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Spot (music festival)
Encyclopedia
SPOT is an annual music festival
in the city of Århus, Denmark
, showcasing up-and-coming Danish and Scandinavia
n talent. Around one hundred artists and bands from most genres of contemporary popular music - such as rock, hip hop
, electronic music
- play various stages in and around the Århus theatre and music venue, Musikhuset. Around 800 people attend, according to the official web site.
Speakers also participate in panel discussions and give lectures on various music industry topics. For example, they answer musicians' questions on "How to make it in the US" and participate in debates on topics including file sharing
and the future of the album
.
While the audience is mainly local, the most quoted of its stated aims is to promote Danish and Scandinavian music to the international music business, from record companies and concert organisers to agents and the music press. Trying to please both camps, a curious, local music audience and an international music business crowd, is occasionally a source of friction.
(Dansk Rock Samråd, translating as Danish Rock Council, an umbrella organization representing various Danish musicians' unions) from 1995 onwards. In 2002, David Fricke
of Rolling Stone Magazine spotted The Raveonettes
at the festival
and his subsequent endorsement was considered instrumental in landing them a contract with Columbia Records
. This incident greatly increased interest in the festival among musicians as a 'place to be seen', prompting among others Sort Sol
, a staple of the Danish music scene since 1977, to appear the following year in the hope of garnering international interest in their back catalogue.
, The Raveonettes
and Junior Senior
. In 2005 the minister for culture, Brian Mikkelsen
, proclaimed it "the most important musical event in Denmark" due to its potential as a vehicle for "networking and musical export". However, this attention has prompted questions about the relative weights given to artistic merit and marketability as criteria for band selection and claims that the new focus on big business has alienated the local music scene. The inclusion of by now well-established names (or at least names that were felt to have had their chance of international recognition) such as Saybia
and Outlandish
was greeted with muted enthusiasm in the music press and occasional hostility from audiences.
A complete list can be found at the MySpace profile.
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
in the city of Århus, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, showcasing up-and-coming Danish and Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n talent. Around one hundred artists and bands from most genres of contemporary popular music - such as rock, hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
- play various stages in and around the Århus theatre and music venue, Musikhuset. Around 800 people attend, according to the official web site.
Speakers also participate in panel discussions and give lectures on various music industry topics. For example, they answer musicians' questions on "How to make it in the US" and participate in debates on topics including file sharing
File sharing
File sharing is the practice of distributing or providing access to digitally stored information, such as computer programs, multimedia , documents, or electronic books. It may be implemented through a variety of ways...
and the future of the album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
.
While the audience is mainly local, the most quoted of its stated aims is to promote Danish and Scandinavian music to the international music business, from record companies and concert organisers to agents and the music press. Trying to please both camps, a curious, local music audience and an international music business crowd, is occasionally a source of friction.
History
Started in 1994 at a local initiative, the festival has been organized by ROSARosa
The name Rosa, Latin and botanic name of the flowering shrub Rose, could refer to:-Places:*223 Rosa, an asteroid*Rosa, Alabama, USA*Rosa, Germany, in Thuringia, Germany*Roşia Nouă village, Petriş Commune, Arad County, Romania-Other uses:...
(Dansk Rock Samråd, translating as Danish Rock Council, an umbrella organization representing various Danish musicians' unions) from 1995 onwards. In 2002, David Fricke
David Fricke
David Fricke is a senior editor at Rolling Stone magazine, where he writes predominantly on rock music. In the 1990s, he was managing editor before stepping down.-Background:David Fricke is a graduate of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania...
of Rolling Stone Magazine spotted The Raveonettes
The Raveonettes
The Raveonettes are a Danish indie rock duo, consisting of Sune Rose Wagner on guitar, instruments, and vocals, and Sharin Foo on bass, guitar and vocals...
at the festival
and his subsequent endorsement was considered instrumental in landing them a contract with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. This incident greatly increased interest in the festival among musicians as a 'place to be seen', prompting among others Sort Sol
Sort Sol
Sort Sol is a pioneer rock band from Copenhagen, Denmark. The band was formed in 1977 as a punk rock outfit, originally under the name Sods. Despite drastic changes in the group's line-up, their current name, which translates to English as black sun, has remained with them since the early 1980s...
, a staple of the Danish music scene since 1977, to appear the following year in the hope of garnering international interest in their back catalogue.
Growth and changing profile
In recent years the festival has seen an increase in the number of bands and venues as well as public attention - a transformation that has not escaped criticism. In 2005 the festival included 107 acts featured on 10 stages across town, a number that led the festival manager, to call for a scaleback. Critical voices have focused more on the choice of venues and artists, claiming that venues have been spread too far out and the choice of musicians has gotten safer and less varied. Political interest in the festival has grown with the commercial successes of acts such as MewMew (band)
Mew is a Danish alternative music band consisting of Jonas Bjerre, Bo Madsen, and Silas Utke Graae Jørgensen. Bassist Johan Wohlert was also a founding member of the band, but left in 2006...
, The Raveonettes
The Raveonettes
The Raveonettes are a Danish indie rock duo, consisting of Sune Rose Wagner on guitar, instruments, and vocals, and Sharin Foo on bass, guitar and vocals...
and Junior Senior
Junior Senior
Junior Senior was a pop musical duo from Denmark. The duo consisted of Jesper "Junior" Mortensen and Jeppe "Senior" Laursen ....
. In 2005 the minister for culture, Brian Mikkelsen
Brian Mikkelsen
Brian Arthur Mikkelsen is a Danish politician. He is a member of the Conservative People's Party, and has been a member of parliament since 21 September 1994....
