Clean Out Louis Gives Us Their Guide to Copenhagen [Q&A]
We are spoiled by all the incredible music that slips into our DMs and inboxes, and sometimes we're like, wait… we wanna go there. To that point, we're starting a new series where we ask some of our favorite bands from around the world to take us to their favorite spots: music venues, coffee shops, outdoor art, whatever it might be. We're starting out strong with a brand new vibe-curtain duo, Clean Out Louis, who kindly took us around their home base of Copenhagen, Denmark:
Where do you go for live music? Best crowds, best vibe.
Loppen at Christiania is a legendary, underground, and forever-surprising venue where you're always guaranteed a memorable show—probably featuring a genre you've never heard of before. We had the great honor of opening for The Headhunters at Loppen, where Bill Summers (Herbie Hancock’s percussionist, just to name one) played with us on one of our songs. Crazy times—something we’ll never forget.
Favourite bar?
There are a lot of great bars in Copenhagen, but one where many young musicians hang out is the bar on Kronborggade in Nørrebro. It doesn’t have a name—it’s just called The Bar on Kronborggade. It’s low-key, crowded on weekends, the music is whatever the bartender’s into, the vermouth is good, and the beer is cheap. What’s not to like?
Best fast food spot or best local dish/restaurant to try?
Everyone from Copenhagen agrees on this: Dürüm Symfoni on Nørrebrogade 104. Yes, it translates to “Symphony of Dürüm.” It’s a bold name, but it’s true—a symphony of Lebanese shawarma. When it’s so late that things start getting messy, this is where you go.
Our favorite lunch spot, where everything is freshly made, vegetarian, and vegan, is Morgenstedet. It’s located in Christiania—a place that became very special to us after we played our first real gig at their big annual birthday party. We went on stage on a Tuesday night at midnight, and a big crowd of loving people—singing along to songs that weren’t even out yet—carried our backs (literally) as we crowd-surfed across the room.
What are some do’s and don’ts as a tourist in Copenhagen.
Bicycles are a big thing in Copenhagen, used more often than cars by most citizens. But for the love of every god you believe in, ONLY ride a bike in Copenhagen if you actually know what you're doing.
A must-see tourist attraction – a Copenhagen cliché that you secretly love?
We’ve got some good ones: the museum Glyptoteket (across the street from the famous Tivoli Gardens) is a classic. We used to hang out there a lot—yes, we hung out at a museum. Kongens Have is also a great spot when the sun’s out—a small park in the middle of inner-city Copenhagen.
But the most touristy thing we love? A classic boat ride around the harbor. Hop on one of the Netto-bådene—they're the cheapest. Bring a friend or a date (or both), and take in the city with some fun facts from the water. Just don’t forget to wave to everyone you see.
What's your best-kept secret of the city?
Our true best-kept secret is in Frederiksberg—and it will, unfortunately, remain a secret... But one we can tell you about is Café Seks on Krystalgade, near the old astronomy tower Rundetaarn. It’s one of the best lunch spots ever. Thank us later.
If your new EP was a spot in Copenhagen, where would it be?
It would probably be Christiania. This freetown, located in Christianshavn, is a place of peace and noise—a mix of people, music genres, and eccentric misfits all coexisting. It’s beautiful, weird, and wild—a place many parents won’t let their kids visit at first. But hey, when it comes to tourist attractions, there’s a reason Christiania is the most visited one in Denmark…