goth & industrial night”

SPOT Festival presents four new acts, in cooperation with DIY label Faded Days Records. Hunger plays melancholic rock music, with inspi-ration from folk and psych, and with visual elements, where Brasill adds a dreamy touch to their pop tunes. And Eftersmag are back, with a new sound to their hip hop tracks. And Aarhus-based Palace will be playing their début concert at SPOT.

Faded Days Records Label night

The Danish Peruvian singer Faunea combines a beautiful voice with electronica and pop. Her dynamic and expressive vocals create catchy tunes in a heavy sound universe shrouded in dark mystique. Look forward to her beautiful and quirky songs filled with intense synth, voice distortion and compelling vocals.

Faunea


Bands B-F

Presented in co operation with Way Up North Presented in co operation with Way Up North



Jack the Hustler consists of DJ/Producer brothers Mitja and Petja Virikko. Musically based on a foggy base of house and bass music with el-ements from the classic Detroit styles ‘4×4 Aesthetics’ and ‘Bass Heavy Broken Rhythms’. Jack the Hustler has been played extensively on BBC Xtra, BBC Radio 1, Basso Radio (FIN) and Redlight Radio (NL), etc., and has performed live in Finland, England, and Italy.

Rock singer songwriter Jacob Bel-lens’ signature is his strong, deeply emotional vocal performances, coupled with highly poetic lyrics and tightly calibrated musical arrange-ments. Bellens has been releasing albums in collaboration with some of Denmark’s best musicians since 2004. His solo album “My Convic-tions” from 2014 show yet a new side to the many talents of Mr. Bellens with its take on vintage pop.

Ex rapper Jacob Keinicke is the man behind this interesting pop project, where digestible beats and a very recognizable flow are some of the trademarks. The poignant lyrics draw on Jacob’s own experiences, and con-tain a deeply personal and awkwardly sensitive account of life. His first sin-gle, ‘Kom Nu’, was played extensively on Danish radio, and revolves around the difficulties of slowly growing apart as a couple.

Four talented musicians from different musical and cultural backgrounds meet to create entirely new material. That’s the formula for Jammin’, a project that has been running for the past year as a perma-nent project by ROSA – The Danish Rock Council.As a part of the opening of SPOT Festival 2015 three former constella-tions reunite to perform the material they created when they last worked together on Jammin’.

Isam, from hit makers Outlandish, got off to a flying start as a solo artist with the album ‘Institution’ and the single ‘I Danmark Er Jeg Født’ (I was born in Denmark). In 2015, he will be releasing his second album, this time in English. A collection of fascinating stories from Isam’s life the album contains narratives of love and how to find oneself driven forward by his characteristic voice and personal reflections.

Hurula (SE)

With the album “Vi är människorne våra föräldrar varnade oss för” (We are the people our parents warned us against), Hurula delivered one of the strongest debuts in Sweden in 2014 and then went on to conquer the Swedish festival stages. With punk-pop-poetry tunes such as ‘Sluta deppa meg’, former Masshysteri front man Robert Hurual shows the world that Sweden has more to offer than sugar-coated pop music.

Hymns from NinevehHymns from Nineveh is an indie folk project formed in 2007 by the Danish singer-songwriter Jonas H. Petersen. Since then, he and his four fellow band members have released an EP and three albums. Latest, the critically acclaimed “Visions” from september 2013. Hymns from Nineveh have played at venues and festivals all over Scandinavia, including Roskilde Festival, SPOT, Smukfest, ØYA and By:

”A frenzied party with the guys.” ”Explosive guitars, a vigorous voice and great technical skills” The debut EP from I’LL BE DAMNED was well received and referred to as hard rock, groovy metal and post grunge. The five band members play melodious, downright and energetic rock’n’roll, which in particular shows when they play live. The debut album is in the pipeline.

IDA KUDO is a colourful electro pop artist. She mixes a feminine lightness and a deeper, darker edge with elements and beats from the grime and dancehall genre. Her Danish-Japanese ethnicity is reflected in a Scandinavian, cool precision and experimental and catchy melodies with Eastern undertones. Unique and insistent in her song writing as well as in her performance, IDA KUDO has great potential.

hukaos.Aarhus-based r’n’b collective hukaos. made serious strides on the Danish music scene in 2014, and so far 2015 seems to give the four productive core members even more momen-tum. At SPOT they will be presenting a new format where live music, video and visuals combine. Heimdals Sidste Vogter, a project from the hand of rapper Kidd, will join hukaos. on stage, and each artist will present new material.

GoomsTo define Gooms’s music in terms of genre can seem futile. Anarchistic is, however, an apt label. The quar-tet consists of Aske Zidore (Oh no ono), Jens Ramon (Figurines), Suni Zacharis (Twins Twins) and Lasse Bækby Buch (Birthgiving Toad) – a Danish indie super group. If you’re a fan of Ariel Pink or Animal Collec-tive, chances are you will appreciate Gooms’s capricious instrumentation and quirky song structures.

Great Mountain Fire (BE)

Great Mountain Fire is an indie rock band from Brussels, and since 2006 they have made exciting and razor sharp pop songs – always attempting the impossible and often achieving it! In June 2010, the band went into the studio to record the debut album “Canopy”. Released in May 2011, it is a record of intrigue and substance, whose fine concoction of generic beats and pop simplicity will leave the Goth dancing and the sailor crying!

HeimattHeimatt is centred around the 22-year-old Danish/Norwegian musician Magnus Grilstad, who along with some of the most experienced indie and folk musicians in Denmark makes up the band. The concert at radar is presented by the booking and management company Skandinavian.

HessismoreHessismore concert with a series of visual installations filmed and transmitted live from the surrounding rooms. The tableaux, which were cre-ated by Henrik Vibskov, FOS, Nikolaj Spangå, NR 2154, Rikke Hedeager Mathiesen og Tue Biering, open up a parallel story to Hessismore’s music, which lingers in the borderland of electronic dance music, afrobeat, krautrock and jazz.

FörtressThe four guys from Förtress deliver a solid batch of energetic and heavy rock. Even though the band has only existed for a few years, they already have two EPs under their belt – both released on the diabolic date Friday the 13th. With a combination of pul-sating rock hymns, leather vests and long hair, Förtress play their way into the rock hearts of the audience.

First HateFirst Hate is a young Copenhagen-based synth pop duo, who produce synthetically programmed lo fi melodies and drum pieces fused with live keyboard recordings. Last year they were contacted by legendary Ben Cook (Fucked Up and Yacht Club), who offered to help releasing their first EP ”First Hate” (September 2014). Recently, the duo toured with Danish producer Trentemøller on his Eastern Europe tour.

FolkeklubbenCatchy folk pop with a message, Folkeklubben hails from Copenha-gen, and was formed in early 2011 by Kjartan Arngrim, Rasmus Dall, and Rasmus Jusjong. Since then, the dynamic trio have played more than 400 concerts, all over the country – often in non-traditional venues, such as shelters for the homeless. Folkeklubben have already had a Danish hit with the caustic political song “Fedterøv” from 2011.

