Tønder Festival is an annual
folk music festival
A music festival is a festival, community event with music, performances of singing and instrument playing that is often presented with a theme such as musical genre (e.g., rock music, rock, blues, folk music, folk, jazz, classical music), nation ...
in
Tønder
Tønder (; ) is a town in the Region of Southern Denmark. With a population of 7,477 (as of 1 January 2025), it is the main town and the administrative seat of the Tønder Municipality.
History
The first mention of Tønder might have been in th ...
,
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
. It is held on the last weekend of August. It was founded in 1974.
The first festival took place in 1975.
The festival is one of the most prominent festivals for traditional and modern folk music in Europe. Around 2500 volunteers helps create the festival every year.
The program is composed of international artists from especially Ireland, Scotland, Canada, United States, England & Scandinavia. The genres vary from Irish and Scottish folk music to Nordic Folk Music, Americana, Country and world.
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 at the festival area, with room for up to 15.000 people. You can buy a 4-day wristband or limited day tickets.
Amongst the artists who have visited the festival are
John Prine,
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, bandleader, and activist. She is considered one of the leading music artists behind the country rock genre in the 1970s and the Americana (music), Americana genre ...
,
Steve Earle,
Jason Isbell
Michael Jason Isbell ( ; born February 1, 1979) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. One of the most celebrated contemporary songwriters in his genre, his lyrics are defined by their raw emotional honesty. Isbell began his career as a me ...
,
Sturgill Simpson,
Colter Wall
Colter Wall (born June 27, 1995) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and musician. Known for his deep, gruff baritone voice and narrative songwriting, Wall's music encompasses Country music, country, Canadian folk music, folk, and Western music (No ...
,
Pete Seeger
Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and social activist. He was a fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s and had a string of hit records in the early 1950s as a member of The Weav ...
,
Arlo Guthrie
Arlo Davy Guthrie (born July 10, 1947) is an American folk music, folk singer-songwriter. He is known for singing protest song, songs of protest against social injustice, and storytelling while performing songs, following the tradition of his fa ...
,
Runrig
Runrig were a Scottish Celtic rock band formed on the Isle of Skye in 1973. From its inception, the band's line-up included brothers and songwriters Rory MacDonald (musician), Rory MacDonald (bass, vocals) and Calum MacDonald (musician), Calum ...
,
Lukas Graham
Lukas Graham is a Danish pop band consisting of lead vocalist Lukas Forchhammer, and drummer Mark Falgren. The band released '' Lukas Graham'', their first album, with labels Copenhagen Records and in 2012. The album peaked at number one on ...
,
Great Big Sea,
The Chieftains
The Chieftains were a traditional Irish folk band formed in Dublin in 1962, by Paddy Moloney, Seán Potts and Michael Tubridy. Their sound, which is almost entirely instrumental and largely built around uilleann pipes, has become synonymous w ...
, Altan, Eivør Pálsdóttir, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Donovan,
Natalie MacMaster, Wolfstone, Mary Black, Margo Price, Capercaillie,
Karan Casey,
Jacob Dinesen, The Lone Bellow, Darlingside, The Avett Brothers,
Red Hot Chili Pipers, Marck Cohn,
The Mavericks and many many more.
Official site.Hagge's Musik Pub is a venue and pub run by The Friends of Tønder Festival
File:Hagge's Musikpub.jpg, Hagge's Music Pub with the festival offices
File:Tønder Vandtårn udsigt - festivalpladsen.jpg, View to the festival grounds from the old watertower
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tonder Festival
Music festivals in Denmark
1975 establishments in Denmark
Tønder Municipality
Tourist attractions in Tønder Municipality
Music festivals established in 1975
Folk festivals in Denmark
Summer in Denmark