This morning we played “Christmas is Here” on Danish National Television.
And Christmas is here. We – The Hymnboy and The Hymnband want to wish you a verry merry christmas, and thank you for your support during this year! A year where we released two albums and played +40 concerts in Denmark. It has been a wonderful year, and we’re already looking forward to 2012.
So many good things are happening, it’s hard to keep up!
A short list of what’s good in these days:
- The biggest Danish music magazine, GAFFA, has named “Hymns from Nineveh” as Danish Album of the Year 2011. This is crazy. And wonderful. We’re proud.
- The readers of GAFFA have nominated Hymns from Nineveh as Best New Act of 2011 for the “GAFFA Prisen”. The winner will be announced at an award show the 8th of December.
- “Anywhere with You” is in heavy rotation on the Danish National Radio, which is nice, but what is nicer is that it is being tested on two user-designed hitlists, Systemlisten and Det Elektriske Barometer – we would be happy if you would go and give it a heart!
Last, but not least: We’re playing our Christmas Tour these days, and so far it’s been a fantastic experience playing the new songs for those, who came. You can still catch us here:
Dec 2 8pm Skt. Hans Kirke, Sct. Hans Plads 1, 5000 Odense C. Free entrance! Dec 8 8pm Vor Frelsers Kirke, Sankt Annægade 29, 1416 Kbh K (Info – Tickets) Dec 177.30pm Aarhus Valgmenighed, Mjølnersvej 6, 8230 Aabyhøj. (Tickets)
Today we reveal a secret, we’ve been keeping you for quite some time now: The 21st of November, we’ll release a Christmas album called “ENDURANCE IN CHRISTMAS TIME” that consists of 13 songs. As you might know, Hymns from Nineveh made a digital EP called Uncomplicated Christmassongs in 2009. These 5 songs will appear remastered on the album alongside alongside 8 new ones. It will be released on CD and on all digital platformes. You might think “Why make a new christmas album?!”. Well – I, the Hymnboy, felt an urge to write more songs about the both complex and wonderful Christmas time. It’s as simple as that. And – who says it isn’t possible to make 2 albums in one year? Why wait, if the songs are there, ready to burst out?
When you hear the word “Christmas album”, you might think about jinglebells and santa and elves and so on. I’m afraid this album will disappoint you, if that’s what you expect. These songs are about enduring the christmas time. How to deal with loss, loneliness or despair in the christmas time. But also – the songs discover what christmas is about, and what comfort and joy the christmas time can bring.
We’ve been working very hard and very, very fast (’cause – you know, we’re on tour and all) – but – we made it, and we’re very, very proud of the result.
Sorry about the non-blogging lately. We’ve been busy. With what, you may ask? Well, the past month we’ve played @ SPOT festival, Skive Festival, Å-festival and Fanø Free Folk Festival. Four very different, but none the less fantastic festivals. Thank you for your support. It’s very, very much appreciated!
Three things about the SPOT-festival I have to mention:
We’ve already entitled this summer “The Summer of Love”. Yeah. Not very original – but it’s true. We already love this summer. We love playing for you guys, and we love that we’ve just begun the summer tour. This weekend we’re going to play our biggest concert ever. @ Roskilde Festival, Odeon Stage. We can’t wait, mildly put.
2/07 Roskilde Festival, Odeon
15/07 Fredagsrock, Plænen, Tivoli, Copenhagen (supporting Savage Rose)
13/08 Skanderborg Festival, Rytmehans
14/08 Skagen Kirke
It’s been a while since you last got an update from the land of Hymns from Nineveh – sorry about that. A lot has been going on, actually – we’ve played a sold out concert in Aalborg, we’ve played a benefit concert at Christiania, and – we’ve been in London playing at The Lexington. We had a great trip to London, where we met a lot of lovely people.
Spring is finally starting to emerge in the Copenhagen soil! Also, more concerts are starting to pop up in the concert calendar. We’re so excited about the concerts we’re going to play! London, Sdr. Felding, Copenhagen, Skive. We can’t wait !
First, some brief radio news: Sister Sorrowsong is currently # 2 @ Det Elektriske Barometer and #4 @ Systemlisten – this is so great! THANK you for cheering for her! If you want to help her to stay on the lists, you’re welcome to vote by clicking the hearts !
And now to something completely different: The announcement of exclusive duo shows with RebekkaMaria & the hymnboy!
RebekkaMaria & Jonas
You might know, that RebekkaMaria and I did some duo shows last fall, and this was such a good experience for us, so we’ve decided to do some more at some great venues in Denmark. We’ll be playing some acoustic versions of each other’s songs. It will be quiet and fine. Also, we’ll interpret some songs by Simon & Garfunkel for the nice event “We Proudly Present: Simon and Garfunkel”, alongside with such brilliant artists as Mads Langer, Kasper Kaae from CODY and Mikael Kærsgaard.
Here’s a version of RebekkaMaria’s hit single “Oh Solitude” from the At My Place concert last year.
We’ve been practising for quite a while now to get the new arrangements right – and, we’re SO EXCITED about the upcoming tour next weekend! There’s a good vibe at the rehearsal space.
There are only few tickets left in Aarhus and Copenhagen, so if you want to be sure to see us there, go get a ticket in pre-sale! There are still tickets in Odense – and you can get them here.
David is messing around with the effects - it sounds marvellous
Jake is in the "banjo-bandana mood" and Nikolaj looks through his notes (take a look at all that beautiful hair!)
I’m so thrilled to see that Sister Sorrowsong has made it to THE TOP at the Soundvenue High 5 list! I’m so grateful for your votes!! THANK YOU!! It would be graite if you could take your time to vote for it again?
Also – this weekend Sister Sorrowsong was tested as a contender for BOTH lists at Danish national radio, P3: “Systemlisten” and the list for alternative music, Det Elektriske Barometer! This is HUGE! But – the finest moment was when wingman in Hymns from Nineveh, Jakob Brixen, made it to the TOP at Det Elektriske Barometer with his Mechanical Bird – thank you so much for your help !
So – now I would like to ask you, if you could take the time to put a heart next to Sister Sorrowsong (+4 other artists) at Det Elektriske Barometer (I of course highly recommend that you vote for Mechanical Bird as well!), and (if you haven’t already voted) at Systemlisten (+2 other artists) . I’m sorry to spam you with these things, but you decide these lists, people, so it’s up to you ! Deadline is tomorrow at noon.
once again, I will ask you to do a favor for Hymns from Nineveh: Yesterday, Sister Sorrowsong became a contender for the popular hit list at Danish national Radio, P3. It’s called Systemlisten, and all you have to do to help us, is clicking the tiny heart next to Sister Sorrowsong. This time, you don’t need to login or anything, just click the heart. Yeah.
Søren Kiilerich and Søren Clemmensen took some great pictures from the release party @ Ideal Bar. It was an evening full of love and music. And +250 people. Beautiful.
Hymns from Nineveh is devotional folkpop by the danish artist Jonas Petersen. HfN has played all over Denmark as well as in the Netherlands, Italy and Norway.
Read more about Hymns from Nineveh and Jonas Petersen here.