After wowing crowds halfway around the world, The Midnights will be back on stage in Ballerup, Denmark in August.
The performance comes after a long history between Eric Emde, musical director for the Victoria High school rhythm and blues band, The Midnights and the Ballerup School Orchestra.
“We were invited there the year we did the documentary on the Vic High band,” Emde said. “It was the Vic High rhythm and blues band that first went out there.”
On their first trip, the band simply did a school exchange with another group, but when organizers with the Ballerup Music Festival heard the band, Emde said they were impressed.
After the rhythm and blues band played the festival in 2007, the organizers went on the school’s website and discovered The Midnights.
“They asked if The Midnights would attend in 2010,” Emde said. “We went and I was stunned that they voted us the most popular band at the festival.”
The accolade came with another invitation to the Ballerup Festival, which is scheduled for Aug. 23 to 25.
“It’s pretty inspiring to be named the most popular at the festival,” Emde said. “They have musicians and groups coming from all over the world. It’s kind of an eclectic festival, it’s not just jazz, or rock. They have it all, so you get to see a myriad of groups.”
In addition to the performance in Ballerup, the 12-piece professional rhythm and blues band has also been invited to play a club in Iceland.
Even though the festival is several months away, The Midnights are busy fundraising and preparing for their trip.
“It’s going to cost us about $30,000,” Emde said. “We’ve all decided to take the money and throw it into the pot instead of paying ourselves. Really we’re playing for the joy of it.”
The Midnights is made up of professional musicians from around the city and students from the Victoria High school rhythm and blues band.
“It’s a very interesting mix because there are the older musicians and the younger ones, so it’s really quite energetic on stage,” Emde said.
The Midnights fundraiser will be held on March 28 from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Victoria Events Centre. Tickets are available at the door and are $10 for adults and $5 for students.
For more information about The Midnights, visit themidnights.com