For AkiaFor Akia was formed in 2013. The band members share their love for 1960s psychedelic dance rock, and their music is inspired by The Beatles and Tame Impala. The lyrics reflect an inscrutable depth via themes such as identity crises and outsiders. Themes that draw on lead singer Hans Mortensen’s own experience between growing up in Greenland and his life in Denmark.

Frank HazeThe four guys Hjalte Ross, Bosse Bertelsen, Lasse Øster and Mathias Kold met on“Østhimmerland Ung-domsskole” – a creative independent boarding school for upper sec-ondary students – and formed the band Frank Haze. The genre can be defined as heavy stoner rock. The tempo is low, the guitars feed, the bass resonates, the cymbals crash – all coming together in one steady groove. Since graduating, the band has gained a lot of experience from live venues all over the country.

Fay Wildhagen (NO)

Wildly sprouting Norwegian folk pop with catchy, honest lyrics. Fay Wild-hagen is an exciting new Norwegian act who made people stop and take notice with her debut single “We Are”, both in Norway and abroad. It’s unpolished, it’s ambient, and it’s with a rucksack full of talent that Wildha-gen now enters Denmark.

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I’LL BE DAMNED Ida Kudo

Jack the Hustler (FI) Jacob Bellens & band Jacobløberhjemmefra Jammin’Isam B

Bands F-J



SPOTACROSS

Presented in cooperation with The Royal Danish Theatre/Eventministeriet

Presented in cooperation with Excite/ORAPresented in cooperation with Labelmade


Klub 27 consists of the two friends Haruna James Wasajja and Christian ‘Mighty’ Guldborg. The band plays music inspired by the psychedelic rock of the 60s and 70s in the style of Steppeulvene. The mission is evident – to become immortal. While alive. The cheeky personality, sneering vocals and upbeat tempo give you the urge to join the band’s quest for immortality.

KUBE is an audiovisual performance, with four big electronica artists; Bjørn Svin, Rumpistol, Unkwon and Mikkel Meyer. At the centre of the performance is a custom-designed box – KUBE – which has been clad in a semi-transparent screen, where video and visuals, developed by vid-eo-collective Obscura, are projected during the show. As a spectator, you can expect a spectacular audiovisual experience.

Kvindebandet play unpolished, genre-bending music, created through a naturalness of humor, se-riousness and melancholy. Their cu-rious and uncompromising approach is manifested in instrument rotation, habit-breaking, and their ever-chang-ing hybrid of punk, pop, free impro, and techno, etc. Meeting in Esbjerg in 2012 they formed the band out of a desire for a creative haven and a musical community.

Kill J’s relentless focus on her visual and musical expression has made it clear that she is an ambitious young artist. With the singles ‘Phoenix’, ‘Bullet’ and ‘Cold Stone’, singer/producer Julie Aagaard has created a universe which appeals to everyone but isn’t tied down to what pop music normally means. With a new EP in the works, KIll J shows no sign of slowing down in 2015.

Keep CampingDark, yet optimistic. Acoustic, yet electronic. And lyrics that take on the big existential questions. Keep Camp-ing plays folk clubbing with postmod-ern songs from a restless mind in a constant quest for the justification for and meaning of it all. A meaning that may or may not exist. In 2014, Keep Camping won KarriereKanonen, and has played all over Denmark since then.

KentaurWith great determination Kentaur has worked hard to create music that can form communities across generations and identities. The result is pop music that does not compro-mise, and thus does not condescend its audience. Instead, the music open-heartedly invites you to dance into contemplation. Intrigued? Then visit SPOT Festival and experience it yourself.

Kenton Slash Demon consists of Silas Moldenhawer and Jonas Kenton, who also make up one half of the band When Saints Go Machine. Even though Kenton Slash Demon has only released a small number of tracks since their debut in 2006, they have created quite a stir with their fusion of indie house and techno both at home and internationally. In 2015 Kenton Slash Demon returns with a new series of EP releases and a new live set.

Oliver Kesi had his breakthrough on youtube as a grime artist in 2010 along with the rest of the B.O.C crew, which includes Gilli and Benny Jamz. The sound of Kesi anno 2015 is less ”bad boy” than in the breakthrough years, but just as fascinating. The new sound is evident in the single “Søvnløs” – an intriguing mix of autotune, unexpected breaks, and melodic hooks.

KatinkaKatinka consists of singer and songwriter Katinka Bjerregaard and producer Simon Ask, who performed live on stage for the first time in may 2014. Since then, they’ve released the EP “I Røntgen”, which was recorded in Simon’s living room. Katinka plays experimental pop music on every-thing from ukulele and harmonium to cupboards, lamps, and nails in remarkable soundscapes.

Hypnotic, dream like and explosive live performances are the hallmark of this rising star and her band, The Liberation. Swedish Öhrn has been compared to artists as diverse as Spiritualized, Hawkwind and Mazzy Star, which may give you an idea of the kind of performance to expect. Musically, Öhrn and the band describe their music as Stoner Pop, but there are definite overtones of the psyche-delic 70’s. Please feel at home!

Julias MoonWith a combination of 80’s synth pop and slick R&B Julias Moon creates music which makes it hard to stand still. 2014 was a breakthrough year for the band with the singles “Lipstick Lies” and “Palace” in heavy rotation on Danish radio. Following the mas-sive airplay, Julias Moon has toured extensively including gigs at several Danish festivals.

Júníus Meyvant (IS)

The Icelander has become an abso-lute favourite on P6 Beat after his gigs at Eurosonic and Icelandic Airwaves in the fall. However, they are not the only ones to have fallen head over heels for this folk and soul singer, whose real name is Unnar Gísli Sigurmundsson. Thus, the Seattle radio station KEXP has the hit single Color Decay in heavy rotation. A rich, yet haunting take on freaky folk pop with a familiar and soulful feel.

KaaliyahWith her very characteristic voice, Kaaliyah draws inspiration from the late 90’s American R&B sound of the late 90s, and combines it with modern trap elements. Behind the project is Louis Winding, who has previously worked with Brandy, Outlandish, L.O.C., and Burhan G. In early March, Kaaliyah released the single ‘Rust & Bone’ from her upcoming 2015 debut EP, ‘Darkpop – First Sequence’.

JonasForFandenAs a part of the duo Specktors, JonasForFanden has helped shape the danish charts in recent years. Now, however, he has gone solo for awhile. With producer ELOQ pushing the buttons, an EP is right around the corner. The release is described as a skewed bomb containing minimalist explosive pop music to be heard loud. And the sound has ended up in the psychedelic borderlands between Lil John and Malk de Koijn.

JohannWith the recently released album “Ruffled Feathers”, Johann is currently riding the hype train to stardom. The first single “Ruffled Feathers” was in rotation on P4 and P6 Beat and became the darling of the week on Radio Fritz in Berlin. With hundreds of concerts across the world – Johann is an amazing live act. The international experience combined with a rare “down to earth” connection with his audience makes Johann’s concerts something special.

