Veteran to perform original song at sold-out Engage festival

Veteran and army major Henrik Lind Hansen will perform his own song at the Engage festival on Saturday, reports Danish broadcaster DR.

The festival, held at Kastellet in Copenhagen, marks its tenth anniversary this year and has sold out, with 6,000 daily attendees setting a new record. Organized by the Veterans’ Fund, the event honors Denmark’s veterans and has previously featured major Danish acts like TV2 and Andreas Odbjerg.

Hansen, who has been deployed to Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, described the event as both a celebration and a tribute. “It’s tough to be deployed under any circumstances, but you can come back stronger or find strength in this kind of community,” he said.

Though he has performed cover songs before and often brought his guitar on deployments, Hansen admitted to nerves ahead of his first original performance. “I’m very humble about it. I’m just a stammering amateur compared to the professional musicians,” he said. “I’m extremely nervous. I’ve performed many times with covers, but now it’s my own song.”

This year’s lineup includes artists such as Sort Sol, Annika Aakjær, and Suspekt. Hansen emphasized the importance of such gatherings, where veterans can share both positive and difficult experiences.