Author: Alan Kortbaek

Roskilde picks: Day 2

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Roskilde picks: Day 2.  original article at:

http://cphpost.dk/culture/roskilde-2013/roskilde-picks-day-2

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July 5, 2013 – 10:04
With a schedule full of acts, it can be difficult to make choices. Our music writers give you their picks for today’s must-see concerts.
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Plenty of choices for music fans on day two of the 2013 Roskilde Festival (Photo: Scanpix / Torben Christensen)

Although it is known as much for the camping, the partying and the “orange feeling”, believe it or not, for some people the Roskilde Festival is still all about the music.

With a full schedule across the festival’s seven stages, it can sometimes be hard to know when to go where. The Copenhagen Post offers our picks for each day’s best concerts, but any Roskilde veteran would caution against planning your schedule too carefully. Part of the beauty of the festival is stumbling across new acts and stepping outside of your musical comfort zones.
But if you are unfamiliar with some of the names on the schedule and want to know a little more, here are our picks for Friday:
It's early in the day, so don't be high as a kite when you watch HighasakiteIt’s early in the day, so don’t be high as a kite when you watch Highasakite

Highasakite

14:00, Pavilion
Flying on top of the skies is Norwegian indie pop band Highasakite. Vocalist Ingrid Helene Håvik, who writes most of the group’s music, is known for her mesmerising voice. The band just released their debut album All That Floats Will Rain last year which the music critics received with open arms and flattering reviews. The band prefers to dress in Indian clothing upon entering the stage and are said to put on very memorable shows. They are known for their catchy tracks and the EP In and Out of Weeks, which was released this spring, is no exception.  Sigrid Neergaard
Of Monsters And Men
18:30, Arena
Chamber pop, a sound popularized by the enigmatic Edwarde Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, looks set to become a genre in its own right thanks to Icelandic sensation Of Monsters And Men. The six-piece will be making only their second visit to Denmark, having played at Vega late last year. Expect plenty of epic sing-along moments and a concert that will linger in your mind for a very long time to come. Allan Mututku-Kortbæk
Catch living legend Bobby Womack on the Orange StageCatch living legend Bobby Womack on the Orange Stage

Bobby Womack

19:00, Orange
An active recording artist since the late ‘60s, the veteran soul singer Womack has had an enduring influence on the world of funk, deep soul and R & B throughout the decades. Sharing similarities with some of soul’s most prestigious figures – including Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett and Otis Reading – Womack has been a part of a modern reemergence of nostalgic funk during the last few years along with such acts as The Temptations, Charles Bradley and Cody Chestnut. Daniel van der Noon
Rokia Traore
19:00, Odeon
One of very few African acts at this year’s festival, Rokia Traore is part of the modern wave of Malian musicians that includes Amadou & Mariam, Ali Farka Toure and Salif Keita. The widely travelled Traore has recently released her fifth album, Beautiful Africa, a work that represents a coming of age of sorts for her. This marks her third visit to the Roskilde Festival. Allan Mututku-Kortbæk
Maskinen
19:30, Apollo
This Swedish act got its Scandinavian breakthrough with the release of the upbeat hit ‘Alla som inte dansar’ (Everyone who doesn’t dance) in 2007. The song was impossible to miss in Denmark, but the Swedes have not been very visible since. They have toured in the US and Brazil but are now trying to get back on the Danes’ playlists. Their mixture of pop, rap, bass and electronic sounds are sure to start a huge party and you don’t need to understand Swedish to appreciate their beats and energy. Sigrid Neergaard
Easily the most controversial name on the bill this year, the pressure will be on Rihanna (and festival organisers) to deliver a strong showEasily the most controversial name on the bill this year, the pressure will be on Rihanna (and festival organisers) to deliver a strong show

