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: Ronja Lutz
Company: PROFOLK e.V.
Based in: Leipzig, Germany
What was your purpose for participating at Folk Spot 2023?
I wanted to get to know the Danish folk scene and learn more about music export, as well as meeting folky people and getting inspiration for my own work.
What trends and tendencies do you see in folk music right now?
In general, I see a (not necessarily new) trend towards fusing different styles and incorporating electronic elements into folk music. In connection with the balfolk scene, I also see more young people interested in different kinds of folk dance – in the German folk scene, this has led towards a higher focus on danceable music (which I think was already present in Denmark). A new trend I’m seeing is a connection between folk music and the climate movement, for example in new protest songs and the young Folk For Future movement.
Did you make some new contacts relevant for your future work?
Yes, definitely! I made three contacts that were interested in music exchange with us, and a few others that I could imagine asking for advice, since they’ve done similar things in other countries before.
Which were the best musical experiences during Folk Spot Denmark and Tønder Festival?
At Folk Spot, I most enjoyed Optur for their energy and the dance. Overall, I liked the Local Honeys and particularly enjoyed the Ladies’ Jam.
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: Ronja Lutz
Firma: PROFOLK e.V.
Land: Leipzig, Germany
Hvad var dit formål med at deltage på Folk Spot 2023?
Jeg ville lære den danske folkescene at kende og lære mere om musikeksport, samt møde folk og få inspiration til mit eget arbejde.
Hvilke tendenser og tendenser ser du i folkemusik lige nu?
Generelt ser jeg en (ikke nødvendigvis ny) tendens til at fusionere forskellige stilarter og inkorporere elektroniske elementer i folkemusikken. I forbindelse med balfolk-scenen ser jeg også flere unge interesserede i forskellige slags folkedans – i den tyske folkescene har det ført til et højere fokus på dansabel musik (som jeg tror allerede var en ting i Danmark). En ny trend, jeg også ser, er en sammenhæng mellem folkemusik og klimabevægelsen, for eksempel i nye protestsange og den unge ‘Folk For Future’-bevægelse.
Fik du nogle nye kontakter, der er relevante for dit fremtidige arbejde?
Ja helt sikkert! Jeg fik tre kontakter, som var interesserede i musikudveksling med os, og et par andre, som jeg kunne forestille mig at spørge til råds, da de har gjort lignende ting i andre lande før.
Hvilke var de bedste musikalske oplevelser under Folk Spot Denmark og Tønder Festival?
Hos Folk Spot nød jeg mest Optur for deres energi og dansen. Samlet set kunne jeg godt lide The Local Honeys og Ladies’ Jam.
