Under Byen

Under Byen is an eight piece band that mix the gentle with the raw. Reigning from Denmark's second-largest city, Århus, they produce their own unorthodox interpretation of rock music.

Their qualities especially become evident at their spellbinding live shows where they create a symbiosis between elven fairytale fragility and massive rock energy. Sometimes soft as the wind, other times sharp as a rock. The intimate versus the extrovert. It is in this space that their musical magic emerges. Under Byen seem most at ease walking on thin ice - believing that their talent will keep them above water. And it does.

Under Byen’s soundscape is dominated by piano, cello, violin, electrically distorted saw, organ, drums and percussion - to great effect. A somewhat different vein of rock (or pop) spiced up with jazzy, folky and classical elements. This is a band to be heard, simply because they defy satisfactory explanation.

The 1999 debut album "Kyst" immediately impressed the music critics, who applauded the band for creating their own style and tone. The second album "Det er mig der holder træerne sammen" (2002) was equally praised and has grown to become a hallmark for the band and helped reach a wider audience in Denmark and elsewhere. In 2004 it was re-released outside Denmark.

Far from being a mainstream act Under Byen has nevertheless attracted a growing devoted fanbase with their intense live shows and the release of their two albums “Kyst” and “Det er mig der holder træerne sammen”, the latter being released in more than 11 countries.

In 2006 Under Byen will return with a new album, almost 4 years since they released the last one. The band has been undergoing some changes in their line up as well as music wise. But rest assure: there’s every reason to forward to March 6th 2006.

Under Byen like websites, but do not updating them. Therefore we recommend Lars Dideriksen's elaborate 'fan-page', (from which we also borrowed some of the text written above. Thanks.) www.larsdideriksen.com/underbyen