Jonah BlacksmithLive music, documentary, and humour are combined perfectly in alt-folk band Jonah Blacksmith’s film concert. Fronting the band are broth-ers Simon and Thomas Alstrup, and their live performance is mixed with fragments of the film “In the Middle of Nowhere” by Joachim Plaetner Kjeldsen. The band name refers to the brothers’ grandfather and the film sequences follow them, as they follow in his footsteps.

Jonas Breum”A heartbreakingly beautiful debut which deserves a large and responsive audience”. Those were the words from Gaffa about the 2012 debut album “Fremtiden Findes Hos Hende Jeg Forlod”. Former frontman in Coolsville and Breumm creates appealing pop music mixed with catchy melodies and informal poetry. Breum’s second album will be released this spring. Until then you can relish in the singles “Vågen” and “Det Største Røvhul”.

Jonas RendboJonas Rendbo is a very experienced musician, who on the one hand is a songwriter, producer, guitarist and vocalist for artist such as Ukendt Kunstner, Rasmus Seebach and Out-landish, and who on the other hand has a solid solo career. For the first time in five years Rendbo is ready to release new music, which is more melancholic, more electronic and more R’n’B than earlier.

Joey MoeHe is not even 30 years old, but Joey Moe is already one of the most popular artists on the Danish pop scene. In 2011 he had 28 songs in the top 200 on iTunes – three of those in the top 10. And last year, he defined the sound of the summer with the track “Million”. The track was the first single of the album “Joey”, which marked a return to the Danish language, as well as a more focused and personal expression than on previous releases.

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Kenton Slash Demon Kesi

Klub 27 Kube KvindebandetKill J

Josefin Öhrn + The Liberation (SE)





Presented in cooperation with Labelmade

SPOTACROSS

SPOTACROSS

With over 600k plays on Soundcloud, a critically acclaimed EP, and a live debut at Pitchfork Music Festival in Paris, Kwamie Liv is rapidly unfolding as an exciting voice on today’s music scene. Kwamie’s upbringing brought her practically around the world, something which has left its unmistakable mark on her musical output – which, with a starting point in down-tempo and intimate trip-hop/R&B, bristles in many exotic directions.

Kwamie Liv

Bands J-K


MellemFingaMuzik released their first EP in April 2014 and made appear-ances on Gilli’s “Ækte Vare” and S!vas’ “d.a.u.d.a II”. The group consists of rappers Stepz and Benny Branco – two guys who know how to make charismatic lyrics and how to deliver them with force. The guys are adding the finishing touches to their new album, which will be released in 2015.

If you mix Jean Paul Gaultier punk and Harajuku girl and adds Vivienne Westwood’s attitude, you get 22 year-old Mendoza. The electropop artist recently signed contract with Atlantic Records: “Mendoza is such a vibrant, creative, talented artist. We look forward to facilitating her incredible artistic vision,” says vice President & A&R Paul Samuels. Mendozas second single “Houdini” was released on October 20

Merlyn Silva is an electronic musician and composer, who welds etheric textures together with complex, glitch-driven rhythmic structures. Merlyn makes use of field recordings, complex programming and happy accidents, to produce a sound with one foot on the couch, and one on the dance floor. At SPOT, Merlyn will showcase excerpts from his upcom-ing ‘Wander’ EP on an improvised journey through glitch, ambient & future bass.

In the fall of 2013, Mikas made a major decision. After having played the drums for a number of years for Lydmor and Peter Sommer, he decided to let out the songs, which had been wanting to burst forth for so long. Songs which simply had to be written and performed. Where imper-fection and edginess go hand in hand with melodiousness and pop appeal. Personal songs, which revolve around self-awareness, responsibility, destiny, melancholia, fatherhood, and twosomeness.

Behind the sensitive and observant singer/songwriter alter ego Meadows Ever Bleeding we find Swedish Chris-toffer Wadensten. The songwriter has had a packed calendar the last couple of years with tours to various festivals and theaters. The debut EP ”Enter” sold out in a month and reached both the USA, the UK, Germany, and Australia.

Maria FaustMaria Faust is an Estonian saxophone player and composer living in Copen-hagen, Denmark. Her newest project is an exploration on solo saxophone – using techniques that involve natural sounds of the instrument, as well as electronics and organic props (such as water and the human voice). The music is experimental jazz with plenty of improvisation in addition to familiar pop melodies and structures.

Mariam Koné (ML)

Malian singer Mariam Koné was part of the showcase “SPOT on Mali Music” in 2014, and this year ROSA and the Royal Academy of Music have invited her to play at SPOT Festival. With her first album, “Dakan” (Des-tiny), Mariam delves into her love of music and poetry. She sings about love, life, joy, and deep mysteries. Her music mixes the musical traditions of the Soninko-Fulani with modern sensitivity. Presented in cooperation with the Royal Academy of Music and SPOT on Mali Music.

Despite the name, Faroese Marius Ziska is a band. Though lead singer Hans Marius Ziska’s vocal is the centre of things, the set-up carrying his name, is actually a seven-piece orchestra. Together they weave a dream journey into landscapes of melodic rock and singer/songwriter virtues with lyrics in English and Faroese. The upcoming album “Home/Heim” will be released on April 17th.

An ”MC time machine” is how the Danish newspaper Berlingske described the rap phenomenon Mar-velous Mosell. The music draws on the disco and pop of the 70s and 80s, and the lyrics are filled with crazy rhymes and unpretentious stories. Even though the hip hopper has been rapping for more than 15 years, it wasn’t until he started making homemade music videos in 2013 that he got his big breakthrough.

Mammút (IS)

Icelandic Mammút was formed in 2003, and they now have three albums under their belt. Their latest record ”Komdu til mín svarta systir” from 2013 received awards for best album, best song and best album cover at The Icelandic Music Awards. The band combines many genres, from indie pop/rock to post psyche-delic punk, but keeps the melodies in focus.

LukkifJullie Hjetland and Rumpistol have one thing in common; love for the Nordic primordial force, and they channel it through their ambient electronic soundscapes. With the clear Nordic resonance to her voice Jullie Hjetland has long since left her mark on the Danish folk scene, and Rumpistol has received recognition for his playful attitude to electronic music. The intensity and presence that they have together herald a new dawn for Nordic folk music.

LydmorLydmor covers electronic pop as well as fragile piano based songwriting. Jenny Rossander is the woman behind the alias. In 2012 she released her critically acclaimed debut album “A pile Of Empty Tapes” and the follow up is soon to be released. In addition to working on the coming al-bum, Lydmor spent 2014 on a tour of Asia and a collaborative project with the Belgian electro duo Arsenal.

Reptile Youth frontman Mads Dams-gaard meets Abby Portner, the visual sorceress from Animal Collective, in this live performance, where music and film interact. Mads Damsgaard is perhaps best known for his very energetic stage performances. For this project his voice is the center of attention, accompanied by Abigail Portner’s unique visual universe that channels an often dreamlike child-hood universe.

Maggie BjørklundThe Danish steel guitarist and singer/songwriter released the acclaimed record ”Shaken” in September last year. The album combines genres from indie rock, country to psych and pop. At this year’s SPOT Festival Mag-gie Bjorklund combines her music with moving images and gives the audience an insight into the journey it was for her to write “Shaken”.

