Fermaten has a lively entertainment programme encompassing around 140 shows a year (photo: Theis Poulsen)
Denmark - Fermaten is a busy community-based live music and performance venue in Herning, central Denmark, which has a lively entertainment programme encompassing around 140 shows a year and a capacity of 700 - expanded from 500 eight years ago following extensive refurbishment.

The venue has been running for 26 years and recently invested in new Robe moving lights, with four DLS Profiles, eight DL4X Spots, and 16 x LEDBeam 100s, all supplied by Robe's Danish distributor, Light Partner.

Currently one of the top music venues in the country for technical production, Fermaten has also built a reputation as a training ground and inspirational stepping-stone for future industry professionals.

Technical manager Daniel Friis specified the Robe kit together with Light Partner's technical sales specialist Johan Kvartborg, himself an ex-Fermaten volunteer. Dan and venue manager Alex Nielson are full-time and on the board of directors, but most of the regular crew and staff are volunteers who either love the environment or appreciate the chance to enhance their technical knowledge and experience.

Fermaten owns its own sound and lighting kit and is well equipped thanks to an ongoing commitment to funding from the city and also by being self-funding through running at a profit. From this, money is allocated each year to spend on new kit.

The majority of the live shows at Fermaten are either lit by staff using the house system, with some artists bringing in their own LDs and floor packages. They have WYSIWYG facilities, allowing them to work in advance with LDs who want to visualise and prep their shows, so they are very well set up in all respects.

Currently about 110 volunteers are involved in running all aspects of Fermaten mostly living within a 50km radius of Herning. During Fermaten's 'dark season' in the summer, they organise outdoor concerts which this year included an event headlined by Danish rocker Kim Larsen, in S°ndre Anl


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