I swear I’m living my life in reverse at the moment but in a good way. All the cool stuff I feel like I had missed out on years ago, I’m finally getting to do now. And one of them was having a real festival experience. When I first arrived in Denmark, everyone I met told me to get tickets for the Northside Festival because it was the event of the year in Aarhus. So I picked up a ticket. But then no-one I knew was going…and I got a bit scared that it wouldn’t be so good…after all my last festival experience was a bit of a bust (not mentioning any names but you can read all about it HERE!) so I worried and worried and worried…till I got there and realised all my worries had been in vain.
The Northside Festival is an annual 3-day music festival that takes place in Aarhus usually around the beginning of June. There’s a mix of artists on the lineup and this year was an eclectic bunch with something for everyone. Bjork, N.E.R.D, The National, Queens of the Stone Age, Beck and Liam Gallagher to name a few. The great thing about this festival is that is that it has multiple stages, a plethora of seriously good food and drinks on offer, lots of different activities including different club events and silent disco too and so much space for everyone to chill relax and just enjoy the good vibes. And another bonus? No camping, you get to sleep in your own bed! Score
The festival started on Thursday, and I went along with friends (yes I eventually found some!) straight after work. Bjork was the highlight of the night for me –I may never buy a Bjork album but her creativity is undeniable. Her performance was an artistic piece showing the dangers of climate change and highlighting our collective responsibility to look after our environment. Simply incredible. Mike D from the Beastie Boys was an interesting set – he played only one Beastie Boys song but if you just wanted to boogie down to some great club music, he did the dang thing! Friday was a struggle through work but eventually I made it through the day and back to the festival ground just in time to wile out and lose my mind to N.E.R.D. Such energy, such craziness, perhaps a little too much though with the mosh pits and crowdsurfing which I had never witnessed before in real life until now. I was scared! Saturday introduced me to Tyler the Creator who touched my soul with his words but still had me laughing and twerking.
But the absolute musical highlight of the festival was hands down, DIPLO. Let’s just take a moment to appreciate the genius that he is. I jumped and danced non-stop for nearly two hours because the energy of his set from start to finish was unstoppable. I’m still in awe days later. Had I known he would be this good, I would have braved flipping pneumonia to watch him at Gidifest last year. Ah well. I got my chance finally. People were literally in a daze afterwards…did we witness that? Were we really a part of that experience? Truly unbelievably amazing. Now I’m looking for where he’s next performing, I’ve become a stan!
I realise that for all my worries, Northside, delivered and surpassed my expectations. To be honest, I could have gone solo and still had an amazing time. There’s so much to keep you occupied; whether it’s listening to new music you’ve never heard before or wouldn’t ordinarily listen to (Future Islands and the National, I see you!) or stuffing your face full of ridiculously good food, losing all inhibitions dancing in public at the silent disco or simply just lying on the grass in the Champagne Bar area (or anywhere else for that matter!) taking it all in. I got talking to loads of people at random points because everyone was in the festival mood. Unbelievable.
The only bugbear was getting home each night – I wish there were better transport options available. There were basically only two options – cycle or walk. So I walked home each night on my own. It was 40 minute walk which was exhausting but completely safe. Next year, I’ll have a taxi driver lined up and on speed dial. I’m not trekking again.
All in all, Northside – you did the dang thing! You brought the fire, I’m sold, and I’m buying my ticket for next year’s edition the moment they go on sale. Don’t need to tell me twice!
