Aarhus – the smallest a-ha concert ever (but only in size!)

by Judith Heinrich, Petra Meier and Judith Fasler

While Denmark gets ready to watch the world cup game against England, a-ha prepare to head from Copenhagen to Aarhus. a-ha arrive just in time to catch the kick off on the screen in the hotel’s lobby bar. Magne joins the backing band to watch the first half while Morten prefers to be on the active side and goes for a run.

Tonight’s concert does not start before 9.30 pm, a ‘real’ club gig at ‘Train’, one of the smallest venue a-ha are playing during their 2 weeks European warm up tour. The concert has been sold out for some time and the 800 lucky ticket holders squeeze their way into the venue.

The stage is tiny, only approx. 8m wide and a-ha’s crew have done a great job to fit everything onto the stage. And even before the show starts, the audience gets going and starts singing ‘Living Daylights’ – it seems as if the lost world cup game has not affected the Danish fans at all!

a-ha play an almost identical set to Copenhagen – however swap the order of ‘Forever Not Yours’ and ‘Lifelines’. The venues are getting smaller, a-ha are getting better and so is the audience! Right from the start they are well with the band, which brings Morten to constantly hold his microphone into the audience for them to sing along.

One of the many highlights of the show is ‘Locust’ which has Morten, Paul & Anneli on lead vocals and the band seems to enjoy developing the end of ‘I’ve Been Loosing You’ more and more into ‘The Blood That Moves The Body’ – it would be great to eventually get the whole song!

‘The Living Daylights’ turns out to be the audience’s favourite song throughout – even after the song is over and a-ha have left the stage, the enthusiastic audience keeps on singing and singing and you see guys climb on each other’s shoulders. It’s simply an electrifying atmosphere that even the band can’t resist and before they start their encores, they start ‘The Living Daylights’ again.

While Magne, Morten and the backing band stay overnight in Aarhus, Paul, his family and Anneli choose the overnight coach drive to Amsterdam to enjoy their day off in the city of canals and coffee shops.

Set list Aarhus 15.06.02

Minor Earth Mayor Sky
An Afternoon High
The Sun Never Shone That Day
You Wanted More
Lifelines
Manhattan Skyline
I’ve Been Losing You
Time And Again
Did Anyone Approach You?
Turn The Lights Down
Stay On These Roads
Hunting High And Low
Locust
Scoundrel Days
Take On Me
The Living Daylights

Encores:
Forever Not Yours
Summer Moved On
The Sun Always Shines On TV