Rihanna

22:30, Orange
One of the main names at Roskilde Festival this year is R&B mega-star Rihanna. She will be set to rock the crowd at the festival’s largest stage despite many Roskilde Festival enthusiasts being displeased with the booking, as the pick is more pop-orientated than the festival’s traditional picks. The young woman from Barbados broke through with her hit ‘Pon de Replay’ in 2005 and has since then delivered hit after hit. Over the years she has transformed from a sweet innocent girl into a sultry sex icon. Sigrid Neergaard
Tego Calderon
24:00, Cosmopol
Reggaeton is a genre that can easily become tediously repetitive, generic and flat-out boring, but not if you look towards one of the pioneers of the genre who sought to bring the Latin vibes from the poor neighbourhoods of Puerto Rico to a widespread global audience. Tego Calderón performs his steaming reggaeton with dignity, always pushing to open the boundaries of the hedonistic party music. Put on your dancing shoes for this year’s Latin party. Michalis Nielsen
Crystal Castles
01:30, Arena
Canadian punks Ethan Kath and Alice Glass form one of the most unique bands around, with their radical concoction of ethereal boundary-pushing electronic music. Their sold-out show at Vega earlier this year was one of the best the venue has played host to, replete with epic moments of crowd-surfing, as it cruised the fine line between untamed chaos and sheer genius. Crystal Castles have been touring non-stop for the last two years, so to say that they are an act in top form is a gross understatement. Allan Mututku-Kortbæk
Simian Mobile Disco
02:00, Apollo
Simian Mobile Disco may be a bit past their prime but are nonetheless still a force to be reckoned with in the intricate, erratic world of electronic music. Their live show is a maelstrom of chaotic musical arrangements strung flimsily together with aplomb. The duo have released a consistent string of albums over the years and collaborated with the likes of Florence and The Machine and the Arctic Monkeys and are an active component in the UK’s effervescent music scene. Brace yourself for a wild and hedonistic late-night show. Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk

Roskilde picks: Day 2

/ Alan Kortbaek / Leave a comment
Original article written for The Copenhagen Post, available here With a schedule full of acts, it can be difficult to make choices. Our music writers give you their picks for today’s must-see concerts.

July 5th, 2013 10:04 am
Although it is known as much for the camping, the partying and the “orange feeling”, believe it or not, for some people the Roskilde Festival is still all about the music.With a full schedule across the festival’s seven stages, it can sometimes be hard to know when to go where. The Copenhagen Post offers our picks for each day’s best concerts, but any Roskilde veteran would caution against planning your schedule too carefully. Part of the beauty of the festival is stumbling across new acts and stepping outside of your musical comfort zones.

 

But if you are unfamiliar with some of the names on the schedule and want to know a little more, here are our picks for Friday:

 

It's early in the day, so don't be high as a kite when you watch HighasakiteHighasakite

14:00, Pavilion

Flying on top of the skies is Norwegian indie pop band Highasakite. Vocalist Ingrid Helene Håvik, who writes most of the group’s music, is known for her mesmerising voice. The band just released their debut album All That Floats Will Rain last year which the music critics received with open arms and flattering reviews. The band prefers to dress in Indian clothing upon entering the stage and are said to put on very memorable shows. They are known for their catchy tracks and the EP In and Out of Weeks, which was released this spring, is no exception.  Sigrid Neergaard

 

Of Monsters And Men

18:30, Arena

Chamber pop, a sound popularized by the enigmatic Edwarde Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, looks set to become a genre in its own right thanks to Icelandic sensation Of Monsters And Men. The six-piece will be making only their second visit to Denmark, having played at Vega late last year. Expect plenty of epic sing-along moments and a concert that will linger in your mind for a very long time to come. Allan Mututku-Kortbæk

 

Catch living legend Bobby Womack on the Orange StageBobby Womack

19:00, Orange

An active recording artist since the late ‘60s, the veteran soul singer Womack has had an enduring influence on the world of funk, deep soul and R & B throughout the decades. Sharing similarities with some of soul’s most prestigious figures – including Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett and Otis Reading – Womack has been a part of a modern reemergence of nostalgic funk during the last few years along with such acts as The Temptations, Charles Bradley and Cody Chestnut. Daniel van der Noon

 

Rokia Traore

19:00, Odeon

One of very few African acts at this year’s festival, Rokia Traore is part of the modern wave of Malian musicians that includes Amadou & Mariam, Ali Farka Toure and Salif Keita. The widely travelled Traore has recently released her fifth album, Beautiful Africa, a work that represents a coming of age of sorts for her. This marks her third visit to the Roskilde Festival. Allan Mututku-Kortbæk

