Smukfest 2026 – When music, nature and community merge together
In the middle of the beautiful beech forest at Skanderborg, one of Denmark’s most beloved festivals takes place every year. Smukfest is much more than just a music festival. It is a unique mix of major international names, Danish musical traditions, surprising experiences and a very special atmosphere among the trees. Here generations meet, and the music becomes the shared meeting point for thousands of guests who come to experience both the great moments and the small magical moments. Once again, Smukfest showed why the festival has such a special place in Danish music life.
Lukas Graham – All of Denmark’s Grunk
Lukas was his usual understated self, which always wins the hearts of the Danes. There is something secretive about Lukas. Something simple. And I think sometimes we Danes forget what a global star we have in our midst. But Lukas showed us exactly why he is so popular all over the world. With his “You’re Not There”, the concert started with the audience truly joining in with beautiful singing in the Beech Forest.
Lukas sounds insanely good live. He has not achieved his status because of autotune, but rather because of pure raw talent. It was not a super exciting stage show, but who needs lights and effects when the voice sounds that good? The audience was with him all the way. The Beech Forest was filled to the brim with all generations. Everyone sang along, and everyone enjoyed themselves. There was a lovely atmosphere.
And perhaps that is exactly what makes Lukas Graham so special. He does not need to shout loudly to be heard. He does not come onto the stage with an attitude that he has to prove something. He simply stands there – with his voice, his songs and an ability to make thousands of people feel that they are part of something shared.
From the major international hits to the more personal songs, Lukas showed that his success is not only about a couple of major breakthrough songs. It is about presence. About stories that people can see themselves in. It was perhaps not the year’s most spectacular concert visually, but it was a concert that reminded us that the greatest effect sometimes is simply a good song and a voice that can carry it. All of Denmark’s Grunk has become a global star – and fortunately he is still just Lukas.
The Living Tombstone – LED-clad boys
The Living Tombstone performed on the new Moon in Sherwood. Five boys dressed in LED and other fun effects came onto the stage. The music is difficult to classify, but it was fun. Techno meets gaming meets alternative pop. And then we did get a couple of screams that were almost taken straight out of the metal world.
It sounds like a strange combination, but it worked. The audience was a mixture of fans and first-time listeners. Everyone had a party. However, we did miss some energy on stage. Perhaps the costumes were difficult to move in, but we did lack some power from the boys. The music was energetic, and therefore it seemed a little tame that we did not get more from the band.
We would happily see them again and hope that the boys have grown into their role as original artists.
D:A:D – Classics one after another
‘Gihad’ was the opening number. And we love it when the old boys open with the good old classics. It is always world class to see Jesper, Jacob, Stig and Laust unfold. But it is always special to experience the old songs with new energy and new interpretations. On the Beech Stage, D:A:D once again proved why they are still one of Denmark’s biggest rock names. There was no need for major surprises in the set – the songs spoke for themselves, and the audience knew the lyrics from start to finish.
The band had an infectious joy of playing that spread throughout the entire Beech Forest. It was clear that the four musicians still enjoy standing on stage together, and the chemistry between them is exactly as strong as one hopes. There was plenty of guitar, plenty of communal singing and exactly the raw rock sound one expects from a D:A:D concert. They delivered a concert without the big frills – just solid craftsmanship and a string of hits.
For the loyal fans, it was a nostalgic journey, and for the younger members of the audience, it was a reminder of why D:A:D have been a fixed part of the Danish rock scene for decades. Some bands grow older. D:A:D just become better at being D:A:D.
Robbie Williams – Was it a talk show or a concert?
Robbie with his usual “here I come” attitude. We have to ignore the Law of Jante, but one should also remember where one comes from. Something Robbie has very clearly forgotten. The audience partied and sang along to every single song – that is, when Robbie could stick to what he had come for, and not talk long phrases about his private life. At times we wondered whether he had been hired for a lecture or a concert.
Robbie sounded better than expected. The voice certainly had nothing wrong with it, and when the music was allowed to fill the space, we were reminded why he can still gather tens of thousands of people in front of a stage. His back catalogue is packed with hits, and the communal singing echoed through the entire Beech Forest.
He is an entertainer of great calibre, and the audience had fun. But precisely because of that, the many long monologues also became slightly frustrating. Every time the concert truly gained momentum, it was slowed down by another story or another comment. It took the breath out of a concert that otherwise had the potential to be completely top class.
There is no doubt that Robbie Williams is still a global star. The charisma is intact, the voice delivers, and the audience loves him. But next time he should trust his songs a little more and his speeches a little less. Then the concert will become even better.
Photos (c) Morten Holmsgaard Kristensen
