For twenty years Månefestivalen has been arranged in Gamlebyen in Fredrikstad, some 70 miles south of Oslo in Norway. The venue is an open place in the old town, dating back to 1567. Behind the concert venue is a beautiful garden where people sit around drinking and eating between the concerts. Yesterday’s concerts were a gift from OBOS to the city and people of Fredrikstad. (Photo above: Morten Abel)
Kvelertak has been Norway’s leading hardcore band for many years. The band has won prices, they have played support for bands like Metallica and Ghost, and headlined several festivals. Through the years they have been hailed for their unstoppable energy and their singer Erlend Hjelvik’s stage presence. Today he announced that he quits the band. (Photo above: Singer Erlend Hjelvik with Kvelertak at Slottsfjell 2013)
Saturday was the last day of Bergen Fest this year, and as the tradition is, the day started early, kicking off twelve hours of live music from four stages. Nineteen acts all together. This day was also a predominantly Norwegian day, with some of our best newer artists like Sigrid, Sondre Justad, Astrid S, Fieh, Halie and Sløtface, together with veterans like Real Ones. And with nice weather, mostly sunny, a packed venue and James Bay as the closing act, this was a perfect ending to another successful festival. (Photo above: James Bay)
The rain from Thursday disappeared over the night and Friday was slightly overcast with some sun, perfect festival weather. And the venue at Bergen Fest was suddenly filled up with music fans. While the preceding days were more rock oriented, Friday had hip hop, pop, some soul and very little rock. And again I got to see artists I have never seen before. (Photo above: Gabrielle)
While Wednesday had good weather at Bergen Fest – cloudy and not too cold – Thursday started out with rain and wind gusts from the morning, and it kept raining the whole day. The result was that the main stage couldn’t be used most of the night. The wind blew the rain in on the stage, so concerts had to be moved, and the opening act had to be cancelled. But the organizers at Bergen Fest are used to rain and did a thoroughly professional job. (Photo above: Thåström)
Bergen Fest has been a long time tradition for me, all the way back to the 90’s when it was called Ole Blues and was a club festival with mostly blues artists. Now it is an outdoor festival in historic surroundings in Bergen, and with one of Norway’s best bookings, big headliners and many lesser known but definitely very interesting artists. Yesterday I saw Nick Cave and Sparks, but also The last Internationale, which became one of the highlights for me. (Photo above: Nick Cave)
Jørun Bøgeberg is one of the most used Norwegian musicians, having played professionally since the early 70’s in all different genres. He has toured and played almost everywhere in Norway, and also played for 150.000 people in Rio de Janeiro. Last night he celebrated his 60 year birthday at a packed Victoria Jazzscene in Oslo with some of his musical friends from the last 40 years.
Sunday was the last day of the Inferno Metal Festival this year, and it was a day for old school black and death metal, grindcore and doom. Norwegian, British and Swedish bands. As the preceding days, the venue was packed, and all in all the Inferno has never sold as many tickets before. And to a very international crowd from many different countries. (Photo above: Nattefrost from Carpathian Forest)
The third day of Inferno 2018 had Satyricon as the headliner. The band has been on an extensive and successful tour in Europe the last half year, and Saturday night was the closing concert on the second leg of this tour. Before Satyricon Ihsahn played a concert with his solo work. Another good day for extreme metal! (Photo above: Satyr from Satyricon)
While the first day of Inferno 2018 was packed quite early in the evening, Friday started out with a smaller crowd. But that changed when the big headliner, Emperor came on stage. I can’t remember Rockefeller as packed as this before. Those of us who were there the whole time got many good bands before Emperor, too. (Photo above: Ihsahn from Emperor)
Artist Pictures Blog 