Charles Bradley has become one of my favorite soul artists after I saw him for the first time at the Oya festival in August last year. This year he played the Bergen festival in June, and he confirmed my first impresion. Tonight he played the Rockefeller in Oslo, and showed the fans that grown-ups can do just as well as the young ones.
This year at Bergen Fest, Naomin Shelton was the unexpected positive experience to me, like Charles Bradley was at the Oya Festival last year. And intersting enough, both artists are signed to Daptone Records, the foremost record company for old-time soul after 2000.
One of the good things about festivals like SXSW is that you both get to see artists you have never heard of, and also that you get too see artists you have heard on CD, but never seen live. James Hunter is one of these, with some critically acclaimed CDs, plus one of the best songs after 2000, People Gonna Talk. I saw him at the Americana Association night at Antone’s.
Charles Bradley has got one of the greatest soul voices I have heard. It took him 54 years to debut as a recoding artist. Lucky for us he is still touring and putting out records ten years after his first one. This weekend he played the Oya festival in Oslo. Here are some pictures from the concert.
Artist Pictures Blog 