TP Allstars – Starry-eyed Surprise
My oh my. What a way to close the outdoor scene of this years Festival. Trailerpark had intrigued everyone by announcing a secret all-star team to host the final send-off of the outdoor stage. The team was, together with succeeding indoor stage closing act Vinnie Who, charged with delivering one last head-spinning, heal-kicking, endorphin-pumping shot to the crowd, before sending them back out into the CPH night. Needless to say expectations were running high…

Beautiful Tramps
The anticipated all-star team was made out of friends of the house CPH record slinger queen Djuna Barnes and international banger Trentemøller. And boy did they not let us down, delivering a hard and gritty set a trailerpark finale worthy! It’s always interesting to see how collaborations like this fare, with one punter behind the wheels of steel and another behind the electro-grill. Djuna’s predominantly deep, dirty and rocked selection for the night featured tracks such as Breeder’s Cannonball, James Blake’s cover of Feist’s Limit To Your Love, David Bowie’s Rebel Rebel, and Velvet Underground’s I’m waiting for the Man. And this played excellently up against Trentemøller’s hard-beat techno style, letting them shift focus often and fluently between the records and the synths (and everywhere in between), which again added to the breadth of the whole experience.

KLF has left the building
It almost goes without saying the crowd was ecstatic, partying like there was no tomorrow. People where literally raving everywhere – inside and outside the tent, as well as on and behind the stage. The only regret is of course that it ended all to soon – 90mins were over in a New York minute, leaving the crowd hungering for more. But this was it. The lights were dimming on the outdoor stage, and there was only one thing to do – off to the absolutely last episode of the 2010 Trailerpark Festival: Vinnie Who. And fortunately, they picked it up right where the TP Allstars left off!

This was definitely a party to remember!

// Tony G
Photos by Jason Idris Alami

Sunday evening the dj duo Ung Flugt treated a select audience with an exquisite kitchen party set. Pitched against festival headliners Caribou playing on the adjacent stage it seemed, at first look, to be a case of urimelige hold. The term urimelige hold, meaning unreasonable teams, is a Danish school yard term. It comes from when you in between classes played football, and refers to when the one team for some reason has an unfair advantage over the other. But I can tell you, this duo didn’t play second fiddle to their Canadian counterpart. Instead, they moved the party into the kitchen. ‘Cause in the end, the kitchen is really where it’s at – right?

Ung Flugt, meaning young escape, is made up of girly bangers Najaaraq Vestbirk and Johanne Schwensen. Having spun records together for the last years in the CPH area and around Europe, I’d say they are definitely working their way the scene. The duo play girly techno, house, tech house and melodic minimal. It’s the kind of style that, executed with a feminine sense of finesse, has you moving from the latte on to the mojito and further on to the tequila without really noticing: Underplayed explosive and severely danceable. Take a listen at their summer mix for a better idea of what I’m talking about. Sunday evening’s set was definitely a treat. Like a true kitchen party, people hung out, danced, and felt part, and passers-by lingered.

Way to go ladies!

// Tony G
Photos by Jason Idris Alami (1) and Nicolai Levin (2)

Something old something new…
Quadron, composed by singer Coco and beatmaster Robin, released their self entitled debut album around a year ago and have rock-steadily been blog bustin’ their way up the food chain ever since. When not doing the Quadron, Coco and Robin are part of the Boom Clap Bachelors music collective characterized by a wide span of influences – from electronica over soul to new wave and indie. Maybe this accounts to some part for their refreshing neo electro-pop take on vintage soul and r&b that has everybody looking for words to characterize them: From likeness to Little Dragon and Lykke Li, to a mix between Adele, The Supremes and Sade. Take a pick. I personally cannot help thinking of some of the early (late 60s) work of Marlena Shaw, but less jazzy and without the political charge.

Sweet like chocolate
But truth be said, it doesn’t really matter in which box you put Quadron. In the end they make the kind of music that, like chocolate, goes with almost everything; whether you’re groovin’ on the dance floor to Jeans, out promenading with a big smile to Slippin’, or you’re just at home chillin’ to Simili Life. Being that wide and still coherent is not a small feat for a debut album, mind you, and an even bigger challenge when you have to put it to use in a live setting.

