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January 31st, 2014

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As snowflakes twirl around Copenhagen roofs, and the darkened skies proclaim another round of the winter Nordic weather, locals and visitors alike are in search of something to warm up their souls and put a smile on their faces.

Step forward FROST, a music festival taking place in the Copenhagen area during February. Everything about FROST is alternative: from the acts to the locations, which include a gothic church and the Copenhagen Zoological Museum.  FROST organisers believe that attending a concert in an unusual environment creates a special context for the event and bestows a quite unique experience upon the audience.

FROST attracts international and domestic artists of different calibers and genres, whose styles range from pop to jazz and from folk to electronic music. Among those who have played since the inaugural festival in 2011 are Wilco, Efterklang, Foxygen and WhoMadeWho.

And this year the festival also has quite an exciting programme to offer.

Top picks

When the Saints Go Machine

This year’s thematic focus is on water and cultural history, which might explain why the festival’s programme starts with a concert by local electro-pop darlings When the Saints Go Machine at the closed-down National Aquarium on the outskirts of Copenhagen. This Danish band has steadily become popular since forming in 2007. They opened the Orange Scene at Roskilde in 2010 and have lately begun to gain international acclaim, especially after the release of their latest effort, Infinity Pool, in 2013. Should you be interested in watching a band that has been described as a “perfect balance between pushing boundaries and making people dance” (TheLineofBestFit.com), you can catch a free shuttle bus to the aquarium from outside DGI-byen at 20:00.

Of Montreal

Indie-rock gods of Montreal (no, they do not come from Quebec!) are performing at the beautiful old Bremen Theatre. The American psychedelic pop-rock sextet from Athens, Georgia have long been among the hottest names in the alternative/indie music realm. Formed in 1996, the band have released 12 full albums to date, and currently their music is an eclectic, yet very organic mix of indie rock, psychedelic pop, R&B, afro-beat, and even funk – in short the kind of genre cocktail that is universally adored by fans of an experimental and smart approach to modern pop music.

Connan Mockasin

Fans of experimental music will definitely not want to miss this concert by psychedelic pop star Connan Mockasin. The last decade has seen the New Zealander rise from being a local underground favourite to become an international indie music hero, especially after his relocation to London and release of the LP Forever Dolphin Love, which received praise from critics. After touring with Radiohead and Charlotte Gainsbourg, Connan released his last album, Caramel, in 2013. Sounding like a trip down the flamboyant valley of psychedelic pop bliss, the album proved to be highly successful in the indie charts.

Erlend Øye

A winter pool party at the bottom of the closed-down swimming pool at Hollænderhallen is planned for this concert by Erlend Øye. The Norwegian musician, best known as the other half of the folk duo Kings of Convenience, will be performing his solo repertoire.

Indians

Danish aspiring indie music star Søren Løkke Juul, aka Indians, will perform a concert in collaboration with the Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra.

Baby In Vain

All-girl Danish rock trio Baby In Vain, whose music is a mix of grunge-like noisy guitars, blues and garage rock, are going to perform two shows at Store Vega.