– It will probably be sad and more. But everything in its time, says Åge Aleksandersen. The popular artist has invited news to his office in the tower down by the harbor in Trondheim. There he can look out over the fjord, the city and the people while he writes music. On the wall hangs a map of Norway crammed full of pins. From north to south, from the outermost part of the sea gap to the innermost places along the Swedish border, there is a needle. – I tried to organize an overview of where I had been and played, but I gave up because it was too cramped, he says. Åge Aleksandersen and Sambandet have played to entertain and excite audiences for several decades. Here from when they played at the Summer Festival in Selbu. Photo: Hans H. Bjørstad Willing to give his best For now, his calendar is full of appointments. But after the concert at Sverresborg in Trondheim in August 2025, it is empty. It will also remain so. – It is superb to play. I notice the age when travelling, for example. I get tired. And then I could think of disposing of my energies a little differently, says Aleksandersen. He still enjoys himself on stage. The summer’s concerts have drawn full houses. Aleksandersen wants to give up while he and the band, Sambandet, are at their peak. – I feel that it is time and that it is right to do so. Now we do such nice concerts that it will be perfectly fine in the future. Then it’s like that with the tour business with Sambandet, I think I’ve been wise to end it while it’s going well, instead of ending it when it’s going badly, he says. Ups and downs Åge and the Association can look back on a long and impressive career. After Aleksandersen left Prudence, he started playing music with Sambandet in 1976. The band has had a number of changes over the years, but the current line-up has kept it going for the last 20 years. – In many ways it has been my finest Sambandet period then. I have to say that, says Aleksandersen. In 2016, one of his big dreams came true when he filled the Royal Albert Hall concert hall in London with visiting fans. But concert organizer Svein Bjørge also remembers a time when Åge was not as “hot”. Especially in the era after Prudence. – Then we arranged a concert with Åge in the breakfast room at the secondary school in Steinkjer, says Bjørge. Since then, he has sold out the Steinkjer Festival with Åge and Sambandet on the poster. – Åge has been a stayer. It is probably one of the keys to Åge having obtained the position he has. He has never given up. Even when he barely got money for rent, he played around and built an audience, says Bjørge. Åge and the Association have played for tens of thousands of people over the years. Here they filled Rismelen in Steinkjer during the Steinkjer Festival in 2017. Photo: Solvår Flatås / news Forståelse Bjørge believes Åge and the Association have almost been a guarantor for selling many tickets for the country’s concert organizers and festival managers. Svein Bjørge has booked Åge and Sambandet several times for the Steinkjer Festival. He believes they have been a guaranteed to sell tickets. Photo: Solvår Flatås / news – He is an icon, he is a legend. Fortunately, for his part, he has probably earned enough money for him to enjoy himself in the years to come, says Bjørge. He nevertheless understands that Aleksandersen gives concerts. – I think it is very sad. At the same time, I fully understand that. I really wish him to rest, says Bjørge. Will not retire This year, Åge and the Association have played around 30 concerts. For the next two years, there will not be as many each year. Aleksandersen suggests that 15 to 20 concerts a year hold. August 2025 is therefore the end. But Aleksandersen has no plans to retire completely after that. – I have an idea, call it two records. Which has 10–12 songs and covers and comes on CD and cassette. The whole package. Liberation from the touring life means that I can be more in the studio, he concludes. Åge Aleksandersen will not only Live life after his time with the Association is over. He still has a desire to make new music from his office at Brattøra in Trondheim. Photo: Morten Andersen / news
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Åge Aleksandersen ends his concert career in 2025 – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
