The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 2018 in Norwegian music.

Events

January

* 11 – The 17th All Ears festival started in

Oslo Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of ...

(January 11–14). * 19 – The 37th annual Djangofestival started on Cosmopolite in

(January 19–20). * 25 – The 31st

Nordlysfestivalen The Northern Lights Music Festival or Nordlysfestivalen (established 1987 in Tromsø, Norway) is a Norwegian music festival, held in January–February. In 2012 The Northern Lights Festival celebrated their 25th anniversary. Biography Since t ...

started in

Tromsø Tromsø (, , ; se, Romsa ; fkv, Tromssa; sv, Tromsö) is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the Tromsø (city), city of Tromsø. Tromsø lies ...

(January 25 – February 4). * 30 – The Barokkfest started in

Trondheim Trondheim ( , , ; sma, Tråante), historically Kaupangen, Nidaros and Trondhjem (), is a city and municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. As of 2020, it had a population of 205,332, was the third most populous municipality in Norway, and ...

(January 30 – February 4). * 31 ** The 7th

Bodø Jazz Open Bodø Jazz Open is a jazz festival, presented at the end of January every year since 2011. The aim of the festival is to bring together local, national and international artists for collaborations, jam sessions and workshops. Every year between 20 ...

started in

Bodø Bodø (; smj, Bådåddjo, sv, Bodö) is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Salten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Bodø (which is also the capital of Nordland count ...

(January 31 – February 3). ** The 13th

Ice Music Festival Ice Music Festival Norway (initiated 2006 in Geilo, Norway) is a "glacial instrument" festival founded by Terje Isungset together with Pål Knutsson Medhus. Isungset had the idea behind the festival and remains the creative director. The festival ...

started in Geilo (January 31 – February 4).

February

* 1 – The 20th Polarjazz Festival started in

Longyearbyen Longyearbyen (, locally �lɔ̀ŋjɑrˌbyːən "The Longyear Town") is the world's northernmost settlement with a population greater than 1,000 and the largest inhabited area of Svalbard, Norway. It stretches along the foot of the left bank ...

Svalbard Svalbard ( , ), also known as Spitsbergen, or Spitzbergen, is a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. North of mainland Europe, it is about midway between the northern coast of Norway and the North Pole. The islands of the group range ...

(February 1–4). * 3 – The Oslo Operaball was arranged in

(February 3–4). * 21 – The Hemsingfestivalen started in Aurdal (February 21–25). * 23 –

Kirsti Huke Kirsti Huke (born March 6, 1977 in Melhus, Norway) is a Norwegian singer, and composer. Huke was best recognized as the lead singer for Norwegian doom metal/experimental band The 3rd and the Mortal in the final line-up. She is also known from c ...

received the 2017

Radka Toneff Memorial Award Radka Toneff Memorial Award (established in 1993) is a Norwegian award given to individuals who are acting in the spirit of Norwegian jazz singer Radka Toneff. The award amounts to 25,000 Norwegian kroner, and is managed by the Radka Toneff Memo ...

. * 25 – The 2017 Spellemannprisen awards proceeded with Mari Boine as the 2017 honorary award recipient.

March

* 1 – The By:Larm Festival started in

(March 1–3). * 7 – The Borealis Festival started in

Bergen Bergen (), historically Bjørgvin, is a city and municipality in Vestland county on the west coast of Norway. , its population is roughly 285,900. Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway. The municipality covers and is on the peninsula of ...

(March 7–11). * 9 – The 61st

Narvik Winter Festival Narvik Winter Festival, in Norwegian just (The Winter Festival Week), is an annual cultural festival with railway history platform in Narvik. It is based on stories, myths and facts from the construction time of the Narvik and Kiruna railway s ...

started in

Narvik ( se, Áhkanjárga) is the third-largest municipality in Nordland county, Norway, by population. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Narvik. Some of the notable villages in the municipality include Ankenesstranda, Ball ...

(March 9–18). * 10 – Alexander Rybak won Melodi Grand Prix and is the Norwegian representative in the international final. * 23 – The 45th

Vossajazz Vossajazz or Vossa Jazz (established 19 December 1973) is an international jazz festival in Voss, Norway, which takes place annually during the week before Easter, and which also includes concerts throughout the year. The festival has been led by ...

started in

Voss Voss () is a municipality and a traditional district in Vestland county, Norway. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Vossevangen. Other villages include Bolstadøyri, Borstrondi, Evanger, Kvitheim, Mjølfjell, Opphe ...

(March 23–25). * 29 – The Inferno Metal Festival started in

(March 29 – April 1).

April

* 18 – The Nidaros Bluesfestival started in

(April 18–23).