Picnic in the Skatepark
Having shown that they could definitely make a crowd get grooved up when they warmed up for Mos Def @Vega in the spring, Sunday proved the chance to take it down a notch and invite people on a picnic trip out into the blue. Which was exactly what they did. Hosted by a sweet (and a bit shy) Coco, front and left, and accompanied by August Rosenbaum, Hans Hvisberg and Anders Stig, they altogether made out a relaxed and well-playing band, that seemed like they’d like to hang out with the crowd. Apart from Coco’s singing voice, notice should also be given to the 2-piece (Stig and Rosenbaum if my memory serves me) male backing choir, who did a kickin’ job at keeping up. After round 45mins of head-bopping and foot-tapping, the seance ended with a cover of an old Danish classic Herfra hvor vi står that, although being a bit apart from the rest of the repertoire, seemed strangely fitting for the occasion.

Just what was needed on this sunday afternoon – a groovy picnic, wholehearted and cosy all the way. Way to go!

// Tony G

Photos by Lars Hjortkjær (thumb), Jason Idris Alami (2), and Kenneth Nguyen (1,3)

SVAR: I was on my way to Berlin to produce Lily Electric, and on my way there I ran into MHM One and the Jaconfetti girls at the airport. They were going to Berlin to play a gig that night, and since I had no plans for the evening, I went along with them. MHM One was playing really minimalistic, and for me it was just the perfect introduction to the whole techno scene that I had previously thought of as kind of a cold shallow genre that was only about partying. But listening to this, to my ears almost avant-garde music, and seeing the crowd completely into it, I realized the secret to electronic music, that as long as the beat is good, people are not afraid to follow you down the quirkiest path. Electronic audiences in general are very open and adventurous in their attitude towards music I think. That night in Berlin I discovered electronic music and wanted to be a part of it. I just felt like: This is what I want to do!

ML: Where have you found inspiration to you solo project, and how do we hear that in your music?

SVAR: I have many sources of inspiration. At first I had to find my sound after working with indierock for many years, so I have been experimenting a lot. Today I sort of have two parallel musical universes, and I can’t really choose which one to focus on. On one hand I am inspired by the melodic Berliner techno, which is cold in a very beautiful way. On the other hand I put a lot of deep house in my music with kind of a Mediterranean feeling to it – warm and sexy.

ML: To your show at this years Distortion Festival in Copenhagen the audience had a taste of your new material including some really cool tunes. What plans do you have for you project in the future?

SVAR: Well, my next step is that I’m going to put out an EP. But other than that I’m taking everything one step at a time. I have a show coming up at Strøm Festival in 14 days, and then we’ll have to see, what happens after that. I also have some DJ jobs in Milan and Formentera this summer, which I am really looking forward to.

ML: You have been working with a lot of different genres in the past. At the moment a lot of musicians from subcultures are working with mainstream artists and are making hit-orientated music. Have you ever considered doing the same thing in the future and doing straight up mainstream music, for instance?

SVAR: I have previously been played the classic rock-producer part, where I would assist the band in writing and recording music, but right now I am doing this solo-thing. I think it’s more fun to make music for my own project than for others. There is more perspective in it, but you should never say never. Maybe in a few years time, it could be interesting, but right now I’m focusing on my own project.

ML: What does Trailerpark Festival mean to you?

SVAR: A lot of really cool people, who in only a few years has created a cool alternative festival. Lately the Trailerpark-crew has increased the focus on the music profile. It is really cutting-edge.

ML: What acts are you looking forward to at the Festival this year?

SVAR: Kollektive Turmstrasse, Caribou, which I had the pleasure to experience at the Sónar Festival in Barcelona, Wareika, Quadron and Eim Ick, who I think is very cool!

ML: In what way do you think Trailerpark Festival is different from other festivals?

SVAR: Trailerpark Festival is driven by professionals, but in the same time you feel a DIY-spirit and a special commitment from the people behind the festival. It’s cool with Copenhagen Festivals such as Trailerpark, Distortion and Strøm. Copenhagen has finally understood just how lovely electronic music is.