 

Maskinen

19:30, Apollo

This Swedish act got its Scandinavian breakthrough with the release of the upbeat hit ‘Alla som inte dansar’ (Everyone who doesn’t dance) in 2007. The song was impossible to miss in Denmark, but the Swedes have not been very visible since. They have toured in the US and Brazil but are now trying to get back on the Danes’ playlists. Their mixture of pop, rap, bass and electronic sounds are sure to start a huge party and you don’t need to understand Swedish to appreciate their beats and energy. Sigrid Neergaard

 

Easily the most controversial name on the bill this year, the pressure will be on Rihanna (and festival organisers) to deliver a strong showRihanna

22:30, Orange

One of the main names at Roskilde Festival this year is R&B mega-star Rihanna. She will be set to rock the crowd at the festival’s largest stage despite many Roskilde Festival enthusiasts being displeased with the booking, as the pick is more pop-orientated than the festival’s traditional picks. The young woman from Barbados broke through with her hit ‘Pon de Replay’ in 2005 and has since then delivered hit after hit. Over the years she has transformed from a sweet innocent girl into a sultry sex icon. Sigrid Neergaard

 

Tego Calderon

24:00, Cosmopol

Reggaeton is a genre that can easily become tediously repetitive, generic and flat-out boring, but not if you look towards one of the pioneers of the genre who sought to bring the Latin vibes from the poor neighbourhoods of Puerto Rico to a widespread global audience. Tego Calderón performs his steaming reggaeton with dignity, always pushing to open the boundaries of the hedonistic party music. Put on your dancing shoes for this year’s Latin party. Michalis Nielsen

 

Crystal Castles

01:30, Arena

Canadian punks Ethan Kath and Alice Glass form one of the most unique bands around, with their radical concoction of ethereal boundary-pushing electronic music. Their sold-out show at Vega earlier this year was one of the best the venue has played host to, replete with epic moments of crowd-surfing, as it cruised the fine line between untamed chaos and sheer genius. Crystal Castles have been touring non-stop for the last two years, so to say that they are an act in top form is a gross understatement. Allan Mututku-Kortbæk

 

Simian Mobile Disco

02:00, Apollo

Simian Mobile Disco may be a bit past their prime but are nonetheless still a force to be reckoned with in the intricate, erratic world of electronic music. Their live show is a maelstrom of chaotic musical arrangements strung flimsily together with aplomb. The duo have released a consistent string of albums over the years and collaborated with the likes of Florence and The Machine and the Arctic Monkeys and are an active component in the UK’s effervescent music scene. Brace yourself for a wild and hedonistic late-night show. Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk

Roskilde Festival Camping Feature 2013

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Orange you glad it’s festival time again?

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Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk
July 3, 2013 – 20:03
Although the main music doesn’t kick off until tomorrow, the party has already been raging for days
From the opening of the gates last Saturday until the last musical notes are played Sunday night, the Roskilde Festival campgrounds are a frenetic – but beloved – mix of people, booze, noise, and mess (Photo: Scanpix)
It’s that time of the year again. The usually quaint, sedate town of Roskilde has turned into a temporary carnival, bursting with hordes of festival-goers from all over the world who’ve turned up to Northern Europe’s largest music festival. Roskilde is now in its 42nd year and has grown into one of the most respected events on the global festival circuit – and a blueprint for what can be done through good organisation, a fair bit of volunteering and excellent planning.
A complex festival of the size and scale of Roskilde is very much a multi-faceted affair, with numerous dimensions to it. One of the most discussed aspects of Roskilde is life in the camps, which for some is far from an ideal accommodation option. For many though, camp life is a fundamental and fun part of the Roskilde experience.
Chaotic from the word go
The start of the festival is always a hectic affair, as throngs of festival-goers flock en masse to the entrances to queue in long lines to be amongst the first to be allowed into the festival grounds when they open at 6pm on Saturday a full five days before the main musical aspect kicks off.
The early days at Roskilde are always hectic, as festival-goers race to be the first into the festival grounds when the gates open (Photo: Scanpix)The early days at Roskilde are always hectic, as festival-goers race to be the first into the festival grounds when the gates open (Photo: Scanpix)

