IPO Copenhagen 2023
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Artists From Copenhagen Area
“Atom” Chris Dall & Powerband – For fans of bands such as The Ramones, The Troggs, and The Kingsmen come “Atom” Chris Dall and Powerband with their punk garage and fuzz fueled mayhem straight outta Copenhagen. In addition to their latest English language full length, Dolls for Dinner, they’ve got a slew of more recent Danish language singles and EPs, which are even catchier!
Sasha Bach – Drawing on influences from his New York upbringing as well as his Danish roots, Bach has entertained audiences around the world. There is practically no genre that is off limits – his range includes everything from pop/rock to R&B/soul to folk-singer ballads and even a bit of disco and rap! Whether solo or backed by a band, his warm vocals and heartfelt delivery can’t help but draw you in!
Caper Clowns – A quintet of young Danes from Odense who made an immediate splash on Danish radio and the world-wide power pop blog underground with the release of their debut, The Buca Bus, late in 2016! The lead single, “Pockets”, was immediately chosen as the “weekly hit tip” on Danish national radio station DR P4, and received much airplay. Their follow up, A Salty Taste To The Lake, has been called “simply delicious indie power pop” and easily rose to the top of several 2018 “best of” lists. Their latest, Abdicate The Throne, “…not only hits the heights of previous offerings, but it reveals a lot of hidden depths” (I Don’t Hear A Single). With multiple comparisons to the likes of McCartney, Crowded House, ELO and Jellyfish, and the possibility we’ll get to hear some of the new material they’ve been working on since we last saw them, it’s understandable why they have quickly become a fan favorite fixture at IPO Liverpool! We’re therefore excited to see them play to a crowd much closer to home!
Guðný – Icelandic-born, Copenhagen-based singer, songwriter and producer Guðný is like a blizzard of confetti on a dark and rainy day. Her uplifting retro pop songs are about being brave, about searching for magic in the universe and about the fear of never really belonging, and with her fabulous voice and powerful energy she intertwines pop with rock, folk and country.
High On Blues – A Copenhagen-based trio who gets down to basics, never forgetting that the grandfather of all rock and roll originated with The Blues, and who bring some searing Blues-fueled rock right into the 22nd century! Fans of artists such as Warren Zevon and Lenny Kravitz will dig ‘em!
Mansfield – The band makes their home in Copenhagen, but takes its name after Mansfield, a former coal mining town in the East Midlands of England. Both visually and musically, the quartet takes the audience on a journey back to the early ‘60s, with their trademark retro-cool mod-style suits and energetic performances. The music is honest, direct and instantly appealing, cleverly fusing contemporary rock with the legendary ‘60s Mersey sound, and elements of Motown, resulting in catchy and to-the-point songs that ooze of toe-tapping energy. So far, 7 out of 11 tracks from their debut album, Star-Crossed Lovers, have been played on Danish national radio, and the album itself was awarded “Album of the Week” on radio station P5, and receiving 4 and 5 star reviews in which critics have compared the band to The Beatles, Oasis and The Kinks, as well as Danish rock band The Beatophonics. Pretty impressive, but also very well deserved!! They also deserve our thanks for their help and encouragement in bringing the festival to Copenhagen!!
Rasmus Nelausen – An ecelectic singer/songwriter/performer whose brand-new album, Diorama, ranges from ‘80s-inflected neo-romantic layering of synth and beats to more stripped-down folky ballads to anthemic rock…all made special by the rich quality of his voice. We’re glad he was able to make IPO Copenhagen part of his album release tour, and can’t wait to see him do these songs live!
Select Captain – Kristian Gaarskjær’s musical alter-ego, accompanied by producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Søren Vestergaard, are creating their own blend of dark folk, indie and electro-Americana. They create a unique, organic and ambient sound in a mix of acoustic and electronic instruments with the focus on strong melodies and production that feels both modern and traditional at the same time. Their brand-new single, “Every Second,” provides a tantalizing taste of a forthcoming album…watch for more singles and the album to be released soon! In the meantime, come hear them do their thing live at IPO!
Vinyl Floor – A long-time Danish alt-rock favorite of IPO (they’ve got five prior full-length albums to their credit and have previously played IPOs Liverpool and LA), led by brothers Thomas Charlie and Daniel Pederson, who we’re excited to see closer to home and playing songs from their latest creation, Employees Must Wash Hands, which takes them in a much more classic pop direction. Think Brian Wilson meets Burt Bacharach meets The Beatles, sometimes stripped down, and sometimes with full chorus and orchestra…yeah, it’s that good!