Lùisa (DE)The 22 year old Lùisa captivates her audience with her imaginative and freewheeling lyrics about love and tragedy; illusion and identity. Lùisa delivers her songs in English, French, and Italian, and shows her listeners the beauty in the contrasts: in strength and vulnerability – in introversion and escape – in silence and turbulence. In 2015 she will re-lease her debut album brimming with beautifully enchanting paradoxes.

Lillebror

Mads og Martin spiller i lillebror, når de mødes engang imellem. Til tider optager vi bånd med

vores venner, eller så spiller de i en stue til en fest, eller så laver de noget helt tredje. Sikkert og vist

er dog, at lillebror først og fremmest er fest og sjov og ballade.

Fuld skrald på guitaren, action i trommeslageren og noget på hjerte. Hvad enten de synger om

Nettos udvalg af marinerede sild, at tage ud og rejse og glemme at bestille pladsbillet, den store lille

baby fra 'Riget' som har navngivet duoen, dum kunst eller noget helt femte, så synger Lillebror højt

og hurtigt og hvis du er en bandit med lidt for meget snabelsaft i bøtten, så synger du med og det må

gerne være lige så højt. Og hvis du ikke kan huske teksterne eller har glemt dem, så kan du nå at

øve dig lidt på nogle af dem her: https://lillebror.bandcamp.com

LillebrorFull throttle on the guitar, action in the drummer and something to say. Whether singing about supermar-kets’ selection of marinated herring, travelling and forgetting to reserve a seat, the giant newborn baby from ”The Kingdom”, who the band is named after, stupid art or something completely different – Lillebror sings loudly and fast, and if you’re a scoun-drel with a bit of a brain problem, you will sing along - and it’s okay if you’re just as loud.

LiserstilleIn their hometown of Aarhus, they have reached the status of legends. LISERSTILLE play uncompromising and theatrical rock. Pop templates are completely disregarded. With a past in post rock, the band has plunged into a sound which draws inspiration from prog rock on the latest releases. Over the last ten years, LISERSTILLE have toured extensively abroad and garnered high praise from Rolling Stone Magazine, among others.

Lord SivaThe young musician from Aalborg had a very busy year in 2014 releasing the two EP’s ”100” and ”180”. Lord Siva’s universe is at once melanchol-ic, dark and poetic, and the music combines the best elements from hip hop, R’n’B and pop. Lord Siva draws on personal experience in his lyrics: “On my first EP “100” I tell what hap-pened and on “180” I tell what it does to me. “180” is a shadow – it is me from the inside and it is seen from within. I am right here and I place my soul in the lyrics”.

LowlySelf described as a composers’ commune, Lowly consists of five individual artists; Nanna Schannong, Kasper Staub (Islets Of Dust), Soffie Viemose (Nanome), Thomas Lund (Point Blank) and Steffen Lundtoft (NovemberDecember). With very diverse backgrounds in e.g. hip hop and indie folk, they have created a dreamy, noisy, and decidedly avant garde sound. Lowly have recently been released in Japan, and have played in London and at the Berlin Music Week.

Like a Can of Beans Records is a Danish independent record label founded in 2013 by the members of the band Nelson Can. Last year Like a Can of Beans Records signed the electronic duo Spring & I as well as the noise punk band The Entre-preneurs, who have already been booked for SPOT and will also play at this year’s Roskilde Festival.Along with Nelson Can, the two bands will perform at the venue HeadQuarters as warm-up for SPOT Festival 2015.

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Marius Ziska (FO) MARVELOUS MOSELL

Mellemfingamuzik Mendoza Merlyn Silva Mikas

Like a Can of Beans Records Label Night

Meadows Ever Bleeding (SE)

Bands L-M

Presented by Urban Music Network

SPOTACROSS

SPOTACROSS



Mads Damsgaard (Reptile Youth) vs. Abby Portner

Presented in co operation with Way Up North



Presented in cooperation with Metalized & HeadQuarters


For more than 20 years, Phønix have been one of the leading acts on the Danish folk-scene. They have boat-loads of international live experience, and in the fall they were part of a major export tour in China. Here, they were matched with Chinese kuching virtuoso Sangka, and the match was a great success. So great, in fact, that Phønix have now invited Sangka to Denmark, and the SPOT concert will be the first of many in on Danish soil.

With Pool you can expect a few things: despite the simple instru-ments, guitar, bass and drums the music is everything but simple. Second is the mantra ”not worrying too much” and we are hereby situated between complexity and fun. Pool, who toy with pop, indie and disco funk, invariably deliver concerts where your feet can’t stop moving.

A handful of intense shows in small venues were all it took for Danish soul singer Patrick Dorgan to get the ball rolling during the summer of 2014. And more than 200.000 spotify plays of debut single ‘On The Way Down’ speak volumes about the po-tential. With a great stage presence, and a happy and energetic sound, Dorgan has been compared to Lukas Graham, and will be touring Denmark in early 2015

ONBCONBC are intense, cinematic indie pop between Low, Chris Isaac and Julee Cruise. The band will release their debut LP “Crash, Burn & Cry” on the label Crunchy Frog (Junior Senior, PowerSolo, Raveonettes etc.), but on stage the members are an experienced bunch. Tanja hails from legendary superheroes, Camilla and Mikkel from the indie band epo 555 and Ivan fronts Boom Box Hearts. You do not want to miss these 2 beauties and 2 bearded beasts!

OptagetThese hip hoppers from Aarhus have long been a part of the Danish underground in various different constellations. The group consists of singer Berg and rappers Ado and Vipe. Their mission is to write catchy music with quibbling lyrics that seize the audience and make them come back again and again.

Paper Cranes is an electronic trio with members from Odense and Aarhus. The trio employs effects from electronica which combined with a sensitive soul sound transform the technical devices into soul-ful slow-motion pop. The longing lyrics and heavy beats create an atmospheric and danceable sound universe that draws inspiration from a wide musical range.

The Danish band Patchanka has been kicking life into venues and festivals across 10 countries in Europe. A con-cert with the guys is like backpacking trough continents – it’s punk, pop, reggae, ska, Balkan and everything in between – but with a distinct Nordic sound. In the Spring of 2015 Patchan-ka will release an EP and play festival gigs in Denmark, France, Holland – and hopefully Germany.

Oliver BlankOliver Blank consists of three guys from Esbjerg; Niels Holm, Malthe Seierup and Morten Lynghold. The electro pop trio was among the last five bands competing for the 12th spot in KarriereKanonen, and they won when more than 3000 people voted for them.

NoréllNoréll’s heart is deeply rooted in Scandinavia. Toying with contrasts and mixing genres, the band invites the listener to enter their universe. The point of departure is Scandi pop with strong and characteristic female vocals, built up by energetic and edgy alt-pop productions, inspired by both hip hop and Chicago house.

Northern AssemblyIn October 2014, Northern Assembly released their debut EP, and they play spirited and organic music. They draw influence from bands such as Simon & Garfunkel and Mumford & Sons. The lyrics are rich and com-plex, with deeply poetic flourishes, and are about life in general, and concepts such as peace, hope, grace and poetry specifically. Northern Assembly interpret folk music in the finest Scandinavian tradition.