//Marie Louise Fuglsang-Damgaard og Sarah Lützen

Photos: Jason Idris Alami

Flickr is ready for you all to take the journey back to ArtRebels´ amazing Trailerpark Festival in juli/august. Our wonderful photographers managed to catch the atmosphere of the area, as it was transfered into a wonderland of art, music and loving people. See it on Flicr here

Photo 1,6 & 7 by Jason Idris Alami, photo 2 by Johanne Fick, photo 3 by Mathias Stoffersen, photo 4 by  Kenneth Nguyen, photo 5 by Johanne Fick

There were no surprises when Peter Visti Sunday again delivered one of his notorious sets. Peter has been playing for about two decades, and with a row of cool releases behind him he never seems to disappoint. He pleasantly mixed deep and tech house with a touch of disco, respectably creating a perfect warm-up set for the rest of Sundays evenings musical lineup. Merci Mr. Visti!

// Najaaraq Vestbirk
Fotos: Lars Hjortkjær

You may have seen Mikkas & Lars B aka. Djuma Soundsystem playing fast tech house in for young club kids in venues like Rust, if your lucky enough that is, cause the two guys are primarily out of town playing clubs across the world. Their productions spread from deep to progressive house, so depending on the venue their musical output can differ. So it was more than refreshing and very appropriate to hear these two talented lads playing a slow and deep Sunday set. Revealing not only their impressive music collection but also their impeccable mixing skills. I caught myself going to the dj booth several times asking for track id’s. Bravo guys

// Najaaraq Vestbirk
Fotos: Johanne Fick

The german house band Wareika consists of musical pioneers Florian Schirmacher, Henrik Raabe, Jakob Seidensticker. After releasing two great albums within the last year, one on danish label Tartelet and one on the prominent Perlon expectations were high at TrailerPark Sunday evening.

Charmingly dressed in uniform Mr. Schirmacher stood between his two conspirators adding his vocals to the profound musicallandscape. With a touch of self-irony his delightful voice sent my thoughts directly back to favorite old school house releases. The trio quickly spellbind the full tent with their broad use of percussion elements and heavy beats leaving no foot unmoved. Ending their show with grand applause from the enthusiastic audience and with the title of being one of this years absolute musical highlights!

// Najaaraq Vestbirk

Fotos: Mathias Stoffersen

Soeren Bodner aka, Monkey Maffia was until new year 2010 one half of the notorious vodka consuming dj duo Wighnomy Brothers which for 17 years supplied the dancers of the world with their unique paramount sound. Today Soeren stands alone, and the question is if he can deliver same greatness as they supposedly did together.

And with out a doubt can this listener only say, yes indeed! Not only did he deliver on the musical aspect, mixing old school classics with the latest tech house tunes, resulting in instant gratification from the packed floor, he also kept up on the infamous vodka drinking, astoundingly enough without it having an unfavourable impact on his performance. Danke für die gute Musik Herr Affe!

// Najaaraq Vestbirk

Fotos: Jason Idris Alami

Das Krause Duo had a rough start at their dj set Saturday night. Technical difficulties resulted in a extended break before they could start, and by the time the sound engineer had prepared everything for them, the large hall that 30 min earlier had been full was now empty.

Despite the ordeal Das Krause Duo held their heads high and systematically delivered one sexy deep house track after an other. While excelling in track selection and mixing they slowly but surly filled the room with dedicated dancers. And in the end played for a full floor just as enthralled by their sophisticated forward pushing tunes, as me.

// Najaaraq Vestbirk

Fotos: Kenneth Nguyen

With sun-drenched summer anthems Odessa and Sun, I was expecting a more subdued performance from hotly anticipated Canadian outfit Caribou. Luckily Caribou decided to have nothing of it, launching straight into one of the most noisy, jangly and messy sets I´ve witnessed at Trailerpark through the years. Scattered melodies vied for space next to the juggernaut of droned-out riffs and mountains of jarring percussion rolling of the stage, turning Trailerpark into a full-on pysch-fest which, instantly evoked the likes of Kraut legends NEU! while still managing to balance it off with the gentler hallucinations of bands like The Beach Boys. However as noisy as the band were, as huge and chaotic as those soundscapes became, frontman Dan Snaith´s haunting vocals brought harmonies in waves, finely counterpointed by cosmic synths and balearic beats that keep Caribou in the realm of pop –  although it´s definitely the cool part where the kids with the obscure music tastes hang out and the hot nerdy girls keep on stealing your heart.

