• ARS Electronica in Linz, Austria
• Sónar in Barcelona, Spain
• SXSW in Austin, Texas, USA
• Glastonbury in the UK
• Airwaves, in Reykjavik, Iceland
• Coachella Music and Arts festival, in Indio, California, USA
• The Eden Sessions, Cornwall, UK
• Burning Man, Nevada, USA

Random observation: brilliant minimalism can be played anywhere between 33 and 45 rpm depending on your mood.

For anyone who can concur to this I recommend Mike Sheridan’s new album I Syv Sind which is intended to be at 33 rpm (there’s a female voice on some tracks), but suddenly becomes remarkably danceable at 45!

I returned from a 5 day visit to the wonderful country of Lithuania yesterday where I was visiting Vilnius, and more interestingly, the alternative post-folk and contemporary heathen culture festival Menuo Juodaragis (Black Horned Moon) in Zarasai.

First of all, Vilnius is a lovely little town with a ridiculous amount of churches. Religion is rather prominent in the city I would say. Having switched from Pagan to Catholicism, back to Pagan, to Russian Orthodox, with some more steps in between, they built a lot of churches.

Lithuanians are a nice bunch of people, they’re very friendly and helpful. Most young people speak English, but it was still a bit of a culture shock to be in a country where you don’t understand a single word (last time I had that was in Ghana). Lithuanian girls a very pretty: tall, long hair, deep blue or green eyes. Lithuanian women (35+) kind of lose that, how does that work?

Zarasai is about 150 km northeast of Vilnius, though it took 3,5 hours to get there. Somehow roads in eastern Europe are always under construction. The countryside consists mainly of forest, moors, and lakes. Very serene. The festival itself took place on an island in a big lake.

But enough babbling, just take a look at my pictures!

Ačhū!

2 months ago I found out about this festival in Lithuania by clicking through obscure music genres in Wikipedia. I did not have any other real holiday plans, so I decided to make this my summer destination. Some details:

• Mėnuo Juodaragis is the festival of contemporary Baltic culture representing the heritage of heathen tradition, Baltic culture revival, post-folk currents and avant-garde of contemporary music
• At the Big Oak: 19.30 – Opening rites. The opening rites will be performed at a mighty oak on the Northern cape, where an altar will flare up.
• NO showers or lavatories in the island, – but there will be plenty of water in the lake. And we think that as long as this fest is pagan, clear lake is enough to stay clean and refreshed.
• The beer of the Festival “TAURAS” will cost 1,5 EUR per pint.
• The entire festival area will be guarded throughout the Festival by a professional security service, a motorbike-club and other personnel. (Post-soviet motorbike-club, that certainly will fit right in with the hippies!)
• Football tournament, and a beach volleyball area is also available. (That seems really off somehow)
  

Yes, I will bring my camera, and yes, I will make a lot of pictures.

See some pictures of last year’s Menuo Juodaragis. Music by Sieben.

Roskilde is only just finished and I’m already planning ahead:

• 7-8: Iron and Wine
• 9-8: Summer Darkness festival in Holland
• 22-8 – 24-8: Menuo Juodaragis neo-folk festival in Lithuania
• 26-9: Efterklang with the DR Sinfonietta on my birthday
• 2-10: dEUS
• 15-10 – 19-10: Airwaves in Iceland (option)
• 24-10: Calexico
• 12-11: Daniel Johnston

I survived Roskilde once again! Though I have to say it was a lot easier this year. The weather, and the special camping with showers certainly helped. Some details:

Best dancing act:
Shantel, and the Bucovina Club Orkestar

Most interesting act:
Efterklang

Most intimate act:
Goldfrapp

Best light and video show:
The Chemical Brothers

Most touching act:
Tivoli’s Symphony Orchestra playing my favourite piece by Arvo Pärt

Loudest concert:
Slayer

Best audience interaction:
The Streets

Other acts worth mentioning:
Slagsmålsklubben, MGMT, Radiohead, Juan Formell y Los Van Van, Gnarls Barkley, Vieux Farka Touré, CocoRosie, Grinderman, Familjen, Mamar Kassey, Solomon Burke, Neil Young, Babylove and The Van Dangos, Lulu Rouge, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Favourite drink:
Strawberry Daiquiri, doubled up (at Gringo Bar)

Achievement of the year:
Did not puke

Most surprising event:
Being hit by an egg thrown from a car

Best Roskilde moment:
Making out with a random girl who gave me a ‘kiss me’ note

Worst Roskilde moment:
Won’t disclose, sorry

I’ve started collecting limited edition records. Mostly obscure, dark material (yes, I’m going through an emo phase ). Sources of inspiration are certainly Arjen Grolleman and Bob Rusche with their sundaynight radio program x-rated (available on podcast). These two guys have an impressive unlimited knowledge of the avant-garde music genres. The internet also helps with especially last.fm for finding related artists, and discogs to buy rare records. But I was very impressed by the back room and basement collection of Sound Station, a record shop 10 minutes from here. The staff knows EXACTLY what I want. Maybe they just have the same taste..

Gypsy folk punk, sung in Norwegian. Guys wearing gas masks, and crowbars. Where have I been tonight?

So far 2008 has been an awesome year for concerts already. I’ve seen:

• Benni Hemm Hemm – Funny, different, parody on themselves
• The Cure – Rather unpersonal due to that lousy hall (Forum)
• Lise Westzynthius – Cute
• Efterklang – Amazing live performance, didn’t expect that!
• Murcof – Slightly disappointing, too short, uninspiring visuals
• Patrick Watson – Really, REALLY good, and I love Loppen
• Portishead – Best concert of the year, so far!

Upcoming:

• RADIOHEAD!!
• (well, and the rest of Roskilde)

Almost everybody downloaded this album for free from the Radiohead website. I decided to do something else and bought the limited 2 x vinyl, 2 x CD edition as an x-mas present for myself. And it’s sweet!

I like giving gifts..