Roskilde Festival

July 1, 2011

Performed at Darupvej in Roskilde, Denmark

2011 Roskilde Poster

Set List

Masked Ball

Con Clavi Con Dio

Elizabeth

Satan Prayer

Stand by Him

Prime Mover

Genesis

Here Comes the Sun (Son)*

Ritual

Listen on Spotify

*Note: Ghost's cover of Here Comes the Sun is not currently available for streaming in my region so I have added the Beatles version.

Watch on Youtube

Prior to the festival, the Roskilde forums were buzzing with excitement. Ghost had been announced and the Danes were excited to welcome them to their home soil. Not all were excited by the devil worshiping ministry, confusing their satanic ritual with a cheesy* gimmick band.[1]

The tent was full on Friday night at 1am[2]. The crowd filled with people seeing Ghost for the first time and drawn back to the ministry from catching previous rituals. The reviews were positive.

“That concert was the start of my love for Ghost. Because although the band has certainly played better concerts since then, the atmosphere inside the Odeon tent was completely electric and fantastically occult. Exactly as it should be at a Ghost concert. Filled with incense and with a Papa who didn't say a single word to his large crowd at the time, but could still get everyone in the palm of his hand. This is not least due to the fantastic songs like ‘Elizabeth’ and ‘Ritual.’”-Weiss (via Google Translate)[2]

“Under Ghost, Roskilde writes that "the style is conservative heavy metal". This is not true at all. Ghost, on the other hand, is a kind of poppy and actually completely dance-friendly version of heavy metal, born out of the moist sonic cunt that Mercyful Fate was so damn cool to kickstart hell of a lot of years ago. That is: Ghost plays up to satanic retro party with quick dance moves, while the four members of the band strut around in serious diabolical robes and sing about summoning Satan Almighty. One of the festival's absolute must-see concerts.” -Devilution (via Microsoft Translator)[3]

“Ghost that was damn cool and the sound was more massive the lights cooler than at Sweden Rock. They used a lot of fog. I was pretty surprised to hear so many people singing the choruses of the songs for this underground band. I still don’t really connect with their music that much but I like seeing them live, with the costumes, stage set up, etc… Same set at Sweden Rock. I think they play the same set every night.” -Dr. Space[4]

“I was also completely immersed in the occult universe – possibly because I had gained a great deal in the West. The backdrop, the clad people behind the instruments and the satanic-looking preacher made me feel like I was in a regular black mass. I simply don't understand the much negative criticism that has been around this concert. I readily admit that the expression has its limitations, and especially the vocals lacked some more clout. Papa Emeritus, as the lead singer/frontman calls himself, sounds almost like a very relaxed King Diamond at times. I now like the combination of their understated seventies heavy rock and the visual expression [...]” -Frysten (via Microsoft Translator)[5]

*Cheese, of course, being quite demonic in its own right

Further Reading

Wikimedia Commons, Ghost - Roskilde Festival 2011

Blabbermouth, GHOST: Performance Footage From ROSKILDE FESTIVAL

Space Lab, Roskilde Festival 2011

Roskilde Festival Forum, Ghost (S) posted by Danni

Festival Photo, Roskilde Festival 2011 - Ghost by Rasmus Lindgren and Gunnar Petersen

Devilution, ROSKILDE FESTIVAL 2011: ANMELDELSERNE by Casper Villumsen

Travel Japan Blog, Ghost at Roskilde Festival 2011

Travel Japan Blog, Ghost