And on a personal note (yeah yeah I can hear you groaning and rolling up your eyes) maybe that was what captured Trailerpark for me right there. After 3 days of friends, hugs, random declarations of love, drunkenness, no sleep and general mayhem and before 2 more concerts where first Trentemøller and Djuna literally would have Jeppe and myself jumping around so much that two days later I am still feeling my hamstrings and before Vinnie Who opened his lips and poured magical honey over everybody at the final concert, Caribou clicked it for me; why Trailerpark is so amazing that you want to come back and pour more of your heart into it each year; because she is smart (Yup TP is definitely female) yet unpretentious, sometimes not even aware of how totally rad she is and she can rock out with her tits out while telling you about an obscure band that will melt your face and then she pecks you on the cheek and you blush and fall in love and then she is gone and all you have left is the mixtape til next year comes around… Right On!

Caribou´s myspace

Image courtesy of Mathias Stoffersen, words by Ulrik Hogrebe

Toro Y Moi is arguably one of the biggest names booked for Trailerpark this year, with South Carolina frontman Chaz Bundick having made huge waves all over the blogosphere. Hailed as everything from the chieftain of Chillwave to the emperor of lofi electronica, Toro Y Moi´s music however, is hard to pin down as it ambles gently down the road, touching upon everything from 60´s soul to surf-tinged rock n roll to intelligent and soft-spoken electronica. And even though words like sun-brushed and windswept have been used enough by other guys covering Chaz´brand of honest and unimpressed lofi pop, I can see why. It really is the kind of music that you just want to hold hands to, somewhere by the sea in rich sepia-toned vivid-vision while the sun warms up your face. Watching the crowd, fans up front with their eyes half closed, heads nodding as Chaz and his band started to cast their spell, you saw how their languid atmospheres and textures brought smiles from all the way up front to all the way in the back as people started making eye-contact with each other and maybe there was even some hand-holding amongst people that were strangers a minute ago and a bit of slow flirty dancing/ shuffling about as Chaz and his ensemble artfully ducked and weaved between the blissed out mid-tempos of tracks like Talamak and the twee garage sensibilities of Leave Everywhere. And listening to Chaz´s fuzzed-out and heartfelt vocals I felt myself break out into a grin and my hang-over all of a sudden seemed more bearable and I figured that maybe Sunday was going to be an amazing day. Check out their myspace here.

Images by Johanne Fick, words by Ulrik Hogrebe

//Sarah & Mary Lou

Photographs: Mary Lou

Meet the Danish blogger couple Sidsel and Lasse. They make up the dynamic duo that has been covering the street style part of Trailerpark Festival 2010. I had the chance to meet up with them on the last day of the festival and chat about their fashion experiences during the weekend.

This year’s Trailerpark was a first for Sidsel and Lasse. One of the things that the couple looked forward to the most was to capture the style of the sassy street wise Copenhageners. In their own words, Copenhagen is bit more advanced and loud than their home town Aarhus. This is why they expected a great deal from the style of the Trailerpark audience.

Although ArtRebels shy away from talking about trends, Sidsel and Lasse did notice that vintage and individuality seemed to be an overall theme of Trailerpark. The Trailerpark-girl has a unique style and isn’t afraid to go overboard on jewelry and accessories, whereas the Trailerpark-boy is street wise, sporting a funky cap, lumberjack shirt and maybe a backpack.

Sidsel and Lasse’s finishing remarks of the festival revolves around the positive atmosphere that ruled the festival,“we’ve had so much fun this weekend and we were surprised at how friendly and approachable people were when we asked to take their picture. We will definitely be back next year, only this time we’ll make sure to bring a lot of our friends, so they can join the joy ride of Trailerpark!”

Keep an eye out for Sidsel and Lasse on our ArtRebels blog where they will be voicing their fashionable opinion. If you want to know more about Sidsel and Lasse, go to their personal blog!

//Siff Alberti Christensen

Photos: Sidsel & Lasse

Eim Ick turned the evening into night, kicking people of from the wooden plateaus in the courtyard, who were catching the last rays of the saturday sun at Trailerpark Festival.

The circus shaped tent in the middle was almost bare, as Eim Ick, named Nick Eriksen, skipped up on stage. He began with dreamy crystalic sounds. Melodies that go in tune with the light that sparkled on the tent ceiling. The sounds are organic and sonic at the same time, and with a beat that collects it all, and sends it out to the growing, now dancing, crowd.

