týsdagur 16. juni 2015síða 78

VOLume 1 summer 2015 30 T he faroese people love music – both when they sing and play it on their own, and when they are just listening. Singing and music are also two vital parts of the faroese soul no matter if we are talking about old hymnes, pop music or folk music. The faroese society is very much characterized by music. If people gather for a birtday or other festive occasions, they sing all together or listen to musical performances. If people gather on the streets at special events, singing and music a natural part of these events. During the whole year there are numerous small and big concerts to attend all over the islands. And during the summer there are also the big outdoor festivals which are becoming more and more in numbers. At the same time the faroese have a rich and varied musical life with some very skillful musicians and singers, who also have made their mark outside the islands. The talents are many in numbers and fortunately many of them also try having their own concerts and even record their own albums. Not many countries in the world have such a rich and varied musical life as the Faroe Islands do compared to number of inhabitants. The intimate concerts During the summer one can experience music and singing everywhere in the islands. The small stages, pubs, caves and so on all over the islands host various musicians, who have their live performances for smaller and bigger crowds. You will almost need to hide, if you don’t want to experience live music in the Faroe Islands during the summer. Many smaller performances are at local pubs or cafes with locally famous names such as Kim Hansen, Eyðun Nolsøe, Signar í Homrum, Holgar Jacobsen and Jens Marni Hansen. These small and intimate performances are unique experiences, and if you do a little tour of your own on a Saturday night in the summer, you can experience many of these brilliant musicians on one night playing their own music as well as cover music. The bigger concerts Throughout the summer you have the opportunity to attend bigger concerts with various kinds of music. The Nordic House in Tórshavn regularly hosts concerts and also sportshalls and cultural houses around the islands are used for various musical activities. In the summer there are also occasionally bigger concerts outdoors. The music life is also very rich in the religious environment and churches and other mission houses regularly host concerts – both with groups, individual musicians as well as choirs. The festivals In 2002 a new era started within the musical life in the Faroe Islands. The first G! Festival was held on the beach in Syðrugøta, and even if the first festival was very modest regarding stage and attendance, it was the beginning of a lively and varied festivalsummer in the Faroe Islands. Music and singing is a vital part of the faroese culture, and you can have many unique musicexperiences while visiting the islands Faroese music is unique welcome to the faroe islands