Roskilde Festival: Getting Ready to Storm 2016

Like a vigorous storm, that penetrates the Danish summer air, Roskilde Festival 2016 is set to make its way over Dyreskuepladsen this weekend, a field that has faithfully played hostess to endless hordes of festival goers, since the hippies gently took her virginity back in 1971.

The list of pop royalty, who’ve come and played here since, seems endless, and this year is no different. Names such as, Neil Young, LCD Soundsystem, New Order and PJ Harvey, make sure that we’re in for a treat of extraordinary heights, and in a way, also underlines why every single ticket has been sold out already.

2016 will see 183 acts, from over 30 countries, playing across nine stages. And it’s not always about the headliners, of course. In small capital letters, underneath mastodont names such as Tame Impala and Damon Albarn, you’ll find interesting little new species, in shape of bands, whose message and image is still a song, unsung; along with interesting artists who’ve been around for more than half a century.

Take for example Calypso Rose, who began writing songs at the age of 15, before turning professional in 1964, and has written more than 800 songs and recorded more than 20 albums. An iconic cultural figure in her native Trinidad and Tobago, the ‘Calypso Queen’ is revered as one of the greatest calypso singers ever, and a key figure in bringing the music of the Caribbean to the wider world.

And now, some of those new species. Madrid lo-hi garage rockers, Hinds, is living proof that The Shaggs didn’t exist for nothing. Only, of course, this lot play their instruments much better. Frantic little guitar hooks, all delivered in a swell combination of attitude and fine melodies, all seem to work in favour for these cool girls.

Having been around (as a solo artist) since 2009, Los Angeles based, Welsh psych-folk-rock musician, Cate Le Bon, is a tasty but strange brew, where the ingredients are probably called something like Ludus, or maybe Stereolab.

For three full days, the Countdown, Rising and Street stages are dedicated to some of the most exciting Nordic talents, with the full festival journey being an eight-day exploration of music, artistic expression, delicious food, sustainability, love, community and party – and all just 35 kilometres outside of the Danish capital of Copenhagen.

But more about all this, when FMS reports from Roskilde festival, 2016.

Words: Anders Knudsen
Photo: Vegard S. Kristiansen

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