Competition for a good camping spot is formidably fierce. For many years, organisers faced the problem of the fence being toppled over many hours before the gates were officially opened, though this challenge has been mitigated somewhat by fence patrols and stiff penalties for anyone caught trying to force entry into the grounds. Once the gates are open, the masses are free to set up their camps as they please. This too is a chaotic affair in which camps are assembled at breakneck speed and the pastoral fields around the village of Kamstrup are transformed into a colourful patchwork of pavilions and tents that will house the festival’s guests in conditions ranging from summer heat to torrential downpours.  Many camps appoint the fittest amongst their ranks to run with as many tents as they can carry and pitch whilst others wait at the gates with large amounts of camping gear, loudspeakers, stocks of alcohol and other festival essentials.

With the camps set up, the party has officially begun and for the five days before the large concerts start, festival-goers are largely left to their own ingenuity and imagination when it comes to keeping themselves entertained. There are, however, numerous activities to keep one occupied around the festival grounds during the warm-up days. This year’s features include:

Fixed Apollo Stage
Last year, Roskilde experimented with a mobile Apollo stage, which wandered from one camping area to another, night after night. This year, the stage has a fixed location (between camping area G and the music area) and will be hosting several acts a day in the lead-up to the main music period.
Maker Space workshop
As an antidote to the ‘if it’s broke, trash it’ culture that tends to underscore the philosophy of numerous Roskilde-goers, Dream City houses a temporary workshop that focuses on reuse and sustainability. Cheap solar cell mobile phone chargers and concrete ‘life-hacking’ advice are but two of the possibilities at the Maker Space workshop.
The Velvet State
A collaboration between performance design geniuses Fiction Pimps and Collective Unconscious, the Velvet State is an interactive art installation that is designed to take one through a vivid journey of different states of mind, in a boundary-pushing experiment that straddles the territory of the dreamy and the unconscious. The Velvet State is one of many art installations at Roskilde – all of which focus on co-creation and enticing the artistic spirits hidden within each and every festival-goer.
The Skate Park / Roskilde West
Roskilde West is the de facto cool location to hang out during the camping period. Home to both the skate park and Game City, this area is a vibrant mix of cultural activities and sports tournaments. Die hard punk rockers Hashbug rested their case for the ‘punk is not dead’ maxim on Sunday at the Skate Park, and with a host of different DJs behind the turntables every night, this is one location that consistently provides entertainment in the days before the big acts take over the festival.
With something for everyone at Roskilde, The Copenhagen Post caught up with some festival attendees for a quick chat about what camp life is all about:
(Photo: Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk)(Photo: Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk)

Barbara Nino Careras
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Number of Roskilde Festivals attended: First time
Best thing about the festival?
“Definitely the people: they are open. They share, they love. Everyone is free, and there’s a lot of happiness around.”
What is camp life like?
“It’s difficult, but everyone is doing it and is part of the same shared experience, so it sort of balances it all out in the end.”

(Photo: Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk)(Photo: Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk)

Niv Dayan
Hometown: Copenhagen
Number of Roskilde Festivals attended: Three
Best thing about the festival?
“People are really friendly. The feeling of happiness is just infectious.”
What is camp life like?
“I don’t really like the camp life that much. It’s loud, dirty and pretty grim, so I spend most of my nights at home, but I do have a tent pitched here just in case.”

(Photo: Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk)(Photo: Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk)

Edoardo Botallico
Hometown: Milan, Italy
Number of Roskilde Festivals attended: Four
Best thing about the festival?
“You become a different person. You lose the facade you have in everyday life which means you connect to other people as one ought to.”
What is camp life like ?
“It’s very basic and sometimes difficult, but you share the experience with your friends which is very beautiful.”

Charles Bradley, Interview. Stor Vega June 2013

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Living proof you can take the last exit to Brooklyn

They used to call him Black Velvet – now it’s simply Mr Bradley
P1400336
 pic: Allan Kortbæk
The beguiling Charles Bradley is the kind of performer one never forgets. The funk revivalist has enjoyed a fairy-tale success story following the release of his debut album, ‘No Time For Dreaming’, three years ago.

