To all but the most devoted fan-child, there comes a point in every Eurovision fortnight when you just have to go and see something else. Your musical brain muscle becomes so pumped with rehearsal after rehearsal that you feel the need to go and recalibrate with something just that little bit removed from the Eurovision norm.
And seeing as Copenhagen is internationally renowned as a world class musical city, there’ll be plenty going on to help reset your internal iPod.
So join Roy Delaney as he we gives you the top tips for musical excursions in wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen…
The Handsome Family
Tuesday 29 April 2014
Huset-KBH, Rådhusstræde 13
If the first couple of days of rehearsals have been a little too jolly for you, put a little sombre in your soul with quite possibly the most depressing country act in all history. But this isn’t a criticism. This husband and wife duo from Chicago have been slowly drawling out the murder ballads for a good 20 years now, and make Carl Espen seem like Alcazar in comparison. Imbued with a deep, dark sense of humour, you’ll still want to hide all the sharp objects at your hotel upon your return.
Heavy Days in Doomtown 2014
Thursday 1 May 2014 — Sunday 4 May 2014
Ungdomshuset, Dortheavej 61
Lovers of death metal and dark, heavy music will be well served at this four day festival at the legendary squat venue’s new premises in the north west of the city. Organised by the DIY collective Undergrundsmusikens Fremme, there’s be punk, metal and blistering noise from around the globe over the whole weekend, including sets by bands the like of Italy’s Abysmal Grief, Poland’s Dopelord, Leechfeast from Slovenia, and those doomy Americans Graves At Sea. Mischief spotters may also remember that the Ungdomshuset collective were behind the guerilla punk show at the Trianglen bus stop near Parken last time we were in these shires, so keep an eye out for more of their merry anarchistic japes.
Steve Hackett
Saturday 3 May 2014
Amager Bio, Øresundsvej 6
Fans of more grown-up guitar-based rock will be delighted to learn that the ex-Genesis man will be playing a full set of songs from his days with the popular prog band on the first Saturday night. You can almost guarantee that you’ll see the Georgians down the front at this one!
Justin Timberlake
Tuesday 6 May 2014
Parken, Øster Allé 50
If it’s pop you’re after, you couldn’t do much better than heading up to our old stamping ground of Parken to join the trousersnake on his 20/20 Experience World Tour. Expect lots of slick dance moves, fancy costume changes, and a room full of women in their thirties gently moistening their underwear. Might be a nice substitute if the First Semifinal isn’t to your liking.
If you didn’t manage to bag tickets for the second semi-final and you don’t fancy watching it in a pub, there’s a plethora of musical delights around the town on Thursday 8th…
Korn
Amager Bio, Øresundsvej 6
Nu-metal fans can relive the late 90s with the polished post-rehab version of these crunchy old American faves.
Choir Of Young Believers
Loppen, Sydområdet 4B, 1. sal, Christiana
If you like that song from the credits of Scandi noir detective series The Bridge , then you’re going to love the band who supplied the show’s haunting theme tune (also mentioned in my article on Eurovision doppelgangers) – made all the more fun in that their playing this historic venue bang in the middle of the Freetown of Christiana (the part of town that the delegation guides will almost certainly tell you not to visit!)
Per Vers
Pumpehuset, Studiestræde 52
If Danish language hip hop is your thing, then get down to the album launch of the nation’s greatest ever rapper. A full programme of local rap acts will add to the allure and this beautiful city centre venue.
New Kids On The Block
Falkoner Allé 9, Frederiksberg
If Timberlake wasn’t enough for you to sate your turn-of-the-century American boy band urges, why not go straight to source for the biggest, baddest bunch of boy-ists of them all – sadly playing in a considerably smaller venue than their old pal Justin. Remember kids, hang tough!