O/RIOHBehind the name O/RIOH is 26-year-old Rikke Østergaard. The combina-tion of insanity, recognisability, mel-ancholy and exciting dance beats is characteristic of the universe O/RHIO creates and welcomes the audience into. Both her curiosity and her desire to play are obvious in her electro pop music as well as in her exploration of visual elements to enhance her musical expression.

October DanceHeavily inspired by the classic New Yorker disco scene, Tobias Kiel Lauesen (vocals, guitar, synths), Uffe Dalskov (bass), and Saxe Sebastian Lomholt (drums) create a freaky, naive, and viciously addictive retro universe – with hot synths, distort-ed vocals, and catchy bass. The EP ‘Group Pleasure’ (2014) paved the way for concerts at Distortion, Trailerpark Festival, and a live show at Sound of Copenhagen Live.

NonsensNonsens consists of childhood friends Anton, Jens & Rasmus. In March 2015, they released their latest single, “Get it On”, featuring Stine Kinck on vocals. Under the alias “Speckno” they are putting the finish-ing touches on an EP in cooperation with Specktors. It will be released this summer.

Neon HeavenInspired by mood, atmosphere, and cinematography from the likes of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks and Nico-las Winding Refn’s, Drive, composer Nathan Felix set out to capture a hypnotic melding of colours and music for his choral symphony, Neon Heaven. The Sound on the forthcom-ing record evokes many feelings, at times hinting at dark Mendelssohn at other times in keeping with genuine pop sensibilities. Felix premieres Neon Heaven, at SPOT with conduc-tor Mathias Sørensen and the Aarhus Student Choir.

Nick SwayThe just 17-year-old singer/song-writer is originally from Vejle, but lived in Birmingham from when he was 6 to 13 years old. His English years are clearly reflected in the music with references to the great singer/songwriters from the 60s like Dylan and more recent indie rocks bands like the Kooks. Things have happened fast for the young Sway, who gave his first ever concert in September last year and already has an EP on the way.

Nils GröndahlYou may know Nils Gröndahl from projects such as Broken Twin, The Liberty Balance or Under Byen, the latter with which he’s been touring most of the world for the better part of a decade. But it is as an experi-mental solo artist that Gröndahl real-ly shines. On stage, he crafts musical landscapes in saw, violin and vocals, landscapes of intimacy, aggression and haunting beauty, in an homage to repetition and the loop.

Noah Kin (FI)

NakedNAKED peels the layers of the songs you thought you knew, and serves them in completely stripped-down versions. The four brave souls who are going to take up the gauntlet in this year’s edition of NAKED are: Danish rock icon Steen Jørgensen, electro pop smith Kill J, singer and songwriter Aura Dione, and young hip-hop talent Lord Siva. They will go on stage with their own back cata-logue accompanied only by Swedish piano virtuoso Gustaf Ljunggren. Odds are, this will be quite the crowd-puller yet again.

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Paper Cranes

Patchanka Phønix Pool (DE)Patrick Dorgan



Noah Kin is a 19-year-old Finn-ish-Nigerian rapper and producer from Helsinki. Despite his young age Noah has already released three solo albums – “No Matter The Season” (2011) hailed as one of the best Finnish hip-hop albums of the year, the entirely self-produced “9fngrs” (2012) and “Now You See” (2014). He has opened for Wiz Khalifa, Kendrick Lamar and Earl Sweatshirt and performed alongside the legendary Oakland rap group The Coup.

Presented in cooperation with Labelmade Presented in cooperation with No3//Sound of Copenhagen






Private Pact is a Danish new wave/ cold wave band with just one album release. The band has a predilection for the dark side of the ‘80s new wave scene as well as gloomy and danceable electronic music. Recently they’ve been in studio recording new material, which has resulted in two songs: “Without Form” and “We Were Young”. Both songs will feature on the upcoming album “Perfect People”.

Private Pact

Presented by Urban Music NetworkM’era Luna presents

“Nordic goth & industrial night”

Moment opens the SPOT Festival on Friday 1st May with a day party in the garden by Musikhuset (SPOT Royal). In the spirit of the festival, Moment will present four upcoming bands from the Danish underground: ANKAH, Oddhead, Zebu Zarina, and Bye July. Stop by and enjoy cool music in relaxing surroundings before things really heat up. Admission is free until 19:00.

Moment

Bands N-R


Presented in co operation with Danish Vibes

Susanne Sundfør is a Norwegian singer/songwriter with international stature and experience. On her fifth album “Ten Love Songs” from Feb-ruary 2015 she has worked together with artists such as Anthony Gonzalez from M83 and Röyksopp and received great praise from both home and abroad. Her fearless honesty and talent make her one of the most inter-esting Norwegian artists right now.

Loosely translated as PIG, this quar-tet returns to SPOT after generating an impressive amount of interest in 2012. A very impressive amount, in fact, since SVIN is as far from mainstream music as possible. Cat-egorization is almost futile, but SVIN plays a kind of experimental jazz/alternative rock hybrid. The common denominator is powerful guitar riffs, a jazzy saxophone, and a whole lot of white noise.

The energetic rapper Sukker Lyn got his breakthrough in 2013 with his debut EP ”Megaflex”, and he features on releases from Specktors and Topgunn. The past year has been spent trying to find the right direction for the upcoming album ”Lazarus”. It is based on Sukker Lyn’s upbringing, which was characterized by gambling debts, broken families, addiction, asylum centres, and sad fates at close range.

So So SofieSo So Sofie is thought- and wistful pop music with shadows of folk, singer-songwriter and alt pop combining with electronica, and a focus on simple but effective means. She draws the listener into an almost visual soundscape, where energy, beats and stage presence speak to both body and mind. In October 2014, she released the EP “We never saw it coming” in cooperation with Mikas Eskesen.

SolbrudFormed in 2011 by brothers Troels & Tobias Hjorth, Adrian Utzon and vocalist Ole Luk, Solbrud plays atmospheric black metal in the proud Scandinavian tradition: hoarse shrieks, melodic and evocative compositions, and unrelenting drums summon a storm-like soundscape – interspersed by acoustic sequences designed to pull at the heartstrings… and drag your soul to HELL! Solbrud released “Jærtegn” in late 2014.

Soleima aka. Sarah Mariegaard is known as the singer in Flødeklinikken who had a hit in 2011 with “Piger Med Pistoler”. Her solo project references the colorful and analogue pop music and R’n’B of the 60s and 70s and the big female pop artists of the 00s as seen through the eyes of a 90s kid.After stays in London and L.A., where she collaborated with songwriters such as Mocky (Feist), Felix Martin and Bernard Butler from Suede, Mar-iegaard has just returned to Denmark to work on her first album.

With a solid foundation of drums and bass and a musical universe con-sisting of grand string arrangements and melodious synths the Copen-hagen based trio pay homage to the symphonic rock. Sound of Shiva have made a virtue out of steering clear of the established music business and have found their own ambitious sound that makes them unique on the Danish music scene.

