Skagen Festival

Skagen Festival is Denmark's oldest music festival having been held each summer since 1971. The annual event takes place on a number of stages in Skagen in the far north of Jutland over the first weekend of July.

History

The first festival in 1971 titled "Skagen Visefestival" (Skagen Song Festival) was held in Tuxen's Villa, the former residence of Laurits Tuxen, one of the Skagen Painters. The participants came mainly from Norway and Denmark. It then moved to the Sports Center where there was more space before being held in the Skagen Kultur- og Fritidscenter. From 1996, the festival was held outdoors with tents pitched on the sand dunes or close to the harbour. It now takes place at various locations in the town and around the harbor.^[1] Initially the festival was held over the last weekend in June but since 1989, the first weekend in July has been the preferred date.^[2][3]

Festival

Now an international festival, it presents various types of folk music including folk rock, jazz and blues. Some 650 volunteers get together for a week or so to make the necessary arrangements. The festival's slogan is "It's good to see you!", the title of Allan Taylor's song which Alex Cambell sang at the festival back in the 1970s.^[2]

Poor ticket sales

As a result of low ticket sales in 2013, Skagen Sports Center will no longer be included as a festival venue in 2014.^[4]

References