Roskilde – Final Day - Live: DSL, At the Gates, The Black Seeds, Slayer, Cat Power, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Jay Reatard, Jay-Z
So, it came down to the fourth and final day at the Roskilde festival. We had already toured around most of the places in the festival grounds so it was straight to the stages for us. First up were French electronic/hip-hop trio DSL at the Pavilion stage. Not many things to say about this one; two DJ’s in the background and a singer who was trying to make jokes (and totally failing). Only good enough to wake us up along with our morning coffee.
We then decided to pay a visit to the Arena stage for Swedish metal band At the Gates. However, the unexciting music and the overcrowded tent changed our minds quite quickly. So we came back for the afternoon session, starting with New Zealand reggae rockers The Black Seeds. I wasn’t expecting much, but the guys were more than enjoyable. Along with the endless joints passing around by the crowd (hey..it was reggae!!) the gig turned into an afternoon party with everyone dancing to the bits and having a splendid time.
Next was our dose of metal, with legendary metal heroes from Brazil, Slayer. Now this was really fun, unlike yesterday’s old rockers Judas Priest. The guys still have it in them and the crowd quickly engaged into endless headbanging (including even us!!). Slayer for ever!!!!
So, we had our dose of reggae and metal and swiftly (however swiftly this can be) moved over to the Odeon stage for our dose of melodic pop/rock courtesy of Cat Power. For yet another time Marshall was completely wasted, which didn’t affect her performance however. She played most of the hits we loved, from Greatest to Live in Bars and set the crowd singing along. This was one of BLR’s favorite gigs and I can’t find anything wrong with his judgment on this one. A great performance by an amazingly talented artist.
We then decided to pay a visit to the Arena stage for Swedish metal band At the Gates. However, the unexciting music and the overcrowded tent changed our minds quite quickly. So we came back for the afternoon session, starting with New Zealand reggae rockers The Black Seeds. I wasn’t expecting much, but the guys were more than enjoyable. Along with the endless joints passing around by the crowd (hey..it was reggae!!) the gig turned into an afternoon party with everyone dancing to the bits and having a splendid time.
Next was our dose of metal, with legendary metal heroes from Brazil, Slayer. Now this was really fun, unlike yesterday’s old rockers Judas Priest. The guys still have it in them and the crowd quickly engaged into endless headbanging (including even us!!). Slayer for ever!!!!
So, we had our dose of reggae and metal and swiftly (however swiftly this can be) moved over to the Odeon stage for our dose of melodic pop/rock courtesy of Cat Power. For yet another time Marshall was completely wasted, which didn’t affect her performance however. She played most of the hits we loved, from Greatest to Live in Bars and set the crowd singing along. This was one of BLR’s favorite gigs and I can’t find anything wrong with his judgment on this one. A great performance by an amazingly talented artist.
For the next gig we remained at the Odeon stage (our favorite stage in the festival) in order to get quite up front for one of my all-time favorite artists, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. Bonnie was accompanied by his country-style crew (with violin, guitar and tambourine). Although he refused to enter his Darkness period and confined himself to his latest album (with only a couple of exceptions), the concert was still amazing. Everyone was singing and dancing to the melodies and Bonnie’s mesmerizing voice, supplemented by the pouring rain that had started halfway in the show. Even Bonnie couldn’t resist the chirring crowd and came up on stage for a much desired encore. What a night…finally I got to see the legend on stage..
We then rushed to the Pavilion stage to catch the remaining show of another favorite, Jay Reatard (we had already missed Fuck Buttons which I really wanted to catch live but where on at the exact same time as Bonnie…obvious choice there). Unfortunately we only got there in time for a couple of songs, but at least we got a glimpse of Jay’s powerful punk performance, which ended (as expected) into a head-on jump into the crowd (no, he didn’t kick or punch anyone from the crowd this time….)
Our final stop was at the Orange stage, for the upcoming live of the festival’s headliner (weird choice for a purely rock festival) Jay-Z. Although it was pouring down in rain, Jay-Z finally came out after a 40-minutes delay (the first delay we came upon in the whole festival….). I wasn’t that impressed to be honest, since the show mostly addresses an audience over the Atlantic and only confirmed everyone’s doubt of the headliner’s choice. Nevertheless, he did his best (he is a real professional afterall) and perhaps some people may have enjoyed it more than us.
We then rushed to the Pavilion stage to catch the remaining show of another favorite, Jay Reatard (we had already missed Fuck Buttons which I really wanted to catch live but where on at the exact same time as Bonnie…obvious choice there). Unfortunately we only got there in time for a couple of songs, but at least we got a glimpse of Jay’s powerful punk performance, which ended (as expected) into a head-on jump into the crowd (no, he didn’t kick or punch anyone from the crowd this time….)
Our final stop was at the Orange stage, for the upcoming live of the festival’s headliner (weird choice for a purely rock festival) Jay-Z. Although it was pouring down in rain, Jay-Z finally came out after a 40-minutes delay (the first delay we came upon in the whole festival….). I wasn’t that impressed to be honest, since the show mostly addresses an audience over the Atlantic and only confirmed everyone’s doubt of the headliner’s choice. Nevertheless, he did his best (he is a real professional afterall) and perhaps some people may have enjoyed it more than us.
It was then back to the camp for us (missing out on the finale given by Digitalism…but with nothing playing at that time I’m sure we wouldn’t fit under the Arena stage) for the rest of Hell’s Night (this is the term for the final night, where everyone just trashes the place up and party all night banging on anything they come across....a real hell!!).
Next day it was time to pack things up and head to the airport for our journey home (another nightmare with the Danish train system). I guess that’s pretty much it with Roskilde festival. Too much dust, too much noise, too many people but also loads of great music. It was certainly an experience to remember, but probably next year we’ll head towards Barcelona for Primavera festival and the joys of giving up the tent and renting proper hotel rooms (guess we are indeed getting old!). As always, here’s some footage from most of the acts we saw this final day (in proper quality this time). Viva Roskilde!!!
Next day it was time to pack things up and head to the airport for our journey home (another nightmare with the Danish train system). I guess that’s pretty much it with Roskilde festival. Too much dust, too much noise, too many people but also loads of great music. It was certainly an experience to remember, but probably next year we’ll head towards Barcelona for Primavera festival and the joys of giving up the tent and renting proper hotel rooms (guess we are indeed getting old!). As always, here’s some footage from most of the acts we saw this final day (in proper quality this time). Viva Roskilde!!!
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