Slaughter BeachA whirlwind of noisy rock and dreamy melodies, Slaughter Beach is an indie pop trio from Odense. Still only in the very beginning of their career, their lo fi vocals and sublime synths have already generated interest abroad from medias such as NME and Line of Best Fit. And that’s with only a few tracks released online! In addition to touring Denmark, they’ve played in both Canada and Sweden, and look very promising.

SiameseSiamese is one of Denmark’s most prominent hard rock bands, and with an extensive résumé indeed! The band’s second album, “Breathe:-See:Move”, reached the front pages of Mass Movement and FUZE. In addition, the album reaped top marks in Metal Hammer, Scream Magazine and Kerrang. The band won a GAFFA award for best hard rock album in 2012 and followed up the album with a release in Japan and Europe as well as 150 gigs in 10 countries.

Sigurvin SigurdssonSigurvin Sigurdsson is Aalborg’s very own underground troubadour from a cold basement in Saxogade. Along with his beloved music troupe he cre-ates dusty bodega folk. A genre label they invented when asked about the musical mood of the songs.In a short time, Sigurvin and his folk buddies have fused and performed along with good people, such as Lindsay Katt (US), Andrew Jackson Jihad (US) + Stephen Steinbrink (US), Tim Kasher (US), and The Blue Van.

Skammens VognConsisting of poet Nikolaj Zeuthen and musicians Oliver Hoiness and Jakob Millung, Skammens Vogn (The Wagon of Shame) have won acclaim for their minimalist arrangements and childlike textual simplicity. There are fragrant overtones of 80’s pop, avant garde and funk, but at the heart of everything is a playful attitude to poetry and music, and an air of explo-ration. Skammens Vogn have nothing to be ashamed of!

SkinzDanish Somali R&B/Soul artist Skinz delivered rock’n’roll lifestyle in a soul-ful wrapping on his latest EP, “Byen Sover Aldrig”. As a part of the new ‘dirty south’ wave in Denmark, Skinz brings a lot to the table, including attitude, ambition, and affinity for a great party. Comes with a good deal of experience with live performanc-es, having warmed up for childhood friend Wafande and many others.

Shiny DarklyThe Danish purveyors of all things gloom, psych and drone remind us just what rock ‘n’roll should be – frenzied, on the brink of collapse, chaotic and frayed around the edges. Dark intensity of this calibre is a rare thing: Savages‘ Jehnny Beth has it, Nick Cave has it, Suicide have it and based on the evidence we’ve heard so far, Shiny Darkly’s Kristoffer Bech certainly has it.” Line of Best Fit, UK. Shiny’s debut “Little Earth” is out internationally on June 1st.

Rest in BeatsThe duo consisting of singer Rezwan Farmi and producer Sebastian Rønde makes semi electronic and gloomy singer songwriter hip hop inspired by bands such as James Blake and Little Dragon. The duo combines breakbeats with Danish lyrics exper-imenting with puns and narratives about the beauty of everyday life and the pursuit of happiness. The debut EP ”Stadig med, Stadigvæk” was released in December 2014.

Riddarna (SE)

Originally from Gotland, now residing in Gothenburg, Riddarna have created their own genre with a sound of new wave/post punk and art/noise rock reminiscent of Sonic Youth and Fugazi combined with a magical desperation in the honest Swedish lyrics about death and darkness. the trio’s third album “Under jorden” was released in 2014, and they are now touring Scandinavia while releasing videos and film.

Samaris (IS)

Pulse like beats, enchanting vocals, and the soft, haunting sound of the clarinet combine to form a beautiful and decidedly Icelandic sound. They took Iceland with storm – much to the surprise of the trio whose aspirations were to ‘wear funny costumes and (...) get a gig at a bar in Reykjavik‘. Now Samaris have been touring Europe, playing at e.g. Sonar, Berlin Music Week, Electric Picnic and JaJaJa in London.

SekuoiaGuitar riffs and digital beats, and wonky synths. Patrick Alexander Bech Madsen, alias Sekuoia, moves in an electronic universe, but still has an acoustic sound to it. Described as electronic post dubstep, Sekoia takes you on an organic journey, inwards and upwards, reaching for airwaves very close to dreamy ambient orbit. Stellar. Sekuoia has already played in Germany, France, and the UK.

Redwood HillFormed in 2011, the Copenha-gen-based band has continued to develop its unique approach to post-metal. Starting with the debut album “Descender” released in 2013, and later with the follow-up “Collider” from the end of 2014. The band has played gigs at Roskilde Festival 2012 and Copenhell 2014. The band has also played alongside high-profile international acts such as Envy and Deafhaven and most of the Danish post-black metal scene.

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SOLEIMA Sound Of Shiva Susanne Sundför (NO) SVINSukker Lyn



Surrounded by the adventurous scenery of Northern Sweden, QNDA creates sonic landscapes that invite the listeners to dream and let go of their inner inhibitions. QNDA loves mixing electronic and acoustic instruments to match the sound to their use of cinematic effects. In collaboration with video artists QNDA will take their audience on a voyage of their own.

Esben Nørskov Andersen and Pernille Smith Siversen are the dy-namic duo behind Rangleklods. Their dedicated electro pop has already seen them play in Germany, France, and the UK, evoking memories of Depeche Mode, Soulsavers, and When Saints Go Machine, but with a decidedly modern sound. Ranglek-lods are both elegant and grating, both serene and noisy – but first and foremost they’re brilliant.

QNDA (SE) Rangleklods


Bands R-T



Formed in 2013 by members of the Danish band collective Oh!My, Sweet Jesus 17 aims to write emotional and off the beaten track pop music about having no future, but lots of girls. With lo fi vocals and plenty of expe-rience from other projects, the band released their (aptly titled) debut EP ‘Lo fi Emo’ in 2013, and are about to release a follow up. Stay tuned!

Despite the self-aggrandizing name, Swedish psych-pop outfit The Amazing exude subdued grace and humility. They inhabit an aural land-scape that’s all its own: a panoramic, constantly evolving spectacle marked by layers of intertwining guitars, rich-ly textured keyboards and a rhythm section adept at skewed tempos and a tendency to veer off in surprising ways. Pitchfork has already taken no-tice. Your turn.

Sweet Jesus 17 The Amazing (SE)

Travelling Tribes playfully explores alternative musical elements and traditions. Rooted in alternative rock and world music, the quartet employs tribal percussion, oriental melodies and synth. The group’s musical approach takes you on a journey over different continents and into the provinces. The quartet won a Danish Music Award for “Best World Composer” in 2013.

Danish-Swedish Trio Mio has won no less than seven Danish Music Awards. In the intersection of tra-dition and modern the trio plays contemporary folk inspired by genres such as jazz and classical music. Beautiful, calm and light melodies swiftly give way for quick, unpredict-able and at times fierce improvi-sations – always executed with an intensity, virtuosity and joy that leave the audience breathless.

The siblings from Gothenburg, Linnea and Alexander Herlogsson are the kingpins behind the alternative R&B and trip hop duo, Tracy Irve. The duo’s earlier work has consisted of creating movie soundtracks. On these soundtracks the duo collaborated with the producer Jahlil Beats and R&B artist Marques Houston.

