Aarhus Hostel Festival where history, music and community unite

It will be like stepping into an adventure of history and music when the Aarhus Hostel Festival unfolds on 2 September in Hasselager near Aarhus. I sat down with Helle, one of the creative employees behind the festival, to get a feel for the atmosphere and the story behind the event.

What is the background for Aarhus Hostel?” I asked with curiosity. Helle smiled and began to reveal a deeper history of the place. "It's as if the DNA of the place stretches through time," she explained. From an old independent school to a senior high school, the place has seen a rich history that weaves community together. "Ever since the 1800th century, the place has been a meeting place, and this DNA is still alive today," added Helle with pride.

Aarhus Hostel has undergone a remarkable change over the past 10 years. It is now a hostel that attracts people from all over Denmark and abroad. Over the years, more and more events have been added. Both with the Aarhus Jazz festival, where the venue provides rooms for and other musical features throughout the year. The planning of the 10-year anniversary therefore became the spark that started the planning of a one-day festival. "The idea grew quickly and suddenly the idea that the festival should be a natural extension of our activities became," smiled Helle. But the festival is more than just a celebration of an anniversary. It will also be an opportunity to breathe musical life into the local community.

"We are experiencing strong support from the local community and we want to showcase the place here and our facilities, including the lush garden and forest, which hold the opportunity for fantastic experiences."

So how do you transform a hostel into a festival site?

“It requires planning and coordination. We utilize our facilities in the best possible way," explained Helle. The entire area, both indoors and outdoors, was transformed into 5 stages with music, dance and life. "We prepare food for the guests and work together with food trucks," she continued.

Planning started early in the year and the ideas quickly took shape. "We wanted to cover a wide range of music genres that could appeal to both the mature and the younger generation," explained Helle. "We wanted both big artists like Lis Sørensen and Østkyst Hustlers with broad appeal and lesser-known artists who could create intimate musical experiences on our smaller stages." We also collaborate with Uncover Music in Aarhus. Chris, who is behind Uncover, helped us choose local artists that fit the vibe well.”

When the outdoor stages close at 02, the party continues indoors until 04. "We want to give our guests the opportunity to dance the night away with fantastic music and atmosphere," says Helle and smiles.

The dance hall, a night with Kizomba

The dance hall offers something very special. Here, DJ Radikal from Paris will fire up the Kizomba music from midnight to 04 in the morning. Kizomba, also called "African tango," is a soft couple dance that creates an intimate atmosphere.
But fear not if you are not already a master of Kizomba. For those who want to master the dance, classes are offered at 16:00. Here you will be guided through the steps so that you can feel safe and confident when you later enter the dance hall.

Music and nature merge

The festival means more to us than just music – it's about creating an experience of discovery through the surroundings here at Aarhus Hostel. "We want the festival to be like an invitation to explore and immerse oneself in the various outdoor spaces," shared Helle with a heart-warming smile. And it is precisely this ambition that turns our scenic locations into reality. The large garden forms the framework for the large stage and the slightly smaller DJ stage. Here you can sit under the pear trees and enjoy the music that flows out into the lush garden while enjoying a cold glass of wine in good company.

When the sun goes down, the lights in the treetops in the small forest area are turned on and create a dream-like atmosphere on the way down to the forest scene. An intimate musical experience in the middle of nature awaits here. The sounds of the music mixing with the rustling of the trees create an atmosphere that is almost magical. It's a chance to immerse yourself in the music and let yourself be enveloped by the surrounding beauty.

Food, drink and good atmosphere

No festival without festival food, and when asked if guests will be well catered for, Helle replied, "It is important to us that our guests can enjoy good food during the festival. We have taken the experience to heart and noticed that food trucks appeal to a wide range of taste buds. That's why we've made sure there's something for everyone, and we've also set up bars, including a champagne bar, so our guests can enjoy different drinks with their food.”

Transport and accommodation at Aarhus Hostel Festival

As with the rest of Aarhus, parking for events can be a challenge and here Helle encourages you to take public transport. “Parking is a challenge, as our space is a bit limited. However, we want to make it as convenient as possible for our guests. Therefore, we strongly recommend public transport. Bus 200 stops only 50 meters from the festival and also runs at night. We also work together with Aarhus Taxi to ensure that our guests have transport options after the festival and can get home safely.”

You also have the option of booking accommodation in connection with the festival. However, it should be noted that it is almost sold out and there are only a few rooms left. So those who want to combine the festival with a comfortable overnight stay should take action quickly.

Aarhus Hostel Festival is a new festival that is seeing the light of day here in Aarhus and it is important to remember to also support the local smaller festivals. And when asked what Helle wants their guests to take away from the festival when they wake up on Sunday, there is no doubt. "Our hope is that after the festival, our guests will have a sense of joy and togetherness with them. We want the music, atmosphere and unique atmosphere at Aarhus Hostel Festival to become part of their memories. We hope that they will feel inspired to explore our events even more and become part of our growing community," concludes Helle.