1349 is one of Norway’s leading black metal bands. They were formed in 1997, and they are named after the year the Black death came to Norway, killing more than half of the Norwegian population and somewhere between 50 and 80 million people in Europe. This year it is 666 years since the Black death, and last night 1349 presented their album Hellfire from 2005 at the Vulkan Arena in Oslo, celebrating, or maybe rather commemorating those 666 years.
Norway have quite a few world class jazz musicians, among them Terje Rypdal, Arild Andersen, Jon Christensen, Karin Krogh, Bugge Wesseltoft, Nils Petter Molvær and Eivind Aarseth. But there is liitle dispute that Jan Garbarek is in a special class, and has been since the mid 70s. He started playing in the 60’s, but his career got up to full speed with the collaboration with Keith Jarrett on the LP Belonging in 1974, and he has kept up since then. Last night and tonight he plays two sold out houses at Bærum Kulturhus, awith his band, nd I was there yesterday.
Sometimes I wonder why we know everything about American and English artist in Norway and almost nothing about artists from outside these countries. One thing is tradition, another is the language. I have also been ignorant to the great musical culture in many of these countries. But after having spent more time in Spain I have opened my ears to their music, and last night I saw one of the best representants of modern Spanish song tradition, Rosario Flores.
Camela was my second concert during the Feria in Nerja, Spain. The band is a duo, formerly a trio, consisting of María Ángeles Muñoz Dueñas on vocals, and singer songwriter Dionisio Martin Lobato. Their style is defined as electro pop, techno pop, or techno rumba, and they have strong influences from gitano and flamenco.
October means feria and a big 5 days party in Nerja in Andalucia, Spain. Lots of people in the streets, a big and noisy tivoli and different stages with all kinds of music. In the main tent at the Plaza de España, there is a concert with a big name at midnight every night for five days. Last night was DJ night with Juan Magán as the star.
Thom Hell is one of my favorte Norwegian pop artists and songwriters. He is not in the front when we talk abut new styles, but leans heavily on the master songwriters from the 60’s and later. But he writes some really catching songs, and to me that is often enough. Now he has released his 8th album, Until This Blows Over.
Artist Pictures Blog 