They say timing is everything. I couldn’t agree more. I chose to move to Copenhagen just before the start of the ever-growing festival known as Distortion, which sees a massive street party kick off in a different district each day, over five days. Each year’s attendance is said to be growing exponentially. I also hear that the news reported relatively low levels of police intervention throughout the festival. To me, this was just about the best party, best crowd and best time - ever. It was easy to get to (and get into), packed with people, consistently booming(!), and it was free (and sunny!).
Many locals had described this as the highlight of the year. During this first week, I've also heard consistent talk about how I shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking that Copenhagen was like this all year round. Everybody I spoke to noted the contrast in mood in Copenhagen between summer when everyone comes alive, compared to winter 'when everyone hides'.
But then I’d been told this before. I’ve been inclined to note to people that I am not here solely for the party. If I’d wanted that, I could have spent my year in Berlin or Ibiza, or any number of party towns for that matter.
I’m here to get a 360-degree view of the city. For me, it was not the party per se, but the way the party was rolled out that I was most attentive to. Each district provided its own distinctive atmosphere but there was to me also, a tangible sense of solidarity amongst the people and an infectious, unfettered joyfulness which remained consistent throughout the whole festival. If the long-standing street-filling Notting Hill Carnival (which I love) seethes as a massive snake of people remain constantly (seemingly) on the move, Distortion is like a giant group of friends chilling out and dancing in the streets all day everyday for five days.
Everywhere I looked, arms were outstretched as one party-goer spotted someone in the throng that they knew and embraced them enthusiastically. For someone new like me who knows only a handful of people in the city, I still managed to bump into almost everyone I know at some point or another. One friend was on their way to rescue their parked bicycle from the heart of the crowd, while another was just sitting in a window, beer in hand, enjoying the view of the crowd below. And this is not counting the new faces I encountered repeatedly as well!
Even if this proves to be ‘the only time of year’ I am to experience such a display of joy and solidarity from Copenhagen, it was still a refreshing change for me. And I still feel there is something to be said about an event - which is at its heart community (as opposed to raver) orientated - that actually brings out the very best in people, rather than the worst. If that is true, doesn’t that make Distortion absolutely essential to this small population?
Of course, every party will have its party poopers, but anything I witnessed to that end was negligible (see note above re: police). For me, coming from a life hitherto filled with a large group of disparate acquaintances and disjointed networks, if my first week has been 'distorted' by Distortion, it nevertheless provided me with an incredibly warm welcome, and most importantly, the simple satisfaction of being able to say, 'I'm damn happy to be here.'
Random Girl
Great writing!
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