It followed a lifetime of trying to make a living under harsh conditions in the US, moonlighting as Black Velvet as he performed James Brown impersonations alongside his job as a chef.

What’s fascinating is not Bradley’s rise to the limelight at the ripe old age of, per say, but more the perseverance he showed along the way, despite hardship and travails that included him sleeping on New York subway lines as a teen and losing his brother in a shooting.

His is a life replete with drama and difficulties that would derail most, yet somehow the Brooklyn star is still here, telling us his story through shrieks, tears and the passion of a man half his age.

The Copenhagen Post caught up with Bradley before his third performance on Danish soil at Lille Vega last week, backed by his seven-piece band, The Extraordinaires.

The Copenhagen Post: Welcome back to Copenhagen, Charles. This is your third visit to Denmark, I do believe. You go on stage in about half an hour. How are you feeling today?

Charles Bradley: I’ve got a bit of a problem with my eye – it’s running a bit. Must be some kind of allergy, but there ain’t nothing that’s going to stop me from doing a great show. I’m going to do my best to keep people entertained and make them happy.

CP: Your latest album ‘Victim of Love’ has just hit the shelves. Could you tell us a bit about it? What’s the inspiration behind it?

CB: ‘Victim of Love’, that’s  me – it’s about my life. Music is what I have left to tell my story. During my working life I couldn’t express myself you know, cos you want to speak up and say something about the injustices you go through, but you can’t cos that’s the way it is. My music gives me the chance to do this today. I’m grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to be able to share my story.

CP: You’ve definitely “Made it in America”, to quote one of your songs [‘Why is it so hard?’]. Some may forget that many of America’s issues remain hidden by the success of your music. What is the reality of life in America today living in Brooklyn?

CB: Everyone talks about America being the land of milk and honey, but it ain’t. You can get milk and honey, but you gotta work hard to do it and it’s never easy. You’ve got to fight, you’ve got to be strong and keep going even when it seems like there is nothing to live for.  I took the long road to get here.

CP: Many of your songs, such as ‘No Time for Dreaming’, relate to sensitive moments of your life, but they also have a wider application in the state of America and the world today. What is your message to everyone out there who is struggling to cope and struggling to make it?

CB: Go back to the golden rule. If you’ve got a gift that God gave you, use it. Don’t let nobody tell you nothing about it. It doesn’t matter how many millions somebody offers you. You can be rich, you can make it financially, but if you don’t have inner peace, dignity, you won’t have anything. You got to keep your dignity because that’s worth more than anything.

CP: Where do you go from here, Charles. What’s next in this musical journey for you? Can we expect you back in Denmark anytime soon?

CB: I’ve got to put up a show. It’s part of the job, so I’ve got to perform and give people a good time. I don’t know where I’ll be tomorrow; I don’t know where I’ll be in a few years. Only God has the answer to that.

Charles Bradley and his extraordinaire’s, Lille Vega June 2013

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Original article:

http://cphpost.dk/inout/concerts/souls-screaming-eagle-proves-hes-still-extraordinaire

Charles Bradley ****** (6 stars out of 6); June 17 at Lille Vega
Bradley’s impeccable presence rocked Lille Vega for the second year running (Photo: Flickr / sebascrub)

When Charles Bradley first came to Denmark in 2011, he was an unfamiliar fixture in the world music circuit. When he came to Lille Vega last year, he was still not that well known worldwide, yet alone in Denmark. But after last night’s show at the same venue, however, I have a sneaking suspicion that we have not seen the last of Charles Bradley, and that his best may still be yet to come.

Starting out as ‘Black Velvet,’ Bradley performed James Brown impersonations before eventually landing a contract with Daptone records a few years ago at the tender age of 62.  His songs chart his struggle and call for change in society, a veritable critique of the fallacy of the American dream and of the greed and corruption with which society is awash today. Bradley’s show last night was by far the best concert I have ever been to, a bewilderingly beautiful performance that saw him shed tears of elation and sorrow alike.