, proclaimed it "the most important musical event in Denmark" due to its potential as a vehicle for "networking and musical export". However, this attention has prompted questions about the relative weights given to artistic merit and marketability as criteria for band selection and claims that the new focus on big business has alienated the local music scene. The inclusion of by now well-established names (or at least names that were felt to have had their chance of international recognition) such as Saybia
Saybia
-History:From 1998 to 2000 they privately recorded three EPs before signing to EMI in the spring of 2001. In the summer EMI released the 6 track EP "Saybia". In September 2001 the band went to Sweden to record their debut album The Second You Sleep...
and Outlandish
Outlandish
Outlandish is a multi-award–winning hip-hop group based in Denmark. Formed in 1997, it consists of Isam Bachiri , Waqas Ali Qadri , and Lenny Martinez . All three members are religious, with Isam and Waqas being Muslims and Lenny being Catholic...
was greeted with muted enthusiasm in the music press and occasional hostility from audiences.
Highlights
Among the bands who have taken baby steps at SPOT are- 1997 (SPOT04): KashmirKashmir (band)Kashmir is a Danish alternative rock band consisting of Kasper Eistrup ; Mads Tunebjerg ; Asger Techau and Henrik Lindstrand .-History:...
(Denmark), moi Caprice (Denmark) - 1998 (SPOT05): Under ByenUnder byen' is a Danish band founded in 1995 mainly by Katrine Stochholm and Henriette Sennenvaldt. is known for producing their own unorthodox interpretation of rock. They rarely use guitars. Instead their soundscape is dominated by piano, cello, violin, electrically distorted saw, organ, drums and...
(Denmark), SuperheroesSuperheroes (band)Superheroes was a Danish pop/rock band that split up in 2006.- Members :*Thomas Troelsen *Thomas Christensen *Tanja Simonsen *Lars Hovendahl *Bjarke Staun *Asger Tarpgaard...
(Denmark) - 1999 (SPOT06): Sigur RósSigur RósSigur Rós is an Icelandic post-rock band with classicaland minimalist elements. The band is known for its ethereal sound, and frontman Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto vocals and use of bowed guitar. In January 2010, the band announced that they will be on hiatus. Since then, it has since been announced...
(Iceland) - 2000 (SPOT07): OutlandishOutlandishOutlandish is a multi-award–winning hip-hop group based in Denmark. Formed in 1997, it consists of Isam Bachiri , Waqas Ali Qadri , and Lenny Martinez . All three members are religious, with Isam and Waqas being Muslims and Lenny being Catholic...
(Denmark) - 2002 (SPOT08): The RaveonettesThe RaveonettesThe Raveonettes are a Danish indie rock duo, consisting of Sune Rose Wagner on guitar, instruments, and vocals, and Sharin Foo on bass, guitar and vocals...
, Junior SeniorJunior SeniorJunior Senior was a pop musical duo from Denmark. The duo consisted of Jesper "Junior" Mortensen and Jeppe "Senior" Laursen ....
(Denmark) - 2003 (SPOT09): Kaizer's Orchestra (Norway), The Blue VanThe Blue VanThe Blue Van are a blues-rock band from Denmark consisting of Steffen Westmark , Søren Christensen , Allan Villadsen , and Per Jørgensen .-History:...
(Denmark) - 2004 (SPOT10): MúmMúmmúm are an experimental Icelandic musical group whose music is characterized by soft vocals, electronic glitch beats and effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments.- History :...
(Iceland) - 2005 (SPOT11): Blue FoundationBlue Foundation-History:Blue Foundation started out in 2000 based on Tobias Wilner, aka Bichi's cooperation with various artists and musicians; his work with Kirstine Stubbe Teglbjærg and Bo Rande has been especially characteristic for the Blue Foundation sound. The music can be described as a mix of melodic...
(Denmark), MewMew (band)Mew is a Danish alternative music band consisting of Jonas Bjerre, Bo Madsen, and Silas Utke Graae Jørgensen. Bassist Johan Wohlert was also a founding member of the band, but left in 2006...
(Denmark) - 2006 (SPOT12): Oh No OnoOh No OnoOh No Ono is a grammy nominated quintet from Aalborg, Denmark. The band was formed in 2003 by Kristoffer Rom , Aske Zidore , Kristian Olsen and Malthe Fischer .-History:...
(Denmark), FigurinesFigurinesFigurines is an indie rock band from Denmark, formed in the mid-1990s. The band released their first EP, The Detour, in 2001 and their first full-length album, Shake a Mountain, in 2004. The band began to receive national attention in Denmark around the time of the full-length release, and began...
(Denmark) - 2007 (SPOT13): Spleen UnitedSpleen UnitedSpleen United is a Danish electro-rock band consisted of the brothers Bjarke and Gaute Niemann , Kasper Nørlund , Rune Wehner and Janus Nevel Ringsted . It was formed in Århus, Denmark in 2002....
(Denmark), Shout Out LoudsShout Out LoudsShout Out Louds are an indie rock band from Stockholm, Sweden.The group has toured with bands such as The Strokes, Kings of Leon, The Magic Numbers, The Rosebuds, The Essex Green, and Johnossi...
(Sweden), Eivør PálsdóttirEivør PálsdóttirEivør Pálsdóttir is a Faroese singer/songwriter with a distinct voice and a wide range of interests in many kinds of music from rock, jazz, folk, pop, to European classical music. Her roots are in the Faroese ballads....
(Faroe IslandsFaroe IslandsThe Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
)
A complete list can be found at the MySpace profile.
External links
- Official homepage (English language version)
- SPOT's MySpace profile
- ROSA Official homepage (English language version)