#wolfzeit

Midgardblot Festival 2016 Review/Blog

My personal account of my travels and Midgardsblot festival 2016. And this time its not boring ;)

My hair brain scheme.

(This is my adventure for the summer 2016 it has been titled so if you just want to read about the festival and the music you just go scroll down to the bit you’re interested in.)

So the plan was to embark on a 2 festival one stop off adventure spanning 11 days, well at least in theory. This is coming from a person who can easily come up with hair brain schemes that make complete sense…to her! Bearing mind at this point from the beginning of the year I had already done 3 festivals in 3 months! These were; Ragnarok in Germany (April), Hell fest in France (June) and Ragnard rock in France (July). Yeah…slightly addicted, unmissable line-ups!

Having booked 2weeks off work I wanted to try and do as much with it as I possibly could, staying in Crewe for 2 weeks wasn’t an option! Already having booked one of the 2 festivals it gave me a good indication of a starting point, and I just carried on from there. So it was decided; Norway, then Denmark for a couple days break, then off to Germany for another festival known as Wolfsziet.

A million and one pieces of print outs, emails and other such things I needed to sort out and make sure I had with me as they were conformations of festivals, travel and maps to navigate me. Might have been simpler if I had a smart phone where I could just easily access my emails and retrieve conformation numbers also go on google maps but no this is me and I didn’t even have a credit card. Just three different types of currencies in my pockets of both my cloths and 2 bags, just to be safe. I think as a traveller its more enjoyable going about it where I’m not relying on technology all the time. The week before I had to sort out a couple of errors that had happened whilst booking , a friend of mine had pulled out and hadn’t noticed a few things that needed some attention, this is where it started going downhill before I had even got there. Slight negativity had taking over, and I was tempted to pull out. Mainly due to the fact there was uncertainty that I’d even get to my final destinations and festival and back. Everything was so far up in the air and I didn’t believe it was worth it. Glad I didn’t listen to my head or I would have nothing to write about!

To Norway

The first destination was Norway. Midgardsblot, a modern event based historical Viking lore and culture in Borre Park, Horten. Where actual long dead Vikings buried in mounds located in the area, these where hundreds of Vikings, horses and other such things were laid to rest after a battle. I had heard about Midgardblots first ever festival last year and would have gone if I had the funds. This year I was determined to go so promptly I bought a ticket straight away. My first time not only to this festival but also Norway itself.

Norway is known for having a good few festivals but this one however was completely different and also a massive bonus being it was in August. (No stupidly cold weather for me!) And never ever being there it makes more exciting as you don’t know what to expect. I already had an expectation to this festival having looked at old photos of the following year, and videos and reading posts about it, I was really looking forward to it and still was so clueless to what was going to see.(And honestly the pictures did not capture the sheer beauty and atmosphere in any way)

Not going to lie I was very nervous about trying to find it, countless posts on the Midgardsblot information page which consisted of arranging to meet people at different locations. Briefly I mentioned earlier things didn’t really go to plan at the very beginning due to circumstances. Thinking that things are going to go smoothly on any trip can be construed as naive and you should always be prepared for the worst but sometimes that just part of the adventure and going with the flow is the best advice I can give during such situations. (Plus it makes things a hell of a lot more interesting) Needless to say what happened next for me was completely random but very much welcome, as I was getting in the queue awaiting to board I heard my name… Leigh I turned round and there was a man who introduced himself quite promptly saying he recognised me from the information page. Nice; this means I had someone to get lost with in Norway and sometimes two heads are better than well my head, so that was good. The flight was over and finished with however we were a little late to arrive which ment we had to hurry and get to Horten before it was too late to get travel. I asked my new friend if he knew where he was going, he turned out to be just as sporadic and random as I can be so his answer was “no, I’ll just walk and eventually I’ll get there…” It was then I knew he was a keeper and we were going to have a laugh. Especially when we were told completely different directions to what I had written down in my little travel book which had every single thing I needed to know for my trip and losing it might be a bit of a problem. He just said “I’ll follow your lead” (more fool him!) But we made it completely unscathed and I didn’t get lost…for once! We got to a pub in Horten where we met the master mind behind meeting up and the “celebrity” of the festival, not to mention being serenaded by Folket Bortafor Nordavinden one of the acts of the festival. It was then I knew was I with the right people and had come to the right place.

The journey was tiring which meant we left late to get to the festival which actually turned into an advantage as at the super market we were offered a lift to the festival. However not as smooth when I realised in the queue for the festival I had forgotten my camping pass, luckily they I was allowed to go through. And that’s where it all began…

Just a few tips to travelling to the festival

A tip to those who haven’t been to this festival and are thinking about it for 2017, go directly from the airport on the shuttle to Skoppum, as that will get you to Horten by bus or taxi no problem. If you do end up getting a flight back on the Sunday be aware there are no buses to Skoppum train, there is however shuttle buses but only in the afternoons, so making arrangements to fit that is a must.

