Folk Spot Denmark is a project created to give folk musicians and industry professionals the opportunity to talk together and create new contacts and collaborations. This year’s edition was no exception, and delegates from near and far made the trip to Tønder to experience Tønder Festival and the selected orchestras for Folk Spot Denmark 2023.
We have spoken to some of the delegates to get a little insight into their work with folk music elsewhere in the world, and their experience with Folk Spot Denmark.
Name: Quirina Geijsen
Company: MOJO Concerts
Title: Booking assistant ‘heavy’
Based in: the Netherlands
What was your purpose for participating at Folk Spot 2023?
I was invited to join Folk Spot, because of my different background but my wide taste in music and honest opinions. I never dove this deep into the folk scene before, so, to me, it was all about experiencing this culture and learning to appreciate its different outputs. I could share my visions with other delegates and artists, and hopefully, I did give them some ‘other’ insights from a broader market perspective.
What trends and tendencies do you see in folk music right now?
I don’t really know much about the Scandinavian folk scene, but music involving physical traditional ritual elements and putting that in popular (commercial) music to me is an interesting development which I think we’re only at the start of seeing on more commercial festivals. Think of the band Heilung, having a major spot at Lowlands Festival in The Netherlands, which is one of the biggest festivals there.
What is your impression of the Danish folk scene versus folk music in the Netherlands? (Differences and similarities)
My impression is that the Danish folk scene has much more inspiration from their own roots and ground, keeping traditions lively and sharing them amongst people. This gives a certain magic that is very special to the people, creating a wider audience. I would say the Folk Scene in The Netherlands is much smaller, and often inspired by foreign traditions. You have to really look for the festivals celebrating Folk Music. When you look at the commercial festivals and club bookings, we see traces of traditional folk music in ‘new’ popular music and sometimes a daring combination of the two. And, of course, old commercial heroes still work.
Did you make some new contacts relevant for your future work?
I did, mostly by meeting other internationally focused music professionals which I hopefully can work together with in the future.
Which were the best musical experiences during Folk Spot Denmark and Tønder Festival?
Folk Spot Denmark is a great opportunity for musical talent to speak to delegates, get some experience, connect and also jam with musicians late in the night. The stories about the latter, I loved the most. Because, the connection of music is what, in the end, matters. Optur got the crowd in that moment of looseness the most. What I liked most at Tønder Festival most certainly is Niteworks. I was very intrigued by their combinations of techno music with traditional instruments. I think it would be great if the future has more like this in store.
Folk Spot Denmark er et projekt skabt for at give folkemusikere og branchefolk mulighed for at networke og skabe nye kontakter og samarbejder. Årets udgave var ingen undtagelse, og delegerede fra nær og fjern tog turen til Tønder for at opleve Tønder Festival og de udvalgte orkestre til Folk Spot Denmark 2023.
Vi har talt med nogle af de delegerede for at få et lille indblik i deres arbejde med folkemusik andre steder i verden, og deres erfaring med Folk Spot Denmark.
Navn: Quirina Geijsen
Firma: MOJO Concerts
Titel: Booking assistant ‘heavy’
Land: Holland
Hvad var dit formål med at deltage på Folk Spot 2023?
Jeg blev inviteret til at deltage i Folk Spot på grund af min anderledes baggrund, min brede musiksmag og ærlige meninger. Jeg dykkede aldrig så dybt ind i folkescenen før, så for mig handlede det om at opleve denne kultur og lære at værdsætte dens forskellige output. Jeg kunne dele mine visioner med andre delegerede og kunstnere, og forhåbentlig gav jeg dem nogle ‘andre’ indsigter fra et bredere markedsperspektiv.
Hvilke tendenser ser du i folkemusik lige nu?
Jeg ved ikke rigtig meget om den skandinaviske folkescene, men musik, der involverer fysiske, traditionelle rituelle elementer og at sætte det ind i populær (kommerciel) musik for mig er en interessant udvikling, som jeg tror, vi først er ved at se mere til på kommercielle festivaler. Tænk på bandet Heilung, der har en stor plads på Lowlands Festival i Holland, som er en af de største festivaler der.
Hvad er dit indtryk af den danske folkescene kontra folkemusik i Holland? (Forskelle og ligheder)
Mit indtryk er, at den danske folkescene har meget mere inspiration fra deres egne rødder, og at de holder traditioner levende og deler dem blandt folk. Dette giver en vis magi, der er meget speciel, hvilket skaber et bredere publikum. Jeg vil sige, at folkescenen i Holland er meget mindre og ofte inspireret af udenlandske traditioner. Du skal virkelig kigge efter festivalerne, der fejrer folkemusik. Når man ser på de kommercielle festivaler og klubbookinger, ser vi spor af traditionel folkemusik i ‘ny’ populærmusik og nogle gange en vovet kombination af de to. Og selvfølgelig arbejder de gamle kommercielle helte stadig.
Fik du nogle nye kontakter, der er relevante for dit fremtidige arbejde?
Det gjorde jeg. Mest ved at møde andre internationalt fokuserede musikprofessionelle, som jeg forhåbentlig kan arbejde sammen med i fremtiden.
Hvilke var de bedste musikalske oplevelser under Folk Spot Denmark og Tønder Festival?
Folk Spot Denmark er en fantastisk mulighed for musikalske talenter til at tale med delegerede, få lidt erfaring, forbinde – og også at jamme med musikere sent om aftenen. Historierne om sidstnævnte elskede jeg allermest. Fordi musikkens forbindelse er det, der i sidste ende betyder noget. Optur fik publikum mest i det øjeblik af løssluppenhed. Det, jeg helt klart kunne lide på Tønder Festival, er Niteworks. Jeg var meget fascineret af deres kombinationer af technomusik med traditionelle instrumenter. Jeg synes, det ville være fantastisk, hvis fremtiden har flere af den slags i vente.
