Tønder Festival

Tønder Festival is a large annual folk music festival in Tønder, Denmark. It is always held at the last weekend of August. It was founded in 1975.

The festival has since developed itself into being one of the most important festivals for traditional and modern folk music in Europe. There were more than 2000 volunteers attached to the festival in 2008. The program is composed of international artists from especially Ireland, Scotland, Canada, USA, England and Scandinavia. The genres vary from Irish and Scottish folk music to Nordic, and Baltic folk music and songs.

During the festival, the entire town is influenced by music, and famous and less famous artists are part of a community with the audience on streets and squares.

The festival takes place in 9-10 indoor venues in the town and in the large tents of the festival area, with room for up to 2700 people. There are seats in all venues - with the exception of a few concerts where it's a mix of seating and standing. The Tønder Festival is considered one of the biggest festivals within modern roots/folk music in Europe - and as one of the friendliest and most peaceful festivals in Denmark. The festival sell about 22.000 concert tickets every year - it is not possible to buy day tickets for the entire festival because the festivals venues vary in size from 180 to 2700 guests.

Amongst the artists who have visited the festival are Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Runrig, Great Big Sea, The Chieftains, Altan, Eivør, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Donovan, Natalie MacMaster, Wolfstone, Mary Black, Capercaillie, Karan Casey, Wilco, Coast and many, many more...

Among international artists presented at the 2008 Tønder Festival were Seth Lakeman - C.J. Chenier - Ashley MacIsaac - J.P. Cormier - Justin Townes Earle - Anthony da Costa - The Duhks - Oysterband - Baskery - Tom Paxton - Mary Black - Eddi Reader - Kris Drever, John McCusker, Roddy Woomble - Ross Ainslee & Jarlath Henderson - Altan - Guy Forsyth - Guy Davis - Valravn and Eivør

References

• Official site.
• Millstream Records is a mail order musicshop run by the Tønder Festival since 1986.
• Hagge's Musik Pub is a venue and pub run by The Friends of Tønder Festival.
• FolkWorld: A bottle of Tønder audience - Tønder Festival 2000
• FolkWorld: Champagne for All - European Silver Jubilees Part I - Tønder Festival
• Celtic Cafe: Tønder Festival 2005