May

* 4 ** The

Balejazz Kviknes Hotel is a hotel, located by the Sognefjord in Sogndal Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The hotel has 195 rooms in total which are divided between two buildings. The historic building was completed in 1913 and has 25 rooms, while ...

started in

Balestrand Balestrand is a former municipality in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It was located on the northern shore of the Sognefjorden in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center was the village of Balestrand. Other villages in th ...

(May 4–6). ** The 29th

MaiJazz MaiJazz is the Stavanger International Jazz Festival in Stavanger, Norway. Since the first MaiJazz in 1989, the festival has presented both international and national musicians. About 200 volunteers organize 40 concerts on 20 venues in and aroun ...

started in

Stavanger Stavanger (, , American English, US usually , ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Norway. It is the fourth largest city and third largest metropolitan area in Norway (through conurbation with neighboring Sandnes) and the a ...

(May 4–9). * 9 –

AnJazz AnJazz or Hamar Jazz Festival is an annual jazz festival occurring at Hamar, Norway Hamar is a town in Hamar Municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. Hamar is the administrative centre of Hamar Municipality. It is located in the traditional ...

the Hamar Jazz Festival started at

Hamar Hamar is a List of cities in Norway, town in Hamar Municipality in Innlandet Counties of Norway, county, Norway. Hamar is the administrative centre of Hamar Municipality. It is located in the Districts of Norway, traditional region of Hedmarken. ...

(May 9–13). * 16 –

Hardanger Musikkfest Hardanger Musikkfest or The Hardanger Music Festival is an annual music festival. In November 2021, media wrote that it is scheduled for later that month. Previously it had been held every Pentecost since 1996. In June, Hardanger Musikkfest arrang ...

started at Hardanger (May 16–21). * 23 – The Festspillene i Bergen started in

(May 23 – June 6). * 25 – The 46th

Nattjazz Bergen International Jazz Festival or Nattjazz, is one of the largest jazz festivals of Norway. The festival has a musical profile with an emphasis on ethnic and contemporary jazz. It is held annually in late May, coinciding with Festspillene ...

started in

(May 26 – June 4).

June

* 2 – The National Music Day was arranged in

. * 8 – The Kråkeslottfestivalen started at

Senja or is an island in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway, Europe. With an area of , it is the second largest island in Norway (outside of the Svalbard archipelago). It has a wild, mountainous outer (western) side facing the Atlantic, and a mild ...

(June 8–10). * 12 ** The

Bergenfest Bergenfest (initiated 1993 in Bergen, Norway under the name OleBlues) started out as an intimate blues and Americana festival, situated at various venues in the city center of Bergen. Biography Bergenfest has since then grown into what is now o ...

started in

(June 12–16). ** The Norwegian Wood music festival started in

(June 12–16). * 26 – The Risør kammermusikkfest started in Risør (June 26 – July 1).

July

* 4 – The

Kongsberg Jazzfestival Kongsberg Jazz Festival or Kongsberg Jazzfestival is an international jazz festival that has been held annually in Kongsberg, Norway, since 1964. Artists Several worldwide great artists have visited Kongsberg during this festival; internation ...

opened at

Kongsberg Kongsberg () is a historical mining town and municipality in Buskerud, Viken county, Norway. The city is located on the river Numedalslågen at the entrance to the valley of Numedal. Kongsberg has been a centre of silver mining, arms production ...

consert (August 4–7). * 7 – The 22nd Skånevik Bluesfestival started in Skånevik, Norway, with

Jeff Beck Geoffrey Arnold Beck (born 24 June 1944) is an English rock guitarist. He rose to prominence with the Yardbirds and after fronted the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. In 1975, he switched to a mainly instrumental style, with a focus ...

as headliner (July 7 – 9). * 12 – The 17th

Stavernfestivalen Stavernfestivalen is a yearly music festival held in Stavern, Norway at Larvik Golf Arena. The festival takes place in July, and in 2019 there were roughly 75 000 attendees over a three-day period. The very first festival took place in 2001, l ...

started in

Stavern Stavern is a small water-side town in Larvik municipality in Vestfold County, Norway. It is south of the city of Larvik. Currently there are around 3,000 inhabitants in Stavern. It is a small town where tourism is one of the most important sou ...

(August 12–14). * 16 – The Moldejazz starts in

Molde Molde () is a town and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Romsdal. It is located on the Romsdal Peninsula, surrounding the Fannefjord and Moldefjord. The administrative centre of the m ...

(August 16–21). * 19 – The Slottsfjell Festival started in Tønsberg (July 19–21). * 25 – The 23rd Canal Street Festival started in

Arendal Arendal () is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Agder counties of Norway, county in southeastern Norway. Arendal belongs to the Districts of Norway, region of Southern Norway, Sørlandet. The administrative centre of the munici ...

(July 25–28).

August

* 7 – The 20th Øyafestivalen started in

(August 7–11). * 8 – The 32nd Sildajazz starts in

Haugesund Haugesund () is a municipality on the North Sea in Rogaland county, Norway. While the population is greater in the neighboring Karmøy municipality, the main commercial and economic centre of the Haugaland region in northern Rogaland and southern ...

(August 8–12). * 9 – The

Tromsø Jazz Festival Tromsø Jazz Festival (initiated 2006 in Tromsø, Norway under the name Barents Jazz) started out as an annual winter festival, but was transformed to an annual summer festival in 2016. Biography The festival was arranged for the first time in ...

started in

(August 9 – 12). * 12 – The 33rd

Oslo Jazzfestival Oslo International Jazz Festival (Oslo Jazzfestival, established 1986 in Norway) is a Norwegian music event, held in August, with a focus on music form the jazz genre, performed on stages in Oslo. History The pilot project (1984–1985) was init ...

starts in

(August 12–18). * 17 – The

Parkenfestivalen Parkenfestivalen is an outdoors festival that takes place in Bodø, Norway every year in August. This has been a tradition ever since 2006, and the festival only gets bigger every year. The festival is held in a park called Rensåsparken. In the b ...

starts in

(August 17–18). * 30 ** The 14th

Punktfestivalen Punkt International Music Festival or Punktfestivalen has been held every year in Kristiansand, Norway since 2005. Biography Punktfestivalen was established by the musicians Jan Bang and Erik Honoré. They have collaborated from 1980, with the ...

opens in

Kristiansand Kristiansand is a seaside resort city and municipality in Agder county, Norway. The city is the fifth-largest and the municipality the sixth-largest in Norway, with a population of around 112,000 as of January 2020, following the incorporation ...

(August 30 - September 1, ). ** The Blues in Hell starts in

Stjørdal Stjørdal () or is a municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Stjørdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Stjørdal, also called Stjørdalshalsen. Some of the villages in the municipalit ...

(August 30 – September 3). * Nathalie Stutzmann is appointed as new chief conductor for

Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra The Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra (KSO, Norwegian: ''Kristiansand Symfoniorkester'') is a Norwegian symphony orchestra based in Kristiansand. The KSO performs its concerts primarily at the Kilden Performing Arts Centre, and also at Kristians ...

. The French conductor is engaged for three years, and succeeds

Giordano Bellincampi Giordano Bellincampi (born 1965) is an Italian-born Danish conductor and trombonist. He is the Music Director of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. Previous position have included General Music Director of the Duisburg Philharmonic, Chief Conduc ...

September

* The Granittrock Festival starts in Grorud.

October

* 18 – The 35th

DølaJazz Dølajazz is a Norwegian jazz festival held at Lillehammer in October each year. The festival was established in 1977 and first held in 1978. In its first year, the festival was the fourth largest Norwegian jazz festival after Moldejazz, Kongsberg ...

starts in

Lillehammer Lillehammer () is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. Some of the more notable villages in the municip ...

(October 18 – 21). * 27 – The Osafestivalen starts in

(October 26 – 28). * 30 – The

Oslo World Music Festival Oslo World Music Festival (established in 1994 by the name Verden i Norden in Oslo, Norway) is an annual festival presenting music from all over the world, with a primary focus on Asia, Africa and Latin America. History The festival started as a co ...

started in

(October 30 – November 4).

November

* 14 – The

Vardø ( fi, Vuoreija, fkv, Vuorea, se, Várggát) is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county in the extreme northeastern part of Norway. Vardø is the easternmost town in Norway, more to the east than Saint Petersburg or Istanbul. The administra ...

Blues Festival (Blues i Vintermørket) starts (November 14 – 18).

December

* 11 – The Nobel Peace Prize Concert is held at

Telenor Arena Telenor Arena, sometimes referred to as Fornebu Arena, is a multi-purpose indoor arena located at Fornebu in Bærum, outside Oslo, Norway. It serves as a venue for a variety of events, including concerts, exhibitions, action shows, family shows ...

Albums released

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

New Artists

Birgitta Elisa Oftestad Birgitta Elisa Oftestad (born 12 May 2002) is a Norwegian cellist and winner of the 2018 Virtuos competition. Biography Oftestad was born in Oslo, started playing cello at the age of 5, and is a student at Barratt Due Institute of Music Th ...

, classical cellist and winner of the

NRK NRK, an abbreviation of the Norwegian ''Norsk Rikskringkasting Aksjeselskap, AS'', generally expressed in English as the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, is the Norwegian government-owned radio and television public broadcasting company, and ...

talent award Virtuos.

Deaths

; January * 29 –

Asmund Bjørken Asmund Bjørken (19 August 1933 – 29 January 2018) was a Norwegian musician who played the accordion and saxophone in the genres of jazz and folk. He was self-taught. Career Bjørken was part of ''Harry Waagens Orchestra'', a central band on ...

, jazz and traditional folk accordionist and saxophonist (born

1933 Events January * January 11 – Sir Charles Kingsford Smith makes the first commercial flight between Australia and New Zealand. * January 17 – The United States Congress votes in favour of Philippines independence, against the wis ...

). * 30 –

Bjørn Boysen Bjørn Boysen (3 December 1943 – 30 January 2018) was a Norwegian organist and educator. He was born in Oslo, and studied at the Oslo Conservatory of Music with Arild Sandvold, and in Copenhagen with Finn Viderø. He made his concert debut ...

, organist (born

1943 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 1 – WWII: The Soviet Union announces that 22 German divisions have been encircled at Stalingrad, with 175,000 killed and 137,650 captured. * January 4 – ...

). ; February * 4 –

Leif Rygg Leif Rygg (3 May 1940 – 4 February 2018) was a Norwegian hardingfele fiddle player and folk music instructor. Rygg was born in Voss and learned traditional fiddle playing from Sigbjørn Bernhoft Osa, Lars Skjervheim and Anders Kjerland. His al ...

, traditional folk Hardanger fiddler (born

1940 A calendar from 1940 according to the Gregorian calendar, factoring in the dates of Easter and related holidays, cannot be used again until the year 5280. Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January *January ...

). * 5 –

Ove Stokstad Ove Stokstad (9 August 1939 – 5 February 2018) was a Norwegian printmaker and jazz musician. He was born in Trondheim to Eva Prior Bergh and Rolf Colbjørnsen Stokstad, and was married to textile artist Gudrun Skeie Stokstad, who died in ...

, graphic artist, jazz clarinetist and saxophonist (born

1939 This year also marks the start of the Second World War, the largest and deadliest conflict in human history. Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 1 ** Third Reich *** Jews are forbidden to ...

). * 16 – Tor Brevik, composer (born

1932 Events January * January 4 – The British authorities in India arrest and intern Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel. * January 9 – Sakuradamon Incident (1932), Sakuradamon Incident: Korean nationalist Lee Bong-chang fails in his effort ...

). ; March * 9 – Ole H. Bremnes, folk singer and poet (born

1930 Events January * January 15 – The Moon moves into its nearest point to Earth, called perigee, at the same time as its fullest phase of the Lunar Cycle. This is the closest moon distance at in recent history, and the next one will be ...

). * 18 –

Håkon Banken Haakon, also spelled Håkon (in Norway), Hakon (in Denmark), Håkan (in Sweden),Oxford Dictionary of First Names Patrick Hanks, Kate Hardcastle, Flavia Hodges - 2006 "Håkon Norwegian: from the Old Norse personal name Hákon or Háukon, from hā ' ...

, singer (born

1949 Events January * January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2022. * January 2 – Luis ...

) * 31 – Frode Viken, guitarist and songwriter, D.D.E. (born

1955 Events January * January 3 – José Ramón Guizado becomes president of Panama. * January 17 – , the first nuclear-powered submarine, puts to sea for the first time, from Groton, Connecticut. * January 18– 20 – Battle of Yijian ...

). ; April ; May * 11 – Mikhail Alperin, Ukrainian born jazz pianist, member of the

Moscow Art Trio Moscow Art Trio (established in 1990) is a Russian trio comprising Arkady Shilkloper (French horn & flugelhorn), Misha Alperin (piano & vocals) and Sergey Starostin (vocals, clarinet & folkreeds), performing in the Classical/Jazz/Traditional mu ...

, professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music (born

1956 Events January * January 1 – The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian Condominium ends in Sudan. * January 8 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. evangelical Christian Missionary, missionaries, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, Jim ...

). ; June ; July * 5 – Bjørn Lie-Hansen, opera singer (born

1937 Events January * January 1 – Anastasio Somoza García becomes President of Nicaragua. * January 5 – Water levels begin to rise in the Ohio River in the United States, leading to the Ohio River flood of 1937, which continues into Fe ...

). * 25 –

Roald Stensby Roald is a village in Giske Municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is located on the northern part of the island Vigra. Roald is located about north of the city centre of Ålesund. It is connected to the mainland via two ...

, rock singer (born

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2018 In Norwegian Music Norwegian music Norwegian

Music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect ...

2010s in Norwegian music

Events

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Albums released

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

New Artists

Deaths

See also

References