In May last year I saw Satyricon play one song with the Norwegian Opera Choir. It seemed like both parties were satisfied with the result, and tonight Satyricon held a full concert at the national Opera House together with the Opera Choir.
Blues in Hell 2013 is over and I am already looking forward to next year’s festival. The music, the people, and also the weather have been excellent this year, making the festival one to remember. The organizational side of the event is also very professional and smooth, making it a pleasure to be there. (Picture above: Ronni Le Tekrø)
One of my favorite festivals started yesterday. Or rather, they started on Thursday, but yesterday was the official opening. with a full blues night on two stages. When one of the stages is a Magic Mirror tent, you can’t complain about the venue. There is also nothing to complain about with the artists, on the contrary. And for the nimble-minded, Hell is a place in Norway, and it means a cave in the mountain side, not a hot place somewhere else! (Picture above. Candye Kane)
The weekend September 6-7 is the yearly blues weekend in Hell. In Norway, Hell isn’t a place with eternal fire and damnation, it is actually a place outside of Trondheim. And there is nothing hellish about the place. You can get there by train – round trip or one way ticket, but the easy way to get there is by plane, since Hell is located in spitting distance from the Trondheim airport. The festival is one of my favorites during the year, and here are some of the highlights from last year, while we are waiting. (Picture above: Carolyn Wonderland at the Notodden Blues Festival 2012)
Until last weekend I had never heard of Half Moon Run, and knew nothing about them. After they played at the Pstereo festival in Trondheim I have listened to their CD many times, and so far it is one of the best CDs I have heard this year.
Robert Plant is 65 years old August 20th. Few other rock singers have had a higher credibility over a span of more than 40 years than him. Since Led Zeppelin started their career in 1968, Robert Plant’s voice has been synonymous for rock music.
The last day of Pstereo was a good festival day. Many different artists, but the same quality booking with different styles, some well known bands, and many new, at least for me. The big headliner Saturday was Motorpsycho, who played their 1997 album Blissard. But before them we got 6 hours of non stop music from three stages. And while Friday night had a few light rain showers, the weather was also good on Saturday. With two sold out days, it looks very promising for Pstereo next year.
The Pstereo festival in Trondheim has established itself as one of the most interesting festivals in Norway with a booking that only Oya surpasses. For a two day festival with three stages plus a talent stage, they have an unusually eclectic variety in their booking. The other good thing is that the fans like it, this year, for the first year, Friday night was sold out. (Picture above: Oliver Sim from The xx)
Saturday was the fourth and last day of the Oya festival this year, and a day I had been looking forward to. With bands like Shining and Slayer, I didn’t have to see the Enga headliner The Knife. But the day started with some other interesting and good bands and artists. (Picture above: Este Haim)
Friday at Oya was sunshine again. Most of the mud had dried, and it was good to come down before the music started. This was the day of Kraftwerk, and many had come to see them. But before they entered the stage and the fans put on their 3D glasses, there were lots of other great acts to see.
Artist Pictures Blog 