Donnerstag/Thursday
The Festival startet Thursday evening again with "Den første Aften" hosted by Niels Hausgaard. I do not speak danish and I don´t care normally. But once a year I deeply regret, that I don´t understand a word. Thursday evenening in Tønder, when these brillant artists like Niels, Povl Dissing or Benny Holst make their audiance break out in bursts of laughter, whithout moving a muscle in their face.
The new experience during that evening: There are young ladies who understand that job as well: Annelouise Sørensen and the wonderful Annika Aakjær. And then a furious final of the evening by Katzenjammer.
Sonntag/Sunday
Sunday is the day of the Ceilidh and the traditional Gala Concert. In the afternoon many bands and artists came back on stage and the water came into the Telt 1 under the stage. The photographers area was totally flooded, which lead some photographers to special gymnastic exercises. In the evening some legends of irish musik: The Dubliners who played a wonderful concert and made the audience sing their classics.
The final concert was given by La Bottine Souriante with the impressive percussion dancer Sandy Silva. As every year the festival was closed by all artists singing together with the audience: Will the circle be unbroken
Follow this Link for the Sunday Concerts and some Impressions of the Musicians Bar ...
Freitag/Friday
The Friday with the official opening of the Tønder Festival on the market place with The Paul MacCanna Band, Emily Smith and the New Rope String Band. In the evening one of my personal festival highlights: The great Rasmus Lyberth from Greeenland, together with interesting guests. The final by Salsa Celtica, a well done combination of Celtic Tunes with Salsa Fire. Beautiful to meet again Megan Henderson from the Strings Attached Project last year and Ross Ainslee.
Montag/Monday
With the Volunteers Party the Festival Organisators and the musicians express their thanks to the Volunteers, who did again a great job, without them this Festival could not take place. The Curry Crew was cooking since the morning and many bands and musicians gave another great concert. As there were: Chris Smither, Emily Smith and Band, Dwight Lamb, Jensen & Bugge, Barney McKenna, John Sheahan, Seán Cannon, the Lost Bayou Ramblers, Paul Mccanna Band, Chuck Brodsky, Skerrywore and Nathan Rogers who was the other throat singer at this festival. Pokey LaFarge & The South City Three appeared to be the band of the evening and gave the party a great finish in a session with Coast and Casper Panduro.
Sonnabend/Saturday
The Saturday saw a lot of very good artists and bands. The fact, that I had my bycicle with me enabled me to see nine bands/singers in five concerts, spread over the town. As there were Singers like Sigrid Moldestad, Emily Smith, Benny Holst and Guy Forsyth. Also represetatives of the traditional irish music like Lunasa and De Dannan with Eleanor Shanley. A perfect finish of the evening: The Lost Bayou Ramblers, playing fine Cajun Music