The week after the SXSW conference and festival was over, Asleep At The Wheel staged a tour to old Texas dance halls. The tour had a double purpose – one was to hold concerts with Asleep At The Wheel with musical friends, the other was to put the focus on a Texas tradition that is threatened by obsolescence. I visited Luckenbach for a daytime concert during the tour. Continue reading
Nile Rodgers is one of the most successful musician, producer, composer in our time. He is also one of the artistically greatest. Through the work of CHIC, David Bowie, Madonna, Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams and countless others he has been part of the soundtrack for several generations in the Western world. This year Nile Rodgers was the keynote at the SXSW Music Conference.
This year’s Barn Dance after SXSW is over, was my 19th Barn Dance so far. They have all been different, but all have had the same kind of ingredients: great bands and artists, great food, great surroundings, and most of all, great people from South Austin and the world around. A lot of things is happening in Austin that slowly takes away what makes it my favorite city. I just hope the Barn Dance will survive those changes for many years still to come. (Photo above: Darling West with Leeann Atherton)
Every year for the last 35 years, Austin Chronicle has hosted the Austin Music Awards, celebrating the best local music and musicians. But what might sound like a “local” award show to those not knowing the Austin music scene, is a fierce competition to win among some of the best musicians and artists in the USA. This year the award show was held at the ACL Moody Theatre, the home of the weekly TV show Austin City Limits.
Norway have several accomplished artists in the Americana style. Claudia Scott, Lucky Lips, Darling West, Knut Reiersrud, Steinar Albrigtsen are but some of the best ones. One of the Norwegian Americana artists, Tove Bøygard has been almost there for several years, but with her latest album, she has taken the final step up to the same level as the before mentioned artists. Last night she held a release concert for Blåe Drag at Herr Nilsen in Oslo.
One of my music traditions when in Austin, is the Wednesdays when both Jon Dee Graham and James McMurtry with The Heartless Bastards play the Continental Club. Also the Tuesdays when James McMurtry plays solo at the Continental Gallery. Last night he played at Buckleys Roots & Blues Joint in Oslo with his band, and it was almost like being back in Austin.
I have had the great pleasure to see and hear several concerts with Chip Taylor during the last 12 years, both alone and together with fellow artist Carrie Rodriguez. Since it has been some years since last time I saw him, it was a true pleasure to see Chip Taylor Wednesday night together with the two Norwegians, singer Paal Flaata and pianist Gøran Grini at the small club Krøsset in Oslo.
Last night was trash metal night at the Rockefeller Music Hall in Oslo. Two of the veterans from that style, Kreator from Germany and Sepultura from Brazil played, together with with Swedish heavy band Soilwork and Belgian death metal band Aborted. (Photo above: Kreator)
Last year was my first vist to the showcase festival Trondheim Calling. I liked it so much that I decided to come back this year. The festival took place this weekend in Trondheim, and it has grown to be a good alternative to, or to compliment the Norwegian big brother of showcase festivals, by:Larm. Three days with seminars, debates, concerts and networking means long and intense days, but the quality of everything made it definitely worth while. (Photo above: Sebastian Olsen from Death By Unga Bunga)
It has been a difficult task to choose my own favorite photos from 2016 among the 270 plus concerts I have photographed this year. I have shot concerts at outdoor stages, at big indoor venues and at clubs in varying weather and light conditions. I have shot big international artists and lesser known local artists, all of them doing their best to give their fans a great time. Here are my 15 favorite shots from 2016. (Photo above: The audience at Biffy Clyro’s concerts at Bergen Fest this summer)
Artist Pictures Blog 