An Insiders Look Into Music Communities In Copenhagen

The University of Wisconsin-Madison and the city in which it is located have long been a utopia of school spirit and self-expression, supporting an increasingly diverse population and a wide range of academic offerings.

Much of Madison's artistic prowess is evident throughout campus; simply visit the Chasen Art Museum , tune into WSUM 91.7 FM Madison on your car stereo, or marvel at the hidden fashion works at the College of Human Ecology.

Madison is rich in artistic and cultural diversity, but how can it compete with Europe's leading technology and fashion hubs?

Copenhagen has gained popularity for its nightlife, street fashion and music, which is particularly evident in its viral TikToks , which show people dressed up and walking down the streets of the Danish capital like a catwalk. The city is considered a global center of talent and creative expression, which could contribute to its ranking of fifth in the World Happiness Report .

Both regional centers have marked strengths and weaknesses. However, my semester abroad gave me the opportunity to sneak into Copenhagen and compare that city to the capital of Wisconsin.

The Madison music scene is made up of an incredible network of audiences and artists, making it very difficult to describe. For example, Madison residents enjoy concerts at many area theaters.

The most famous of these, the Sylvie and Majestic Theater, has hosted artists ranging from Hippo Campus to Adam Melchor to Lana Del Rey. Many notable shows also take place at the High Noon Saloon and the Rigby, particularly shows by emerging bands from the Midwest.

Additionally, a number of Madison residents host multi-band concerts for residents, their friends, and anyone smart enough to find an address on a flyer and share it via social media. These shows, like those presented at Arthurfest in Nottingham, offer a wide range of musical entertainment in the genres of emo, pop-punk, indie rock, funk and fusion.

As someone who has attended concerts large and small in the UW-Madison backyard, I find Madison's DIY scene to be the most impressive and unique. His shows are intimate and inclusive with conductors, musicians and listeners united by a common passion. Madison's DIY scene is home to memories of many evenings spent with friends watching Madison bands.

One evening last spring, I dragged my twin sister through the snow to a grunge/post-punk show on State Street, headphones in hand. Although he was always skeptical of my musical tastes, he ended the evening with a smile on his face and added local music to his Spotify playlist.

In short, the diversity of Madison's music is remarkable and the strong engagement of its diverse audience has created a scene that resonates with Madison listeners today.

After crossing the Baltic Sea, I felt a wistful nostalgia for these treasured aspects of Madison's musical community. Here in Copenhagen, I set myself the goal of finding a Danish equivalent.

Being an American student in Europe certainly hindered my progress. Here I feel like an outsider to the musical culture.

However, I realized that Copenhagen and Madison, although very far apart, have a lot in common when it comes to music and art.

My first encounter with music here in Copenhagen started literally the moment I walked out of the airport. As I walked along the cobblestone streets, I heard the sounds of street performers entertaining passersby, spectacular and awe-inspiring.

These shows were often limited to one person, an acoustic guitar and a microphone. Otherwise, the performers played more traditional instruments like the accordion or the flute. It's good to try to move, but it's not what I expected.

As night fell on my first day in Copenhagen, I began to understand its culture better. The city, famous for its nightlife, was full of clubs playing techno and folk music. Jazz bars located on quiet streets feature different artists every night. Again, these aspects are definitely fun and interesting. But I was looking for something a little different.

Denmark hosts concerts throughout the year and Vega and Lüben make up a large part of the rock and techno community. Big names regularly frequent these stages, as well as highly anticipated shows like Wednesday and Inhaler .

Both venues are reminiscent of Madison's theaters and both offer intimate experiences between artists and their audiences. Additionally, Danish music festivals are known as some of the largest in Northern Europe . For example, the Roskilde Festival and Copenhill are two music events that offer a wide variety of musical and cultural offerings. However, these options diminish as the weather gets colder.

These musical performances pleasantly surprised me, but the Copenhagen scene still pales in comparison to the innocence and passion that unites Madison's musical community.

I'm not talking about innocence in the sense of purity, but the newness of it all. All participants actively learn to build artistic culture and community. I found this to be specific to Madison students.

Additionally, Copenhagen offers audiences a wide variety of genres. However, the listener's experience appears very structured. Unfortunately, this characterization takes away from the feeling of rebellion that gives charm to the real music scene.

Even now, temperatures are dropping in both cities and listeners like me can choose to stay in warm rooms with headphones snug around my ears. Instead, I ask Cardinal readers to enjoy the wind and snow wherever they are. They will find just as much warmth in front of the speakers.

First impressions of Copenhagen (the strangest place we've ever visited)