– The summer has been completely adventurous. It probably goes down as perhaps the best summer I’ve had, says Stian Staysman Thorbjørnsen (42) to news. He and a number of other Norwegian artists have traveled country and coast around festivals and people have flocked to them. – You feel quite privileged when it’s been 17 years since I started touring, so we’ll get one like this this summer, Thorbjørnsen asserts. He does not have a complete overview of how many thousands of audience there have been in total so far, but he thinks it is a total of several hundred thousand in total. Stian Staysman Thorbjørnsen still has many playing jobs left before the summer season is over. Photo: @staysman on Instagram Meeting the public Staysman has met many of these in rural areas from north to south, although there are more and more city jobs. – You go from playing for 14,000 in the center of Kristiansand, to driving off guard to Engerdal and playing for 1,000 people at a community centre. It is claimed that in Norway there is a festival every quarter. But if the myth is not entirely true, then there are still many music festivals left before the autumn darkness sets in. Not least Rakettnatt in Tromsø. The artist Dagny will take the stage there on Friday 23 August. – It is of course something we are extremely happy about. I just hope we get good weather. That’s what Juna Norvoll Sandvik, Dagny’s manager – and sister, tells us. In recent weeks, Dagny and the band have not only toured festivals in Norway. They have also met fans all over Europe. In recent years, Dagny Norvoll Sandvik has built up a large audience both at home and abroad. Photo: @Dagny on Instagram People of all ages She highlights the big festival Rock for People in Prague, Sigett in Budapest and not least Smukfest in Skanderborg in Denmark. – They have been our great highlight, says Sandvik. Now she hopes that the good weather in the north will continue in the future. – I fear that they have used it up, but we have to keep our fingers crossed. There is no doubt that the festival summer in Norway can be capricious when it comes to the weather. But Stian Thorbjørnsen reports that people defy the rain that may come, regardless of age. – People from 18 to 70 turn out in full force regardless of whether it rains, it’s great fun, he says. CC Cowboys have been on the road longer than many in the audience have lived. But they still attract many thousands to the festivals they play at. From the left, Magnus Grønneberg and Per Vestaby. Photo: @cccowboys on Instagram The young can sing Even if Staysman is one of the veterans on Norwegian festival stages, he is beaten in the boots by others. Since the album debut with “Blodsbrødre” in 1990, Magnus Grønneberg (57), Per Vestaby (74) and the others in CC Cowboys have kept the cooking going on almost endless summer tours. – There are a lot of younger people who come. They know the songs and sing along. The summer has been very good. That’s what Jan Sollien says, who has been manager since the end of the 80s. He himself is actually retired, but still works with CC Cowboys. – They are still Norway’s answer to the Rolling Stones, believes Sollien. Festivals in August Findings, Bislet stadium: Norwegian artists such as Alan Walker, Kjartan Lauritzen and Kamelen Jugendfest, Ålesund: Norwegian artists such as Dagny CC Cowboys, Gabrielle and Emma Steinbakken Parken, Bodø: Kaizers, Bernhoft, Marstein and Fay Wildhagen Pstereo, Trondheim: Susanne Sundfør, Kvelertak and Three small Chinese Rakettnatt, Tromsø: Mods, Jonas Benyoub, Delara and Dagny Feelings, Bergen: Golfklubb, Alan Walker, Roc Boyz NB! These are only excerpts from an extensive festival program in Norway in August. Rockman.no has the full overview. Published 18.08.2024, at 17.08
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Norwegian artists draw thousands of audiences to festivals – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
