
Here is the second part of my personal favorite photos from 2023. They are not ranked, but all of them are special to me in one way or another. You will see 30 photos from different settings and genres. They may not be from the same genres, but they are all taken at a Norwegian festival or venues.
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Norway has four different showcase festivals, and Trondheim Calling is the second longest running of these. This year was their 10th anniversary. A total of 82 bands/artists with all together 350 musicians and artists plus 900 delegates from the Norwegian and international music business were gathered for three days of concerts, seminars and networking. (Photo above: Agnete Kjølsrud from Djerv)
Another Notodden Blues Festival is over, and this was my 25th anniversary at the festival – easily on my top three list of all of them. The weather was excellent, many tickets sold, the bands and artists were great and I got to meet good friends and acquaintances. What more can you ask for? (Photo above: Steven van Zandt and the Mostar School of Rock.
This year’s Månefestivalen was my third in a row, and like last year, it was a hot happening. Beautiful weather, sun, hot, a perfect recipe for a successful festival. The festival had a mix of national and local artists, plus Wyclef Jean as the headliner on Saturday. And on Thursday, the building society OBOS sponsored a special day with four artiists and where the proceeds are donated to a local cause. (Photo above: Wyclef Jean)
This year’s Tons of Rock was my sixth time, and the first time at a new location. The former five years the festival has been held at Fredriksten festning in Halden, but from this year it will be held at Ekeberg in Oslo. There are always plusses and minuses t moving a festival – for Tons of Rock they lost a spectacular location, but have won a much higher capacity. And everything worked just fine during the three days the festival lasted.
OverOslo is a new festival to me, even if it has been going on for some ten years. It is located high at Grefsenkollen, a spectacular location with literally a view of all of Oslo. The only practical problem is getting up there, with only a quite narrow road winding up to the venue and no parking on site. But when you get there, it is definitely worth it.
Bergen Fest this year was four days with a great mix of artists and musical styles. just like their recipe has been for many years. I have had the great pleasure of seeing old favorites, new bands, indie bands, pop, hip hop, soul and Americana, all in four days. This year was no difference, with an eclectic mix of styles and new and old. (Photo above: Patti Smith)