I am all about free concerts and music in the city, but this party has gotten way too big to handle. Although I did enjoy it a couple times a few years ago, there are WAY too many people. It’s difficult to move through the mass of bodies, there is broken glass everywhere, and the lines for the porta-potties are long. Since it kicks off early in the afternoon on a Wednesday, said people are drunk off their ass by dinnertime. I know it is not all of the revellers who act this way, but some are extremely inconsiderate. Shouting, urinating in the middle of the street(or in someone’s doorway), tossing their pizza box and falafel wrapper in the gutter, invading people’s personal space, crushing cans before a hapless pantsamler can collect it. These partiers are reduced to animals! This behavior is not very different than what happens at Roskilde Festival, but the difference is that this goes down in a place where people actually live. If Pisstortion takes place on your street, you will have to fight to get into your flat and glob forbid you have to do any shopping. The next morning the area will look like a warzone and smell like a sewer. Although the festival organizers try to shut down the street parties at 10 or 11pm sharp and move people into clubs, they can only clean up so much. And you can’t scrub the smell of stale piss and beer from the sidewalk so it hangs in the air for a few days. I could enjoy Tisstortion if everyone acted like gorram human beings, but until then it needs to move out to Refshaløen permanently.
Tayanna B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Frederiksberg, Denmark
It’s my favorite time of year in Copenhagen! The most epic(free) party in the streets of Copenhagen with different DJs at every corner. You will find your music, no worries about that! It’s absolutely amazing, you will get the best feeling there! People dancing, drinking and having a great time moving their bodies to the music! Alcohol and food can be bought at different stands, but lines can be long so do yourself a favor and BYOB. Girls, there are hardly enough places to go to the bathroom so be prepared to do a «nature pee»(meaning behind some trash can, building, tree… whatever you can hide behind). There are urinals though that you can find. Tips: *Do not wear your favorite/most expensive sunglasses! You look great in them, but you will most likely loose them or break them. *Bring cash or mobile pay *Better to wear Converse or tennis shoes, as apposed to sandals. If you are thinking about visiting Copenhagen, I recommend coming during Distortion! You can sight-see in the morning and afternoon and head to the festival at 16:00 when it starts. You don’t want to miss this! Check out their webpage! You can buy tickets here for exclusive DJ events
Yvonne B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Amazing festival that we were lucky enough to enjoy! If you do get the chance to go, just go and enjoy yourself!
Stephanie P.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Oslo, Norway
Is there someone who doesn’t give 5 stars to distortion festival? I have been to distortion 3 times already and each time was just EPIC! Happy people everywhere, drinking, dancing, kissing, climbing on whatever they can climb on, wearing extravagant costumes or outfits. Just great feeling! There is music on the streets everywhere and you can buy alcohol from the street bars they have set. Every year it gets more and more organized and they have a lot of volunteers to clean, to serve, to set up the festival. They have lots of toilets too everywhere to make it easier to access. It’s something that no one should miss, as it is free of charge and it is just a great feeling to party in the streets where you normally just pass by with your bike.
Virginia Y.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Seattle, WA
Probably the most epic street festival I’ve ever been to. A week straight of outdoor drinking, concerts, booze and dancing? ja tak! I can’t believe how its all free still and I commend that.
Teresa M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen did it again! Distortion was great this year, as always. Bassdrop brought in Morten Breum, and the final show for Copenheavy was this year. My son thought this year was better than last. Can’t wait for the next one!
Cindy W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Henrico, VA
Distortion is a free outdoor dance party that happens throughout 4 days in the heart of Copenhagen and on Amager on the last two days. The event draws crowds over 100,000 people every day, which spills into certain nightclubs later on in the evening. Really can’t miss this event if you’re in Copenhagen. Every year the location can be different, but in the city it will end at 10pm so the residents won’t be bothered. On Amager, located in the middle of nowhere, it can end anywhere from 3−6am. There are after-parties, but it does cost money, and these are usually located on buses like the Jagermeister one in my picture. To join the party on last day cost 280kr, which is absolutely ridiculous in my opinion. Was it supposed to be almost a $ 60 entrance fee so that you had to force yourself to party hard? The original price was set to be 400dkk. Yikes. Everyone is drunk and dancing at one of several«stations» or tents, each with a different genre of music ranging from hip-hop to electronic to funk. The Tribe«tent» was outstanding this year. Lots of world-class DJs manning each area. There are crepes, hot dogs, and drink stations around the area as well, but they’ll be about 10−20kr more marked up than regular prices. If you’re about 30 and younger and like to party, this will totally be your scene. I saw a few that had taken their children with them — NO. Your child can get trampled in the crowd. They will hear swear words and see drunk people throwing up and acting like idiots. Can’t you wait a few years? Sigh. Protips: bring several bags — for barf or for sitting on, doesn’t matter. Bring water or alcohol, because you’ll be dancing all day and night. Best for groups of 4, in my opinion so that it’s large enough to get a party started but small enough to not lose track of everyone. Use a buddy system and have an agreement that if someone gets lost to meet at a very specific location. Wear shoes like converses or canvases — no flats or sandals, definitely no heels if you know what’s good for you. Girls, shorts and a tank top will suffice. If you are traveling to Amager again, don’t make the mistake most people did of walking an hour plus to get there — take route 9A back and forth.