The Radar PostThe Radar Post is a solo project by songwriter and producer Esben Svane, who has previously released two EP’s in his own name, including the appraised “The Sudden Stop” (2013). The Radar Post is rooted in folk and singer/songwriter, but Svane playfully incorporates rock elements. Equally provocative and effortless the album mesmerizes the listener with its catchy pop hooks and enticing vocals.

The WandsHypnotic like Mazzy Star and non-chalant like The Stooges, psychedelic retro rock duo The Wands channel the spirit of the 60s with their fuzzy guitars, quirky lyrics and pulsating vibe. Described as ‘the sound of an acid trip’, The Wands have started 2015 in a strong position, after having played more than 30 concerts in Europe last year, mainly in the UK. Don’t miss this!

Disco punk for the biker gang’s dance floor. Frothing slap-back vocals, theremin and synths contribute to the weird sound that Thunderboss cultivates from love of rock’n’roll and new wave. It ‘s silly and out of fash-ion, but it can make even the hardest biker wear platform shoes. Recently announced as upcoming Band of the Week on P3 with the single Disco Magic Crystal Ball.

Playful and informal, Tidlige Armbånd are fronted by a charming Anders Hjernø, whose purposefully naïve lyrics are an interesting accom-paniment to keyboard trumpets, tap-ping guitars, and crooked harmonies. Loosely classifiable as electro pop, they played at Roskilde in 2014, and have been described as ‘the cutest special ed class in town’. Will be releasing their debut album in 2015.

The New SpringSince his debut in 2011 The New Spring has impressed critics and fans in Denmark and abroad with his direct folk music and phenomenal lyrics. Having already composed the songs for the upcoming album “1000 Songs leaped Into The Air And Clearly It Is A Sign”, he will include these unreleased songs at Spot. The New Spring is signed to the record label Tambourhinoceros (Cancer, Rangleklods etc.).

The EntrepreneursRaw and potent romantic punk, deliv-ered by Mathias Bertelsen on vocals and guitar, and Anders Hvass on bass and guitar. On stage they are joined by a drummer, and step on the gas. The Entrepreneurs are unpolished and trashed, in true punk fashion. Add a vigorous voice, and an infectious en-ergy on stage, and you have the recipe for a good concert.

The InterbeingThe Copenhagen-based industri-al-metal band The Interbeing re-leased the debut album “Edge of the Obscure” in 2011, and it was received with high acclaim from critics and audiences alike. Gaffa gave it a five-star review: “without a doubt the best Danish metal album I heard this year.” Furthermore, Metal Hammer invited the band to play at their showcase. The Interbeing are ready to follow up on the success with a new album and a gig at The Hard Spot.

The MigrantAfter touring both Europe and the US and receiving international acknowl-edgement for their latest albums “Amerika” (2011) and “Beads” (2013) The Migrant are now ready with a new album “Flood”. Front man Bjarke Bendtsen and the band move through a haze of untamed folk rock. The hypnotic melodies, the psychedelic guitar and Bjarke’s trembling voice have the reviewers comparing The Mi-grant to the likes of George Harrison, Radiohead and Fleetfoxes.

The Courettes10.000 kilometers couldn’t prevent The Courettes duo - Flavia Couri, from Brazil on guitar and vox, and Martin Couri, from Denmark on drums - from becoming a band - and a couple. Brazilian wildness blends with scandinavian rock’n’roll in this brand new garage group based in Aalborg. 60’s beats, riot girl’s screams, garage nerve, and a bit of pop make The Courettes a unique blast.

The Bongo ClubThe Bongo Club use neither com-puters, backtracks or DJs to deliver intense music, but rely solely on great song and a crazy performance to get the audience going. Last year the band played 28 concerts in 12 different countries and recorded their debut album. In 2015 the band will strive to prove that nothing beats a pure, authentic rock show.

The Boy That Got AwayThe Boy That Got Away is unadul-terated and uncompromising rock, where the strongest elements from the golden age of rock in the 60’s and 70’s meets the wild, but melodious rebelliousness of grunge. It’s the sound of thundering drums, pulsating bass lines and overloaded ampli-fiers – fronted by an awe-inspiring vocal-performance.

The Cabin ProjectThe Cabin Project is the result of the collaboration between the two child-hood friends and songwriters Kira Skov and Maria Fisker. At their SPOT concert they have joined forces with video artists Helene Nymann and Diana T. Møller. They have created a visual interpretation of the bands songs in the shape of an erotic and abstract story of mental landscapes, bodily movements and the minds memory.

The ChairmanThe Chairman is a combined exercise in self-therapy and artistic display for the songwriter Lucas Berner. Drum machines played through valve am-plifiers sprinkled with Afro beats and analogue synthesizers characterize the musical part of the universe where The Chairman takes on his own state of mind and everyday life. Digital merges with organic, musical effects from soul, disco and primal rock are applied and the lyrics draw on inspiration from doomsayers like Leonard Cohen and Johnny Cash.

The Attic SleepersFour years ago, the two friends Mathias Barfod and Matias Knigge Laursen sat in the small Guatemalan village Lanquin and wrote folk songs. They decided to form the indie band The Attic Sleepers, and named their debut EP after the village Lanquin. Their first single Airport received massive airplay on Danish national radio stations P6 and P4 as well as German, Dutch and English radio stations.

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Thunderboss Tidlige Armbånd Travelling Tribes Trio MioTracy Irve (SE)

Taragana PyrajamaTaragana Pyjarama has primarily pro-duced instrumental, electronic sound-scapes, but now the Danish producer is ready with the EP ‘Ariel’, where the palette has been expanded with vocals and a more immediate expression - Taragana Pyjarama even describes his latest release as a collection of pop songs. The EP is released on May 4, but he is likely to play a couple of the new tracks at SPOT.

Bands T-U




Presented in co operation with Danish Vibes

SPOTACROSS



Presented in co operation with Way Up North



XanderSince early childhood, Xander has had music and lyrics as a natural part of his upbringing. The immediate exposure to music has helped him achieve an openness which is evident in his lyrics, and despite an edgy and beautiful lyrical universe the songs have an in-your-face quality to them. Like Xander’s own taste, his music encompasses several genres, though always with a focus on the good song.

Zanno OtisFollowing a slow beat, Zanno Otis raps about being in a club, and the stroboscopic synths embrace the tightly delivered lines. A sound very similar to that of Kendrick Lamar and Danish Ukendt Kunstner. Zanno Otis is just 22 years old but he has wanted to engage in the many facets of rap for a long time.

Yung20 year old Mikkel Silkjær Holm is the mastermind behind Yung, the next big thing on the rising DIY punk scene in Aarhus. Yung sounds like a distant northern cousin of Ty Segall and Jay Reatard. The sound is garage rock played with punk ferocity. It’s noisy but at the same time extremely melodious with lyrics about Mikkel’s own life and the uncertainty that prevails in a young man entering adulthood.