International Artists
Cocktail Slippers – IPO is thrilled to welcome one of our long-time favorite bands to join us for the first ever IPO Copenhagen! Their latest album, Shout It Out Loud, on Little Steven van Zandt’s Wicked Cool label, is their best piece of in-your-face rock meets hooky ear candy yet! Fans of all kinds of FUN pop – from classic girl group to bubblegum, psychedelic pop, punk pop, and glam – will all find something to love. “[T]he Slippers sound a lot like the Go-Go’s but with gats instead of L.A. cheer, and a mule kick in their high heels. It’s all retro action but written and detonated with the study and delight of modern rock & roll women in constant touch with their inner filly.” (David Fricke, Rolling Stone Magazine) When it comes to their live show, these ladies from Oslo really bring it, so don’t miss it!
Crafting Machines – A trio from Cambridge who craft moody guitar pop in many guises – sometimes melancholy, sometimes anthemic, sometimes folky, sometimes energetic and angsty…but all compelling. Check out their 2019 EP, The Fayre Tale, their slew of more recent singles, and their IPO showcase, to see and hear what we mean!
Marmalade Souls – This soulful Swedish sunshine pop group led by husband and wife team Michael and Johanna Klemme was a regular at IPO Liverpool from 2006 – 2008, so we’re glad to have them join us for the first ever IPO Copenhagen. The songs on their debut CD, In Stereo, are characterized by close knit harmonies and heartfelt lyrics about love and other matters of the soul. Imagine The Carpenters doing songs penned by George Harrison, and you get the idea.
The Men – IPO is proud to welcome this “supergroup,” formed out of four classic Swedish pop-garage bands: The Sinners, The Girls, Thee Expression and Colubrids, who got together in early 2000 to form the ultimate live-band: explosive, stylish, tight, groovy, cool and fun (no shoegazers!) -a band the members themselves would love to see! Not ones to rest on past laurels of five great albums and various singles and EPs, their sixth and latest full album, Sesa Rekordo, showcases their flair for mixing ‘60s soul and R&B with power pop and down and dirty gritty garage, and those three-part harmonies for which they’ve been known from the start!
MOM – A quartet from Malmo, Sweden, offering classic sweet bubblegum/power pop just the way we like it! Think of The Rubinoos, The Knack, The Ramones and Cheap Trick all rolled into one…or better yet, check out their Fun n’ Games EP on 7” vinyl or your favorite streaming service, and their IPO showcase!
Plasticsoul – Still collecting praise and fans around the world for their third and most rocking album, Therapy (on Big Stir Records), Central California-based Plasticsoul are a hook-propelled American spin on the history of British rock from The Beatles to the Bunnymen to Oasis, blessed with the powerful voice and sharp-edged tunes of front-man Steven Wilson. Their prior releases both won multiple Album of the Year awards and garnered rave reviews. With a formidable and propulsive live act that’s pure rock and roll energy and a deep catalogue of finely crafted and emotive songs, Plasticsoul is currently at the height of their considerable powers. Check them out and pick up a copy of Therapy! A new one is also in the works and we can hardly wait to hear it!
Ronnie Starr – Celebrating the 20-year anniversary of the release of their landmark First Take album, Finnish power pop legends Ronnie Starr are back and better than ever! Both “Sour Love” and “An Avenue” from First Take took the #1 spot on Radio Suomipop’s Top 30 chart back in the day, and their follow up EP, In Full Swing, hit the charts from the moment it was released, finishing at #4 on the official Finnish music charts. Scandinavian pop at its finest!
Slim Loris – This Stockholm-based quartet blends modern Indie and ‘60s/’70s-inflected Pop/Rock with Americana and a pinch of Swedish melancholy. They “… create beautiful, melodic songs with emotional vocals that address love, inner tranquility and consciousness, and possess a charismatic singer capable of captivating any fan of Indie music”. (mostdef.blogspot.se) Their recently released full length, Red Loris Yellow Loris, “…is a blend of new rock, old pop and ‘70s vibe sounds. It comes to us so clear and devoid of any profound drive. The album doesn’t feel like it is pining for money or attention. Quite the opposite. [It] feels as if it is happy in its own little rocking world. It’s making its own music, for its own pleasure. We’re just lucky enough to listen” (TJPL News).
Stupidity – Ever heard the term “keep it simple, stupid?” Well, when applied to rockin’ garage punk pop, it can be some of the most joyous fun-filled mayhem to get you up on the floor and dancing, as these guys from Stockholm have known for a mighty long time, with numerous full-length albums and singles to prove it. Their latest, Waking Up The Band, also features Keith Streng of The Fleshtones on vocals. They still do the rawkous garage thang just about better than anyone, so we can’t wait to see and hear their set at IPO Copenhagen!