Thursday to Saturday
During the first three days I saw seventeen concerts including seven Folkspot gigs, which have special galleries. Kentaur, Sam Outlaw, the FolkBALTICA Ensemble, Jacob Dinesen, Tami Neilson, Romenga, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh med Seamus Begley and Donogh Hennessy, Frigg, Fara, Kaia Kater, every concert on a high level and it is difficult to find out a personal favourite. Frigg, Kaia Kater and Fara were my highlights among these Bands.
Here are the galleries:
Folk Spot
The Folkspot is part of the festival since 2013, first in Visemøllen, now in the Klubscenen, which still is too loud for this fine music. During these five years so many phantastic bands and artists showed up, so many surprises could be discovered, such a variety of styles and creative combination be heard, Folkspot for me is one of the Highlights of the Tønder Festival. Even this year a well composed mix of traditional Danish Folk, jazz and swing elements was presented.
My favourites among these seven bands were „Andreas Tophøj & Rune Barslund“, „Zenobia“ with Louise Støjberg, Mette Kathrine Jensen Stærk and Charlotte Støjberg and my personal top concert of the festival „Det Yderste Hav“ with Peter Uhrbrand, violin, Jørgen Bjørslev, guitar and Jeppe Brixvold, vocals.
Here are the bands:
Sunday and Monday
Sunday was my main day, seeing Lion Bear Fox, Sarah Jarosz with Anthony da Costa, the Gentlemen’s Circle featuring William Prince, Colter Wall, Grant-Lee Phillips, Nick Panken, A. J. Croce and Aodán Coyne, Karl Blau, Colter Wall, Laura Mo, Hans Theessink & Terry Evans and the Daoirí Farrell Trio. The evening was closed by the traditional chorus „Let the circle …“ and a final concert and party with Beoga.
On Monday the volunteers party took place an I gave Danni Nicholls and The Spirit Family Reunion a seperate gallery as I missed their concert before. And of course a gallery for the rest of the party including the speeches of Maria Thessink and Kirstine Uhrbrand, the conference by Jesper Henning Pedersen, many Bands and in the end with Lucas Graham.
See the pictures of the Bands here: