Journalist: Henrik Bakken

Photographer: Malene Tangen

Translator: Rebekka Berg

The last ENGAfestival took place on Saturday, June 15th, in typical fashion at Epleskrotten, the association house of the student choir Noe Ganske Annet (NGA). Despite the gray weather, the festival was marked by a colorful atmosphere filled with music and fun activities. The festival was truly something quite different – in an entirely positive way.

For the remaining students who haven’t yet left for vacation after the exam period, it’s possible to attend the ENGAfestival each June, organized by the student choir Noe Ganske Annet, also known as NGA. The festival is one of the student events in Ås that takes place outside the Student Society. Therefore, at this one-day festival, there are no tickets, no queues, no entry wristbands (and no potentially grumpy security guards either). It’s a kind of free zone, at least in style. The ENGAfestival has been an annual tradition for several years and is a unique event. With this festival, NGA sets an example that other associations could benefit from following: a low threshold for showing up, a low threshold for participating, and not least, a low threshold for performing! (Perhaps a bit too low?)

Tuntreet arrived early on the festival day and was initially slightly disappointed by the somewhat mediocre turnout. However, the atmosphere quickly picked up when the live model painting began, and after that, the festival was relatively crowded for the rest of the day. Boccia, beer pong, volleyball, live model painting, and grilling were some of the activities that took place during the festival. Of course, there was also the obligatory toast every time the train passed by. Since Epleskrotten is, after all, a close neighbor to the Østfold railway line, this happened quite frequently.

The festival is essentially free, but participants this year had the opportunity to make a donation if they wished. However, the money didn’t go to NGA but directly to aid in Gaza. The festival organizers had developed a scheme for the day called BFFP – Braiding For a Free Palestine – where those who wanted could donate to various aid organizations in exchange for getting their hair braided. The complexity of the hairstyle was proportional to the amount donated.

NGA could have showcased their musical talents collectively, but in the festival context, they seem to view this day primarily as an opportunity to let individuals shine, which they did impressively. The musical performances offered both humor and colorful personalities – NGA members, Lærker, pirates, and ordinary Ås residents took the stage with a varied repertoire of duets, German songs, revue numbers, and a truly diverse range of different performances. Even Holm Hansen served as host and musician, and some of the others who performed with singing, guitar, and keyboard were Ola Fitjar, Thor Fredrik Saastad, Eirik Tjensvoll Obrestad, Kim Andre Nielsen, and David Frøytland.

When it came to the musical activities, there was no mercy for Tuntreet's representatives either. Strongly influenced by the retired editors Martin Hansebråten and Tord Kristian F. Andersen, we felt compelled to perform Hansebråten's favorite song: "Words" by F.R. David. In a sort of gonzo style, we performed with varying degrees of motivation. At the very least, the performance ensured that we, as journalists, got closer to the subjects we had come to study. Now we understood what it means to stand on stage with everyone watching.

Epleskrotten, located at Langbakken 8, has for several years been the official collective of NGA. The place bears the mark of this – in a cozy way (we were even introduced to the “Epleskrotten Zoo,” where one of the species that can be observed is the silverfish). Epleskrotten now has only two remaining NGA members, and the house is no longer the official association house. Therefore, this year’s festival might potentially have been the last ENGAfestival. The future plans are somewhat uncertain, but according to NGA themselves, they are looking for a new location. An alternative plan is also to recruit all the new students moving in so that the official association house can continue. If you happen to be a tenor, you are in demand – they even accept Lærker!

For many NMBU students, the ENGAfestival has been a long-standing tradition for several years, and for the steadfast summer residents of Ås, this is an inclusive and fun event that one can participate in regardless of association affiliation. This year’s festival provided a nice transition from the spring semester into the summer vacation and is definitely worth preserving for future years.