Denmark's Horsens builds city on rock 'n roll
HORSENS, Denmark (Reuters) - To stop local people from moving out, the town of Horsens in western Denmark decided to invite international rock stars in.
A typical provincial seaside town of 80,000 inhabitants about half-way up the eastern coast of Jutland, the municipal authorities had watched for years as its youth moved away.
The attraction of cities like Copenhagen and Aarhus with their educational, employment and entertainment opportunities were too strong for some to resist.
Until 2001, when a local businessman, Frank Panduro, decided to do something about it.
"Give me a bag of money and I will make Horsens the metropolis of rock 'n roll in Denmark," Panduro told a group of fellow business leaders convincing them to invest in a local events office.
A year later, Bob Dylan was the first in a long list of international acts Panduro brought to town, playing before an audience of only 500 at a local theater.
"As a man born in Horsens it bothered me that people always were saying that nothing was going on here," Panduro told Reuters.
Since then, the likes of the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Elton John and REM have played in Horsens.
"I don't have to go to Copenhagen anymore to hear great music. The stars all come to Horsens now," said Anders, a local fan waiting for Canadian rocker Neil Young to go on stage last week at the local arena.
According to official statistics, 1,200 people now move to Horsens every year, sharply reversing the previous trend. The town is expected to grow to about 85,000 by 2013.
"National statistics say that Horsens is the fastest growing town in Denmark," mayor Jan Trojborg said. "It proves that a crazy idea and a man like Mr. Panduro are worth gold to a town like ours."
The town is trying to build on its own success, unveiling next summer a new outdoor stadium with acoustics especially designed for concerts.
"We will have a major act for the opening. It is going to be huge," Panduro said.
Neil Young has already put his name down for that.
"You have a wonderful place here," Young told the audience last week. "I hope that you will let me come back next summer to play your new outdoor green."
Reuters
