Behind the Scenes – A meeting with Morten Thorhauge about the Øgadernes Music Festival

When you enter Morten Thorhauge's intimate studio, the busy city life of Aarhus disappears and is replaced by a universe of music and creativity. It is here, among synthesizers and guitars, that Morten, a songwriter and drummer in Car park North, has found his creative sanctuary. On a cool spring day, I had the opportunity to dive into his world as he prepares for the first Øgadernes Music Festival.

The studio, illuminated by a soft glow from spotlights, is a visual story in itself. Acoustic panels form a mosaic on the walls, and every nook and cranny seems to hold a piece of musical history. Here, among other things, stands a Gibson ES-335, whose red finish shines under the light of the lamps, witnessing countless hours of practice and performances.

We sit down in the leather-covered chairs that fit perfectly into the musical setting. While I adjust my microphone, Morten calmly begins to talk about the festival's origins, his eyes lighting up as he describes how it all began with a dream of giving back to the music community in Aarhus.

“I remember what it was like when I first started playing music. The festivals we were allowed to perform at meant a lot to us. It was a huge experience, and it gave us the belief that we could do something. I want to pass that feeling on to new bands,” says Morten, who is surrounded by tools for music creation.

The festival, which will launch on April 26, 2025, is a platform for young musicians between the ages of 14 and 25, with a focus on bands that play original music. The idea is to give them a professional stage where they can gain experience and feel what it's like to play for a real audience.

The event takes place on the green area in front of the Residents' House, and promises a day rich in cultural experiences from 13:00 PM to 23:00 PM.

“It's not just about playing music, but also about the community around it. When you play in a band, you learn something about collaboration and about believing in your own music. We want to support that,” explains Morten.

A local initiative with strong support

As the interview progresses, Morten candidly shares the challenges and triumphs that come with starting a non-profit festival. His hands move vividly as he describes how the festival has received support from local stakeholders from the very beginning.
Beboernes Hus quickly embraced the idea, and there is close collaboration with organizations such as SPOT Festival, Grobund Bandakademi Aarhus, NorthSide Festival and the Nordea Foundation. They have helped ensure that the festival can be realized and that it remains non-profit.

“We have spent several years raising funds for the festival because we wanted to ensure that it was free and driven by pure passion for music. We are incredibly happy with the support we have received from sponsors and partners,” says Thorhauge.

Suddenly, our conversation is interrupted by the sound of a notification from Morten’s watch. He apologizes briefly and checks the message — and it won’t be the last time in the interview that he gets such a message. Morten clearly has a lot of balls in the air and thrives on it. “It's amazing to see how the community is already coming together around this festival.” he says with a smile before returning to the conversation.

The musical program will be broad. The audience can look forward to everything from rock and pop to the more experimental genres.

A festival with potential to grow

Although the festival only runs for one day this year, Morten can see that it has potential to develop.

“If it's a success, I could dream that we could eventually expand the festival to two days. But right now it's about putting together a great event and seeing how the audience receives it,” says Thorhauge.

Øgadernes Musikfestival is not placed on the calendar by chance either. It takes place exactly one week before SPOT Festival, and that is entirely deliberate. SPOT is known for focusing on new Danish talent, and Øgadernes Musikfestival can function as a kind of warm-up – a place where young bands get their first major festival experience before they might one day stand on one of SPOT's stages.

Music as a connecting link

The festival not only focuses on music, but also on social issues. Initiatives are being worked on that involve young people from the local area, including through artistic decorations of the festival site and volunteer work.

“We want the festival to be a place where young people not only play music, but also help shape the festival's visual expression and atmosphere,” Thorhauge explains.

What can the audience expect?

The festival is for everyone, but the target audience is especially young people who play music themselves or are interested in upcoming bands. But Morten also hopes that people from the neighborhood and the rest of the city will stop by.

“We know that Aarhus is a music city, and we hope that people will support the initiative. It will be a day where you can experience the stars of tomorrow in an intimate setting and feel the raw energy of young, talented bands,” says Thorhauge.

We end our conversation and I leave Morten with a feeling of having gained a rare insight into a musician's world and the passions that drive him.

Here at Aarhus Inside we are looking forward to experiencing the festival and we would like to remind others to also take the chance and visit. Residents' House on April 26th, where you can feel the energy from some of the city's most talented young bands.

It will be a day filled with music, life and community – and everyone is invited.

Practical information:

Date: April 26, 2025

Time: 13:00 - 23:00

Location: The green area in front of the Residents' House, Livøsmøgen 40, 8000 Aarhus C

Price: Free admission

Food and drinks: Can be purchased on site