Who is LouisWho is Louis is strong and lively elec-tro pop. With a modern, yet nostalgic take the band wrestles with life’s grand emotions to the sound of crys-tal-clear beats and epic synths. The lyrics are intense, twisted and pose the question, “Who are you and who am I?” After a busy year with many concerts in Denmark and a series of warm-up gigs in Tivoli Friheden, the band is now working on their first album, which will be released in 2015.

Who Killed Bambi“Who Killed Bambi+” is the name of their current record project, where solo songs are performed in new and original compositions written and performed by Who Killed Bambi. The chosen soloists on SPOT Festival are Pernille Rosendahl, Kristian Finne from Chorus Grant, Hannah Schneider and Sofie Viemose from Lowly and Nanome. The songs are combined with the sound of classical instruments in this innovative project, which keeps clear of all genres and norms.

Wilhelm Tell Me (DE)

Wilhelm Tell Me create energetic indie pop where clichés are neutralized by sincerity. The group released the de-but “Excuse My French” in 2011, and subsequently released “A Short Story for the Road” in 2014. Wilhelm Tell Me’s songs emphasize honesty and revolve around love: the frankness in choosing emotion over doubt – affect over hesitation.

You Work For Me NowYou Work For Me Now write good songs with catchy melodies that you just want to listen to again and again. They are basically a pop band, even though they won’t willingly admit it. The instrumentation is very simple (guitar, bass and drums) which leaves plenty of room for the band’s most lethal weapon – the amazing vocals. Their music is described best as played down indie rock with room for both contemplation and impulsive-ness.

An electronic pop voyage beyond the discos and into the cosmic depths to bring you pure, star-strewn trance. The philosophical quartet tells grand techno pop stories about the ways of the universe. Their dreamy expression thus transcends most techno and disco on our planet– and ventures into space on an intergalac-tic, philosophical quest for the divine.

Vampire BlowEnergetic garage punk with a humor-ous rock’n’roll attitude. Vampire Blow returns to SPOT for a third time, after playing in 2010 and 2012. Formed on a flight back from New York in 2009 by drummer Thomas Persson and guitarist Morten Søgaard, the duo became a trio with the addition of Jasper Spanning on bass. In their own words, ‘a mix of garage punk, neon signs, and a hangover inducing drink you can’t remember the name of’.

Vinnie WhoWith an EP and two albums, Vinnie Who has accomplished more in a few years, than most musicians dream of achieving in a whole career. In less than a year Vinnie Who’s “What You Got Is Mine”, “Remedy”, and “Killerbee” were all ”hit of the week” on Danish radio channel P3. Now he has found new musical inspiration – wrapped in strings, slide guitar and catchy melodies, his new album “Harmony” consists of lovely sing-er-songwriter pop which is perfect for chilling in the sunny spring.

WangelAfter almost two years in the studio, Peter Wangel is finally ready to release the first EP of his career. His very personal project “Wangel”, is a collaboration between the singer/songwriter Peter Wangel and his long-time friend and producer Kasper Ejlerskov (The Grenadines, Surf in Stereo, The Olympics).

WaqasWaqas, known from the band Outlandish, is ready to release his new EP, which among other things includes a guest performance by Me-dina. The lyrics are about losing faith in oneself, and the sound is more melancholic and dreamy than that of Outlandish. Behind the soundboard is producer Jabz, who is known for his remix of the Medina song “Jalousi”, and from the electro pop band Odd Collection.

UnkwonDreamy and emotional slow elec-tronica. Lingering ambience, and bass heavy, wordless hip hop. Anders Dixen has been active on the Danish music scene for a long time, as a producer and DJ under names such as Dixone and as a part of Dokkedal/Dixen. With Unkwon he reveals a more sensitive side of himself, with tunes inspired by early Sunday morning blues. In 2013, Unkwon was support for Trentemøller on his European tour.

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We Are The Way For The Cosmos To Know Itself




“Whaddya want? Sweaty bodies? YOU GOT IT! Rock without additives? YOU GOT IT! A show you can dance, bang and fight to? YOU GOT IT!!! This shit ain’t rocket science, it’s just good old, tap-your-right-foot, rock’n’roll with a badass attitude!” This is the battle cry of the booming Aarhus quintet TurboChild. On their singles ”Gimme Some” and ”Still My Love”, they don’t give a rat’s ass about anything other than the love for an unusually punchy rock that you will either love or hate.

TurbochildEver since their hit single “Neonlys” became song of the week on national radio Ukendt Kunster (Unknown Art-ist) haven’t been quite so unknown. Producer Jens Ole and rapper Hans Philip have created a synthesized sound that captures the mood of city life – a sound that has excited music bloggers, social media and radio stations. The duo’s distinctive sound, which draws on both soft R’n’B and urban has been called mysterious, dreamy and melancholy.

Ukendt Kunstner


Thy Music Collective presents a day party which will focus on Thy’s cultural environment. The line-up consists of The Entrepreneurs, Magnolia Shoals, Quick Quick Obey, Drengebande, and This Is You, while three influential actors on the cultural scene in Thy – Alive Festival, URT (the youth council in Thy) and ELSK will also bring the Thy magic to Aarhus.

Thy Music Collective Day Party

Bands U-Z





International partners:

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Cellphone rechargingYou can recharge your cellphone in the accreditation area in Scandinavian Congress Center. We cannot guarantee, however, that we have a charger that fits your phone so remember to bring your own charger!

Means of paymentThe festival accepts credit cards such as VISA, MasterCard and similar in almost all of the bars. Obviously cash is fine, too.

Capacity and venues at SPOTThe SPOT Festival venues all have limited capacities. We therefore advise you to be there in good time before the start of the concert if you want to be absolutely sure to get in. The majority of our venues are indoor venues, many of of the venues are furnished with seats and practically all the venues are disabled-friendly.

Please note that the festival is a guest at the various venues and culture house and that there may be specific rules concerning smoking and drinks at the individual venues. Pay attention to information at the venue concerning such rules (and follow them!).

INFO

Important info!It is not allowed to carry drinks from one stage area to another.

P AROS

SCANDINAVIANCONGRESS CENTER

Å B O U L E V A R D E N

VES

T ER

FR

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I KS

AL

LÈ

BANK

A L L ÈMUSIKHUSET

ATLAS/VOXHALL

CA

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LOC

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GA

DE

RADAR

ATLAS

VOXHALL

SCC Major

KAMMERMUSIKSALEN

FILUREN

CHECK-INSTORE SAL

CAFE SCENEN

DOME

SPOT ROYAL

1 KMØST FOR PARADIS

RYTMISK SAL LILLE SAL

HeadQuarters

SPOT+

SCC Minor

ÅBNE SCENE

GODSBANEN

SYMFONISK SAL

P

TAK ROCK

Remisen

SPOTACROSS

SPOT Across wants to challenge your perceptions, of how MUSIC, FILM and DIGITAL MEDIA can be combined. Spot Across is a collection of out-of-the-ordinary acts and events, with one thing in common; they want to create entirely new experiences out of well-known-ingredients. SPOT ACROSS: {MUSIC - FILM - DIGITAL MEDIA} - TOGETHER

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