DENMARK April 2004

My trip to Denmark proved to be a big success and lots of fun!

I left for Aalborg, Denmark with my friend Pam on March 31st.  It was a long day of travel, first flying to Chicago Midway airport, then transferring via train over to Chicago O'Hare where we caught a flight to Amsterdam.   From Amsterdam, we flew to Billund, Denmark, then to our final destintination of Aalborg.  We arrived around noon on April 1st.  We were both very excited to see our friends Michael Hollaender and Aase Hansen, whom we had met on my first trip to Denmark 2 years prior.  We were both very tired, but happy to be there.  I was excited about rehearsal that evening and meeting the band that would be playing for me while over there.  We were able to rest at Michael and Aase's home for a little while, but then it was off to rehearsal.  Turbo Koch, the steel player I had worked with the last time I was in Denmark, came by to pick me up.  It was good to see him.   He is a great steel player and he and his wife, Ellen Marie, are a very sweet couple.  Michael, Aase and Pam joined us later.  Once we arrived at the rehearsal hall and I met the guys, I had a good feeling about things, and once I heard the first note, I knew everything was going to be great!   I was so appreciative of all their preparation and hard work.  It really made me look forward to our shows together.

The first stop was Vamdrup where we had 2 nights of shows.  I met up with Joy Adams from New Zealand and Arly Karlsen from Norway.   It was great seeing Joy again and I was happy to finally meet Arly and his family.   I was also very happy to meet Erling Mørk-Jensen and everyone at the CMV Country Club.  They made us feel so welcome.  The first night went great.  The second night was even better and it was so nice to see familiar faces in the audience from the night before.  Everyone really seemed like friends.  I can't tell you how amazing it felt to look down in the audience and see people singing along to songs of mine like "Tennessee Moon" and "The Circle."  Thank you to all who attended the performances and bought my CDs.  You all were so wonderful to us and we appreciated it very much!  Thank you Erling and Irma for having us all out to your home and thank you for the great meal and the hotel!  I hope I can come back and perform for you again soon.

While back in Aalborg, Joy Adams and I went and performed at a retirement home one afternoon.  We had a great time and really enjoyed meeting and visiting with everyone there.  I also went and performed 2 songs on the TV Bingo show.  It's a live, once-a-week, call-in game show.  That was a lot of fun, and I actually sold quite a few CDs from people seeing my performance.  Thank you to the show and the show's host, Peter Skram, for having me on.  Joy and I also went and taped a Christian TV show called AK TV Aalborg.   We both got to sing about 6 songs and were interviewed.  The show should be airing soon in different parts of Denmark.  I can't wait to see the final show.   The host, Birthe Folkeman, was very nice to both of us and she made the experience a real delight.

TV Bingo-With Host, Peter Skram

We then all met back up for Michael Hollaender's Easter show at the Aalborg Country Music Club.  Joy an d Arly and I had a great time that night and again everyone who attended made us feel so welcome.  We all had a blast that night!  The true joy of these performances is getting to meet the fans and make new friends and also getting to meet DJs who are playing our music.  We couldn't do it without you.  The end of this night was a bit sad because I had to say goodbye to the band.  They backed me up so great and I just want to thank them for making things go so smooth.  Thank you Morten (guitar/harmonies,) Gregor (bass,) Michael (drums,) Turbo (steel guitar) and Morten (piano.)  You guys are the best and I hope we can work together again soon.  You're a great bunch of musicians!

Our last stop was at Hoptrup Hus.  It's a quaint Pizzeria & Grill not too far from Vamdrup.  The owner, Tommy Hansen, was wonderful to us.   The show there was a lot of fun.  We all sang to tracks, and we had a great time.  Once again the crowd was amazing.  It's so much fun to watch the dancers out on the dance floor while you're singing.  They really get into it.  Arly, Joy and I were all sad to see this night end because we knew it was the last show on the tour.  It was fun performing all together at the end.  We shared a lot of laughs.  I'd like to say a special hello to our young fans that I got pretty attached to while over there, Jan Aimar, Solveig Marie and Thor Arne.  You all are so adorable, and thanks for helping me out by sitting on the edge of the stage singing along with me into my little keychain microphones. J You are so precious! It was hard to say goodbye, to Arly as well.  He and his family headed back to Norway that next day.

  The last day we were there, Michael and Aase took us sightseeing in Germany.  Joy went along with us.  It was a fun day and a nice end to a great trip!  I'd like to thank Michael and Aase for their hospitality, the great food (including taking us to McDonalds after Pam & I begged J) and for all the hard work they did on putting these shows together.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.  I hope I can come back over and perform for you again soon.  I had a wonderful trip!  I just hope the fans and DJs enjoyed it as much as we did.  Thank you again to the musicians, the club owners, the DJs and the fans for being so wonderful! 

Until next time...

Erin Hay

P.S.  If anyone has any photos they took with me or of me while I was in Denmark, please email them to me.  I'd love to add them to this page.  Thanks in advance!  Email to:  erinhay2002@yahoo.com .