Roskilde Festival
June 29 – July 6; one-day tickets 970kr; roskilde-festival.dk
The north’s biggest and Europe’s second biggest, it started in 1971 and has developed into nothing less than a culture.
This year’s headliners include the Rolling Stones, Arctic Monkeys, Drake, Outkast, Stevie Wonder and Trentemøller – we’re afraid the festival tickets have sold out, but one-day tickets are still available.
Islandsbrygge Reggae Festival
Islands Brygge Kulturhus, Islands Brygge 18, Cph S; July 19
The Islands Brygge Reggae Festival is one of the many reggae festivals in Copenhagen this year, but the location of this one will really make everything Irie.
With a view of the sea, the summer sun shining and names such as Dean Thompson, JJ Wild (Ganjah Force), Youngblood Sound and Universal Soundsystem, come and experience the Danish reggae scene at its best at this one-day festival.
Scandinavia Reggae Festival
Scandinavia Reggae Festival, Refshaleøen, Cph K; Aug 29-30; festival pass 1,090kr, one-day tickets 550kr; scandinaviareggaefestival.com
The Danish reggae and dancehall collective Donkey Sound has finally created an impressive platform from which to celebrate the growing Scandinavian reggae scene.
Running for the second year in a row, the festival includes Donkey Sound Band feat Pharfar, Kaka, Wafande, Fresh-I & Dean Thompson and Chronixx & Zinc Fence Redeption.
Vanguard Festival
Vanguard Festival, Søndermarken, Frederiksberg; Aug 1-2; festival pass: 1,070kr, one-day: 670kr, billetlugen.dk; vanguard-festival.com
Running for its second year, the Vanguard Festival invites guests to bring their own picnic or enjoy food from the city’s eateries at this international music festival in Søndermarken – an oasis in the city.
Artists including Dam Funk (boogie-funk), Swedish solo artist Neneh Cherry, who’s back on the scene after 16 years, the Roots, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, and Denmark’s The Savage Rose, which will actually turn 45 at this festival.
Trailerpark Festival
Copenhagen Skatepark, Enghavevej 78-80, Cph SV; July 31-Aug 3; festival pass 500kr, one-day 250kr, billetto.dk
Among painted caravans, Vesterbro’s Trailerpark Festival is a celebration of the alternative life style: graffiti, vibrant art installations and a great introduction to the Danish music scene.
Headliners this year include Reptile Youth, LE1F, Baby in Vain, Giana Factory and S!vas.
Corabelle
Hedeland, Tranemosevej 8, Hedehusene; Aug 23; 495kr
Electronic music enthusiasts will want to go to this one! About 15 minutes away from the central station in Copenhagen, Corabelle will transform the picturesque Hedeland into a magical world where nature, dark, light and electronic music forces combine.
The Roskilde Festival group’s baby plans to be the biggest of its kind in northern Europe.
Jazz Festival
CPH Jazz Festival: July 4-13, includes free concerts, jazz.dk; Aarhus Jazz Festival: July 12-19, includes discounts on some concerts, jazzfest.dk
The great thing about jazz festivals is that they’re for people of all ages – whether you sip wine along the Nyhavn canal in Copenhagen, bring grandma to ARoS art museum or take the kids to Klostertorvet in Aarhus, there are 1,000 concerts on 100 stages in Copenhagen with jazz from all over the world, and in Aarhus, a particular focus on European jazz.
Watch the cities come alive with the many musical possibilities that encompass jazz.
Smukfest
Birkevej 20, Skanderborg; Aug 6 -10; festival passes sold out, one-day tickets 800kr; smukfest.dk
Probably the second-most talked about festival in Denmark, Smukfest (the most beautiful festival) in Skanderborg continues its successful theme ‘music and beaches’.
Surrounded by forests and lakes, the festival this year includes names such as 50 Cent, Deadmau5, Pet Shop Boys, Nephew, Skrillex and many, many more.
Grimfest
Grimhøjvej 20, Braband; July 31-Aug 2; festival pass 550kr; grimfest.dk
The cheaper alternative to Smukfest, Grimfest (the ugliest festival) originated in the garden of Grimhøjgaard in Aarhus in 2003, and this year it is continuing with a chilled out atmosphere thanks to acts like Slowolf, WhoMadeWho, Lucy Love, The Minds of 99, When Saints Go Machine, Gypsy Hill, I’ll be Damned, The Fat White Family and many more.
Fanø Free Folk Festival
Sønderho Forsamlingshus, Fanø; July 25-27; tickets 400kr,nembillet.dk
Folk tradition and innovation meet at this festival in a proper Fanø manner. Fanø is a 56 sq km island in the Wadden Sea in southwestern Denmark, a 12-minute ferry-ride away from Esbjerg.
This intimate festival, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, has recently revealed eight of its 20 performing artists: acid-folky Arborea, acid-folk/rock Halasan Bazar , acoustic-electronic Svarte Greiner, neo-folk/classical Jo Quail, Hungerhoff & The Wild Roots, Bird People, Laboule and Family Underground.
Nibe Festival
Skalvej, Nibe; July 2-5; festival pass 1,475kr, one-day tickets 650kr; nibefestival.dk
Nibe Festival in north Jutland’s Skalskov forest turns 30 this year. ‘The little fat one’, as the festival is lovingly known, has 100 concerts on five stages over four festival days and nights.
The program is particularly impressive this year, with Danish artists including L.O.C, Shaka Loveless, Medina, D-A-D, Carpark North and Panamah and international names The Offspring, Zara Larsson, Suede, Kelis, James Arthur and more. Bring your own tent and camp for free!
Egholm Festival
Egholm; July 31-Aug 2; festival passes 250-400kr, one-day tickets 50-225kr, tickets include ferry ride; egholmfestival.dk
Egholm is a six sq km island in the Limfjord, a mere five-minute ferry ride from Aalborg.
Experience Denmark’s cosiest festival, which presents the best of north Jutland’s culture: beer from a microbrewery, food from the most interesting of local producers and upcoming artists.
Genres include rock, pop, country, blues, synth-pop, folk, rockabilly, and Danish hip-hop – there’s something for everyone.
Skagen Festival
Skagen Festival, Skolevej 5, Skagen; July 3-6; tickets from 195kr; skagenfestival.dk
Just as old as the Roskilde Festival, the Skagen Festival is an international folk-music festival that has developed to encompass all genres of folk music.
This year includes Ahab, Allan Taylor, Baskery, Scottish Beggars Row, Ian Bruce, Mary Black, Darragh Folk, Kandoris, Fiddlers Feast, Habadeku, Cattle in the Cane and Stacie Collins & the Al-Mighty Three, just to mention a few.