The backup band of the evening, the seven-piece Extraordinaires, stepped on stage before the main man himself, announcing their presence with an intense instrumental performance. Bradley took to the stage shortly afterwards, clad in clothes he’d made himself and resembling James Brown down to a T.

‘The World (Is Going up in Flames)’, off his debut album No Time for Dreaming set the pace, slowly working up a crowd that lived up to the cliché of being an audience with a frightful tendency to be stagnant and noncommittal. This stereotype was thankfully broken down as things proceeded though, the result being epic hands-in-the air moments and  genuine interaction from the crowd. With Charles giving it his all, performing with a dedication that saw him sweat profusely on the warm stage, an early instrumental interlude early saw him waltz off stage to take a breather before coming back on to woo the crowd with tracks such as ‘No Time For Dreaming’ and the sentimental ‘Loving You.’

With the venue in the palm of his hands, Bradley and co rounded off with an epic performance of the newer track ‘Confusion’, showcasing a series of dance moves that few people in their twenties, let alone a veteran, can muster.  A befitting encore saw him change outfits and come back on stage dressed in a fiery red suit to perform the powerful ‘Victim of love’ and ‘Why is it so Hard?’, both off his 2013 album,Victim of Love, which documents the travails and struggles of a man who has taken a long and weary walk to freedom.

I Want to Fly Again

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I want to fly again

Into the wispy winds of time

Beyond the valleys and the seas

Over sandy beaches

And laughing children

Over hands held in love

And friends embracing

I want to fly again

Into dream-carved sunsets

Beyond dancing shadows

Over smokey fires

And smiling octogenerians

Over lovers locked in dance

And flowers in bloom

I want to fly again

I want to fly again

Image

Noah & The Whale, Lille Vega May 2013

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Not a whale of a time, but the quintet’s consistent

 

Original article at:   http://cphpost.dk/inout/concerts/not-whale-time-quintets-consistent

June 10, 2013 – 15:57
Noah and the Whale **** (4 stars out of 6); June 9 at Lille Vega
While Noah and the Whale’s show felt unenthusiastic at times, the quintet delivered an overall solid performance at Lille Vega on Sunday night (Photo: Flickr / Aurelien Guichard)

The major music news in Copenhagen this weekend was rock band 3 Doors Down’s performance at Store Vega on Saturday. While English quintet Noah and the Whale are far less known than their American counterparts, what they pulled off at Lille Vega last night was nothing short of special. The cheery indie band stepped onstage with a steely determination in their eyes, opening the proceedings with the catchy ‘Give a Little Love’ off their debut album Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down,  released in 2008.

Noah and The Whale are, in Craig David’s words, “slicker than your average”, in that they are a cut above the classic ‘two men and a guitar’ rock cliché that tends to accompany many revered acts of the modern day. Their varied instrumentation includes keys and an unmistakable violin input, which announced its presence from the word ‘go’ and punctuated many of the show’s peak points.

With the foundation for a solid show laid by the end of the first track, Noah and The Whale played the cautiously optimistic ‘Tonight’s the Kind of Night,’ which veered more towards the cheery dimensions associated with the band. One song later and they had ventured into the more melancholic, contemplative territory that also demarcates them as a band, playing the emphatic ‘Blue Skies’ track from their 2009 album The First Days of Spring. Lead singer Charlie Fink showcased his vocal prowess with this particular tune, drifting off in a coarse, candid rendition that was simultaneously captivating and astute.

From then on, the quintet stuck to the jovial side of things as they slowly but surely built up a steady momentum that climaxed towards the end of the show and naturally enough got people’s feet swaying. Things ended rather appropriately with a bland albeit effectual performance of the self-explanatory L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N, which paved the way for a solemn encore.

All in all, Noah and The Well were solid and consistent last night, performing with a coolheaded wit that showed their maturity as a band. However, from time to time it did feel as if they could have injected a bit more enthusiasm and drive into the show.  This notwithstanding, their music, some of which is inspired by writer Charles Bukowski, is even more remarkable when performed live – the  bold, emphatic lyrics that characterise much it gain a heightened definition and a more pronounced meaning.