Before the music at Midgardsblot

Nothing better than the realisation that not only are you camping next a small fjord sounded by views that can only be described as stepping into an impressionist painting, Where the moon raises reflect so delicately and the trees around the surrounding area are nothing but silhouettes. But also morning noon and night you can cook you food on a bonfire. As some of my fondest memories are being by a bon fire I wasn’t complaining and brought people together with laughter and food. I think one day I just spent ages making cheese toasties to share amongst randoms and friends just for the excuse to do it. Truly magical! Even when it was raining you can look along a field and still have a sense of almost freedom, didn’t matter what the weather was as it created a new way of looking at the surroundings areas.

It wasn’t so apparent where the festival stage and great Viking hall was were at first, as we walked across the grass past the mounds to pitch we didn’t walk past it so it was clearly on the other side of it. Turned out you had to go down a tiny woody area to reach the stage which was great in the daylight…not so great if you forgot a touch at night, made it interesting trying to navigate blind. For a moment I was doing the granny step, where I was going so slow to avoid going into the stingy nettles or knocking into oncoming people.

Festivities and the music

Before any of the music kicked off, it was Folket Bortafor Nordavinden who started the festivities off with a Nordic ritual to the gods, it didn’t matter if you worship them at all it was just there to be positive hopeful beginning to the festival. During the festival there many workshops done by band artist all to do with Viking mythology and history. Any always a recreation Viking battle in between sets. Like the art gallery/museum full to the brim of knowledge and culture but with the added bonus of music. Oh did I mention there was axe throwing? And no before it’s considered it isn’t allowed to do it drunk for various reasons.

As you can imagine Enslaved Wardruna and skuggsja captured the mood of the festival enticing us in pure seduction as we listened and gazed at the atmospheric scenery. All three bands had me from the beginning and whether it was head banging to Enslaved in the rain, dancing next to a fire again the rain to Wadrunna with pleasant company I may add, or just being taken to another place whilst watching Skuggsja, all having a unique effect on me. These three were hands down the best and completely suited this festival, it was truly an honour to watch them.

Other acts were; inquisition, skalmold, L.E.A.F., Kirkebrann, Hamfero, manegarm, melechesh and Tsjuder. And my personal favourites were L.E.A.F for the graceful presence on stage, Tsjuder who dominated the stage with Norwegian black metaly goodness, and could say the same for kirkenbrann also and I’m sure the others were equally as entertaining but I was busy doing whatever one does at a festival that doesn’t involve listening to music.

One such but in a different way, I would like to mention the first band, this band was not for everyone and that was definitely the case for me sorry but my least favourite band was Troll fest.

My favourite moments

Mainly the moments where I was with friends I had met pre or during the festival as they made me laugh and apparently I did the same. And the places whether it was getting lost looking for the super market, sitting by the fjord with 2 Vikings, sitting and gazing at the stars by the bonfire or just laughing in campsite. Didn’t matter where it was fun and full of happiness.

Only one bad moment. I am know to be quite hyper at times (not my fault just how I’m programmed) and as i was sharing a general happy moment with 2 of my friends, a society guard came over and accused me of being drunk! I wasn’t! and I wasn’t causing any problems just being slightly hyper, so i was a little insulted but got over it and enjoyed the rest of my time. So no real worries really.

The silly things that happened in between

It was apparent that I was getting a name for myself and a couple of sayings to boot. The name was “the high girl” and before you say it no not for that reason! It was more to do with the fact that I was next to the fence where people would come and go and every time they passed I would shout in a high pitch enthusiastic tone “hi!!” which actually made me some friends and terrified others. (Truly fun)

“you can have everything I own except the tuna” a comment that I made that could be thought of as slightly rude until you realise it was all in good intension, I needed to make sure i had food to travel but it was a running joke for the rest of the festival.

I know it is somewhat expected at a festival to be somewhat drunk or over excited or just plain loopy, but being drunk while trying to praise an artist and not remember what the hell you might have said is just plain silly and would only happen to me! It happened on two occasion but that one that sticks out in my mind was when was talking to a member of L.E.A.F.

The hike to the super market was a funny moment that me and my two male companions went on. Turns out if you don’t speak out enough then the male directions will take over…and we might be going down the road in a couple of miles in the wrong direction. And in my case in inappropriate foot wear!

In conclusion

The festival was great; the organisation was great, the artists were truly passionate and it was like spending time with family so a return is in order I think.

The next part of my journey The day to leave had come and it was sad, I don’t think anyone wanted to go especially me but I had knew adventures, however there was no sleep involved me even though I tried so getting up wasn’t easy and I was late. On the positive side I could grab a lift from my friends as there wasn’t any shuttle buses and also I didn’t have to catch my coach to the evening. Honestly it was hard to say goodbye to people but I knew I had to carry on, it was time to go to the lake followed by going to Copenhagen…