As a non-professional listener of electronical I was naive. At certain times Eim Ick would change the different beats in a non-logical way, and in a second getting me confused as to where this music was moving, where in the next second moving the set to another level and having lead us listeners into a new atmosphere of his.

Eim Ick was for me a perfect example of Trailerpark magic. A small time name on the list loaded with good and known acts, he still managed to stand out and create a sublime experience for me -what shows that surprises at this festival, are right at your doorstep…

//Nina Wöhlk

Photos: Jason Idris-Alami & Lars Hjortkjær

The set up in our inside area, have been worked through by among others the lovely Karen Segall. She build the large wooden figures that cover the right side wall next to the main stage. They are, as so often with Miss Segall, made in this macabre-cabaret, gloomy circus aesthetics. Opposite you’ll see Phuc´s colourful, graphic, triangular décor. He used stickers to form large bright patterns, and then reproduced the same shapes in wooden cutouts.

Next to the entrance WAS, or the Wonderland Crew, as we know them, is running there insane, blah.blah, festival paper ThunderShit. Their headquarter is situate inside the large wooden airplane, they build. The view seems to be pretty amazing from up there. Cool stuff!

In the area by the ramps and bars, Skive Fagforening have been kind enough to set up a huge, cubic lounging construction. You can climb it, have a seat, and at night it is lit up, by coloured lights. Quite a sculptural piece of design.

In that same corner you’ll find Ultra Grøns balloon sculpture Monster DNA.

Next to it a girl duo called De Horisontale, consisting of Julie Bach and Carolina Nilson put up a work, that seems to be made out of thin straw-like sticks, casting amazing shadows on the wall behind.

There you have it; a short written and visual reportage on some of the expressions making up this years art scene. A follow-up will be posted shortly, on the artwork situated in the festivals outside area. So stay tuned!

//Signe Rom
Photos: Nicolai Levin

By Sidsel & Lasse

Half accustic, half electronic, half rabbits, half human, half classical piano, half futuristic – you can call the grassland of Sleep Party People a bit skitzofrenic, but with an almost alienated voiceeffect Brian Batz have created a superb mix of energetic eletronica and melancholic melodies.

In the hot, crowded room Sleep Party People delivered an even hotter concert.  And rumour says, the quintet deliver every time -  apparently once again they did. So if you haven’t heard them yet check it out – you won’t regret it.

Hanne Katrine Rasmussen
Photos taken by Johanne Fick

The laidback folk was well represented, and the quintet’s song-material did contain the charm, that usually comes with the style. To my happy surprise the content of the songs included the humouristic distance, I often experience with German bands. As a listener you are challenged on your own  expectaions of normal music. And I like it.

The band also did the unexpectet by having two untradiotional instruments to folk music on stage; a man on a flute and man with a very, very small shaker – keep the music weird.

A slow but interesting start to a hopefully even more reality-busting sunday program.

Hanne Katrine Rasmussen

Photos taken by Johanne Fick

Mikkel has a background in indie (Lily Electric, Death By Kite, Decorate Decorate) before casting his considerable talent towards electronic music. Something that immediately shows as he launched into a set that ranged from straight up four-to-the-floor tech-house to huge melodic soundscapes, often touching upon the kind of melancholy that I would usually connect with the darker side of indie rock. Mikkel has been labeled a rising star in danish DJ circles and I can see why; everything he played was beautifully composed and almost elegantly poised (for lack of a better description), the heavy bass lines ripping shreds through the dance floor while he kicked it into overdrive on the second part of his set. From blissed-out harmonies featuring the honey-drop vocals of who I believe to be Coco from Quadron to rocking out with Turboweekend frontman Silas Bjerregaard to finally settling into a perfectly paced romp through Mikkel´s back catalogue with Loui Foo from danish all-girl power trio Giana Factory, each guest vocalist held it down perfectly, making heads nod and smiles spontaneously break out among the crowd.

Check out his myspace here and especially his remix of Lou Reed classic “Walk on the wild side” – no easy feat doing that track justice, but Mikkel pulls it of perfectly!

Awesome pictures by Nicolai Levin (who is 15!!! And mad talented! Big up!), words by Ulrik Hogrebe