It’s hard not to be inspired to visit Scandinavia. A world apart, the kingdoms of Norway, Sweden and Denmark evoke images of vast fjords, sprawling fir forests, and the ethereal Arctic Circle, home to polar bears and relentless dark winters often lit up by the breath-taking northern lights. Nordic capitals such as Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm ooze their own special brand of eclectic charm found nowhere else in the world. These days, Scandinavia is also tied to its cult crime fiction and noir thriller scene; with TV series’ like The Killing, The Bridge and Borgen growing an international following.
It’s a vast region ripe for exploration – and what better way to frame the scenery and capture the essence of Scandinavia than through our pick of its finest festivals scheduled throughout the year?
For your Nordic calendar:
Fredagsrock
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
When: Every Friday night
Website: fredagsrock.dk
Stay at: Copenhagen City
This isn’t a festival so we’re cheating a bit, but we do think it’s a great introduction to the emerging local and international music scene in Copenhagen. ‘Friday Rock’ is a weekly event held in the Tivoli Gardens, staging exciting acts such as MØ, a forward-thinking Copenhagen native edging onto the international electro-pop circuit; fellow Danish dream rocker Mads Björn; and Norwegian Indie band Highasakite.
CLICK Festival
Where: Helsingor, Denmark
When: May 16th – 17th
Website: http://clickfestival.dk/program-2014
Stay at: Copenhagen Amager
Just 45 km from Copenhagen in Helsingor, CLICK Festival focuses its attention on art, design and new media – though this year’s music line-up looks to be worth all the fuss too – with deep house DJ Actress and arty Aussie Electronica craftsman Ben Frost making an appearance. Immerse yourself fully in Copenhagen’s contemporary culture with workshops, exhibitions, lectures and sound shows.
Öresunds Festival
Where: Malmø, Sweden
When: May 30th- 31st
Website: http://oresundsfestival.com/
Stay at: Malmö Eriksfält
Kicking off in Malmø, Sweden at the end of May, this festival hosts a pick of undiscovered Danish and Swedish music talent, joined artistically and physically by the mighty, arching Öresund bridge. A small friendly city, Malmö is worth exploring for its burgeoning design scene, with huge Swedish labels now moving to the seaside setting from all over the country. From string quartets to eclectic rock, this weekend is a musical joyride and only costs 270DK (£29!) for the whole weekend.
Metaltown
Where: Gothenburg, Sweden
When: July
Website: http://www.metaltown.se/
Stay at: Göteborg-Stigbergsliden
Located fittingly in Sweden’s metal capital, Gothenburg, expect two days of shredding mayhem, with previous years hosting names such as Slipknot, Korn, and a number of Sweden metal greats to shake the city’s foundations. Göteborg (Gothenburg) is a creative city brimming with ideas, home to Sweden’s theme park heavyweight, Liseberg, and packed full of hip, gritty cafes and lavish architecture.
by:Larm
Where: Oslo, Norway
When: March 4th – 7th
Website: http://bylarm.no/pages/eng
Stay at: Oslo Central
Four days of musical artists on the verge of success performing in Norway’s thriving capital means that by:Larm festival is brimming with energy, opportunity and creativity. This is a hugely diverse live program filled with international music industry representatives on the look-out for emerging new acts from Northern Europe. With 2015’s focus on the US market, expect top American artists flying in to work with Nordic songwriters and producers.
If the city’s vibrancy gets a bit much, you can retreat into the wild: Oslo is famously hemmed by its very own Oslofjord – not a real fjord but pretty nonetheless – along with miles of fresh stretching woodland.
Trænafestivalen
Where: Træna, Norway
When: 10th – 12th July
Website: http://www.trena.net/en/
Stay at: Bodø hostel
Is it possible to overdose on beauty? Located on a tiny island right in the Arctic Circle, 33 miles west of mainland Norway, Trænafestivalen has been going on since 2003 and is one for seekers of the remote – the borough only has 500 inhabitants. These guys suggest flying into Bodø, where you can spend a night at our hostel before catching a boat over into the awe-inspiring abyss. Oh, and the music isn’t bad too; Ida Maria is among a handful of names you may recognise, but this is really about extending your musical repertoire and being at a festival on the top of the world.
Heading to an exciting festival this summer or next year? We’d love to hear from you:
socialmedia@hihostels.com.