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A new year often calls for many new things in life and for SPOT it calls for new music to this year’s line-up. We have spent the last month finding ten new names to be added to the strong start to our line-up and now we’re ready to present them to you. 

We get a trip to Norway with the fearless duo brenn. (NO) and punk band Combos (NO), while Brimheim ads melancholy embraced humor and hope to the program. Amina brings soft R’n’B and hard-hitting attitude and the “guitar god” Ginne Marker will play her critically acclaimed album ‘Ulteria’. Pop music is represented in beautiful and different ways by skilled Lucky Lo, energetic Sauna Senere, sincere eee gee and charismatic Zar Paulo. As the last part of this fantastic group of artists we also present SØS Gunver Ryberg and Aarhus Symphony Orchestra who together will create magic between the electronic and orchestral. 

With this batch of artists we have started the avalanche of announcements which will roll over you in the next months until we meet at SPOT. So remember to keep an eye on our platforms. We look forward to some magical, musical days in May!

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Musical exchanges and lots of talent was the recipe for a successful version of Aarhus Calling 2021 in september during SPOT Festival

The professional venue at The House on Ryesgade made the physical frame of the sixth edition of the songwriter and producer Mecca, also known as Aarhus Calling. Since the beginning in 2015, Aarhus Calling has been curating a program consisting of producers and songwriters from all over the world to participate in Aarhus during SPOT Festival. And it’s both the A-list as well as twelve unknown talents who get to spread their musical visions during the stay.

As so many other things, the annual music camp had to call it quits in 2020 but that only made the 2021-edition even more wanted and sought after. And here, a few weeks after, Creator and CEO at Aarhus Calling, Rewan Riko, really sees how much it meant for the camp to be in motion again. 

“The atmosphere was unique, people were almost euphoric and the feeling of unity, which often occurs on day two, was there from the very beginning. All the participating musicians and producers just melted together in a very constructive way”, says Rewan Riko. 

Talents from TikTok

The young talents at Aarhus Calling were, as always, a big part of the camp and this year’s twelve selected talents also showed that the level of talent just gets higher and higher each year – primarily because there has been created a culture revolving around songwriting and production, as explained by Rewan Riko. 

“All the participants at Aarhus Calling are an equal part of the camp, and it has almost become a movement around commercial songwriting and production in Denmark – which is our focus point. There’s a great deal of understanding of how you work with songwriting and producing and as an organizer of the camp, it makes me proud that Aarhus Calling has moved things forward and that we’re able to present such gifted new talents to the more experienced people from the business, especially those from abroad,” tells Rewan Riko. 

A new thing in this year’s search for talents was the platform TikTok, which focuses on the musical elements in short video formats. And a campaign on TikTok turned out to be the right place to discover the new talents – there are many skilled young people out there who just need a chance to work with their talent but doesn’t have the tools yet. 

One of the talents who won the TikTok-contest and a spot at Aarhus Calling, was Siri Worsøe who also won the ‘AC21 Best Talent Song Award’ together with two other talents, Samuel Ledet and Marie Foged. Beside the award, the three of them also won a trip to the UK where they have the opportunity to work even more on their talent. 

TikTok showed that recruiting talents online in the digital age is worth a shot, and Aarhus Calling will definitely be on the platform again next year. 

Successful results

Everything needs to get into gear again and the possibilities for traveling were a bit difficult for some of the intended guests from abroad. But luckily, it didn’t make That much of a difference, as the forces that showed up in Aarhus were, as always, on top. Amongst the professionals, who lent out their skills for some days, were producer and songwriter Benjamin Lasnier, who has made beats for Justin Bieber, and the English songwriter and artist Jasmine Thompson – just to mention a few.

And as always, a lot of music was produced during the stay in Aarhus. With so much talent at one place, it was almost inevitable and hopefully we will also be able to hear some of the results on the playlist in the nearest future. 

“Songs have been made which will definitely be cut, so it’s just to keep an eye out”, says Rewan Riko.

Photo: Kasper Krupsdal

The date is set, planning is full steam ahead and now the time has come to find some of the great artists and bands who will step onto the stage come May.

Do you have the next big hit? Are you and your band ready to perform in front of audiences and music business professionals? Or is your music just the sound that the Danish music scene is missing? Then don’t hesitate to start your application!

The application round for SPOT 2022 is open until November 25th at 12.00 PM and everybody is welcome to enrich our system with new tunes. 

We’re looking forward to hearing what the stars of tomorrow have to offer!

Photo: Allan Høgholm

SPOT 2021 thank you all for some amazing music days characterized by unity and reunion. 

It has been a long, tough and challenging road towards a redemption that we can only be thankful for. When 2020 became 2021, SPOT had its back against the wall, the sun in the eyes and our very existence was at stake – just like so many others in the music industry.  

Nine months later we stand here with the wind in our backs and the future wide open. With a mix of luck and competence, we ended up with a SPOT Festival true to its nature – immediately after the last Covid-19 restrictions were gone.

A big thanks to everyone who helped and carried the burdens during the planning and execution of SPOT 2021. Musikhuset, the venues and associations in Aarhus and the many City SPOT-venues where the music is still playing right now. 

Thanks for all the music we got to present. It was truly an outstanding line-up with the new and amazing insanely skilled musicians, songwriters, producers and performers.  We’re proud to be the center of so much talent. 

Thanks to the SPOT audience for once again supporting and creating a great community around the music. It is impossible not to be proud of the audiences present, joyful and including way of creating a party for the music and performers. Even though not everything went as planned, or in a perfect way, our audiences have returned with nothing but patience and understanding.

A big thanks to all SPOTs employees and volunteers who have worked above and beyond this year to create the festival. A special love to Aarhus Volume for an almost symbiotic partnership, fourth time in a row. 

Thank you to the board for loyal support of the festival’s values and work and thanks to our partners for the trust and for taking their part of the working load. 

Thanks to our main sponsor Tuborg for great cooperation. 
A big thanks to Aarhus Kommune, Danish Arts Foundations music selection, KODA, DAF, DMF and all other contributors, big and small.

Thanks to Promus and MXD for the collaboration around SPOT+ and the international invitation work and thanks to the 1000 representatives from the Danish and international music business for supporting the mission and being there for the music.

An extraordinary effort from SPOTs professional key people who have made it possible for most of us to go to bed with a smile on our faces and dreams that it can only be as amazing in 2022 – maybe even better. 

All good to everyone

Gunnar K. Madsen