Søgu sunnudagur - History Sunday

1919: The Faroese flag Merkið is devised by the law student Jens Oliver Lisberg and others studying in Copenhagen.
 
1930: Danish premier Thorvald Stauning, the first social democratic premier of Denmark, is said to utter the infamous sentence "Fjern den klud!" ("Remove that rag!") referring to the hoisted Faroese flag Merkið.
1940: The British occupational government approves Merkið for Faroese sailing vessels on april 25. April 25 is still the official flag day of the Faroe Islands.
 
1948: With the Home Rule act of 23 march 1948, Merkið is recognized by the Danish government.
 
1956: Folkets Hus, designed by famous architect Vilhelm Lauritzen for the Danish labor movement, opens at Enghavevej no. 40. Lauritzen also designed Radiohuset (1940). Both buildings are masterstrokes of functionalist aesthetics.
 
1990: The leadership at Føroyahúsið rents the locales at Folkets Hus throwing a huge party after the first international football match at Parken Idrætspark between Denmark and Faroe Islands on 10 october 1990. Denmark wins 4-1 but the Faroese scoring the 1-1 equalizer is pure bliss for us watching on TV and must have unleashed party mayhem for everyone present in Copenhagen.
 
1994: Folkets Hus is about to close and the building is listed/saved by the artist Bjørn Nørgaard and the politician Svend Auken.
 
1996: Folkets Hus reopens as the ambitious regional music venue VEGA setting a benchmark for the live scene in Denmark. Today VEGA features three different concert halls: Store Vega, Lille Vega and Ideal Bar.
 
1999: At the age of 18 I attend my first concert at VEGA, seeing the legendary King's X at Lille Vega along with good friends from the Faroes and from abroad.
 
2004: I play my first show at Lille Vega with the band Gestir. Also appearing: Eivør Pálsdóttir. I note the name of the hall we're playing in: "Stauningsalen".
 
2005: I play my 2nd show at Lille Vega with Gestir. Also appearing: the punk band 200. The irony of this hall being called "Stauningsalen" is not lost upon us, as one of 200's brilliant songs from their powerful Viva La Republica! album (2005) is called "Fjern den klud!" An explosive night.
 
2006: I play my first show at Store Vega with Gestir supporting Teitur. Good times.
 
2008-2021: We attend dozens of shows at this beautiful venue, be it Store, Lille or Ideal. I also get to play some wonderful shows at this venue which is still going strong. Tonight we're playing here with KONNI KASS. There are still some tickets left.

Comments