For Americans unfamiliar in the revelry that is Midsummer and raised on movies centered on ticking time bombs, Kanon’s Midsummer Countdown might seem like some ominous plot to destroy mankind. Breathe easy my paranoid friend, world domination isn’t on Kanon’s agenda (yet).
For now we’re just gonna school people on a Scandinavian tradition involving boats, the sea, islands, girls with flowers in their hair to signify getting laid (think Mardi Gras beads but with more sex, less cheap plastic), bbq, crawfish, and taking shots. Yes the Swedes invented shots, they call them schnaps. If any of those appeal to you (and if they don’t, just get out now) you’ll want to add Midsummer to your summer to-do list. Actually, having a written summer to-do list is probably lame; maybe you should create a "summer vision board." Right. Okay, before we get too zen, here's the frickin point: After months of near total darkness, Midsummer in Sweden brings out the sun and a people ready to go crazy ballistic. Revelry is an understatement. The entire country fills country homes, tiny islands, city centers, and just about anywhere else to celebrate the fact that it’s not fucking dark. So simple and genius; organic, if you will.
But we aren’t just counting down to one of the best holidays in the world; we’re also nearing zero-time to the official launch of Kanon. Now, we’ve stayed out all night on a Tuesday to celebrate finding a quarter on the street (see: excuses to party) so you can imagine what we’re scheming for this. Original Kanon Organic cocktails, tons of Midsummer inspired food and, of course, music. In this case, Lykke Li DJing and a live performance by the Shout Out Louds. All in the heart of Stockholm. Not in Stockholm you say? Too bad. Just kidding, lucky for you Swedes are generous and willing to share their awesomeness with the world.
Also lucky for you, you’ll now officially have a tasty Swedish organic vodka to help you spread the word about an awesome new holiday that's not called Festivus. So stop complaining, cease looking for sidewalk quarters and pay attention to that Countdown. No bombs, just smooth shots ... promise.
P.S. We're not stopping the celebration in Sweden--we've got awesome stuff planned for the rest of the summer to keep the party going through August and beyond, starting with a 4th of July party at our house in Southampton with Carlos Quirarte and Matt Kliegman, the duo behind The Smile and the infamously fun/mysterious/hard-as-hell-to-get-into Jane Hotel ballroom. Stay tuned.
