Nibe Festival 2026 opens with strong comebacks and heavy live energy
Nibe Festival 2026 had an intense opening day where both nostalgic reunions and new live interpretations made a strong impact. Hej Matematik returned in a heavier rock version, Artigeardit delivered restless high-speed energy, while Gnags, Magtens Korridorer and Dizzy Mizz Lizzy each showed that they still carry strong live presence.
Hej Matematik returns with heavy sound pressure
Where did we leave off?
The very unceremonious and self-important pop project Hej Matematik with Søren Rasted and nephew Nicolaj Rasted in front was highly visible 20 years ago, had been in hibernation since 2015, but is now back again.
And thank you for that.
Because this comeback arrives with at least double rock force, as all the biggest hits from back then are thrown back at the audience together with a few newly written tracks, and everything is then run through the heavy rock grinder, far harder and heavier than before, right on the edge of heavy. Several songs, especially “Hej Matematik” and “Centerpubben”, have been smoothed out and hit harder than ever before, driven by the more raw vocal style that Søren Rasted from Aqua has adopted, without changing the original pop energy at all.
On the contrary, the concert develops like a steadily rising rocket where the songs become wilder and wilder, building up to a hard version of the first and biggest hit “Walkmand”, quickly followed by the equally effective “Party i provinsen”. Then comes a particularly intense encore loosely based on an old Danish pop classic, now titled “Sikken fest vi skal have nu i nat”, culminating in Søren Rasted taking off his shirt and standing bare-chested. Hej Matematik has truly broken through into its second youth. To be continued.
P S If only one new song by Hej Matematik has to be mentioned, it should be “Soundtracket til vores ungdom”, which eagerly quotes 34 Danish hits from the 80s and probably many more if you listen closely, and it also works very well live.
Artigeardit moves at full speed
Ardit Aliti, the Danish rapper Artigeardit, delivers rap in large quantities, much of it about not fitting in, about struggling, and about not being given much for free. Behind his very wordy lyrics lies a sense of desperation and restlessness, and that restlessness carries over into his live performance where he constantly moves on to the next song and the next rap.
Artigeardit live is not very different from his studio recordings, only harder and significantly louder, at times close to 100 dB. He is in such a hurry that several tracks fly past without leaving much of an impression, other than those already known, and there is not much extra to be found here.
It becomes most striking when he truly connects with the moment, as in the chaotic “Kom af dig selv”, where a party develops without ever having been planned. Artigeardit could benefit from narrowing his repertoire and doing more with fewer songs, and it becomes almost heartbreaking when he fully opens up in the moving “Tetovo”, while the audience stands with beers in hand and mostly waits for something more danceable, but that is another story.
60 years and still full speed ahead
After 60 years in the business and with many of the same songs, one might expect a more relaxed approach, but that is not the case for the 73-year-old singer and songwriter Peter A G Nielsen. On the contrary, when he steps on stage with Gnags in 2026 it often feels as if he is only just getting properly started and still has a strong appetite for more.
In 75 minutes he and the eight-member band manage to collect all their highlights from the catalogue, everything associated with Gnags and more, performed with strong energy and musical joy. It is especially noticeable that guitarist Vicky Singh has been given a prominent and well-deserved role, and that Mads Michelsen has returned as drummer and percussionist, while Peter A G Nielsen remains the only surviving member from the original 1966 line-up.
He still delivers strongly. His vocal style has become slightly more relaxed, somewhere between singing and breathless storytelling, but the energy remains intact throughout “Den dejligste morgen”, “Danmark”, “Lav sol over Aarhus”, “Kærester” and “Vilde kaniner”, all the way through to three encores where the band almost refuses to leave the stage. The visual elements also work well, especially an animation with bright yellow chickens accompanying “Burhøns”. Peter A G Nielsen himself believes that Gnags can continue for another 10 years, and it is easy to believe him.
Hard rock and gentle poetry
Loud, hard and fast, with small poetic moments throughout. That has been the case for Magtens Korridorer since their beginning in 1995, and it remains the case at Nibe Festival 2026. The band is not known for major innovation, but for getting the most out of familiar elements, and much of their charm lies in frontman Johan Olsen’s presence.
They deliver strong singalong energy in songs such as “Imperiet brænder”, “Kom og mærk”, “Du tog fejl” and “Nordhavn Station”, and of course “Milan Allé”: “Kom og tag min hånd, der ligger alle mine håb”. They also surprise with the softer “Sorte stråler”, which has a near hymn-like tone and possible inspiration from “Kringsat af fjender”. Strong.
In good company with a hard trio
75 minutes is far too little time in the company of Dizzy Mizz Lizzy. Tim Christensen, Martin Nielsen and Søren Friis once again deliver tight melodic hard rock where everything is both precise and explosive at the same time. This time part of the concert is dedicated to four songs from the album “Rotator”, which celebrates its 30th anniversary, and Tim Christensen does not hide that the album did not receive the same attention as their debut “Dizzy Mizz Lizzy”, but the songs stand strong today, especially “11:07 P.M.”.
The same applies to the ballad “Love Is A Losers Game”, and it seems almost impossible that they can end without “Silverflame”, which once again serves as a highlight. It is performed with the same intensity as always. The band’s approach to hard rock is both melodic and technically impressive, and the long guitar passages and tight rhythmic shifts make the concert almost physical.
Very few bands can create such a massive sound with only three members, and it is impressive how much three people can fill. The only thing that almost takes attention away is the audience, who sometimes talk so loudly that it drowns out the music, which is a shame because this is a band that deserves full attention. Tim Christensen, Martin Nielsen and Søren Friis have played together for 40 years, and it can be heard in every moment.
Photo’s (c) Martin Damgård, Hverdagsvinkler.dk
