Date
Thursday 31 July 2008 — Sunday 3 August 2008
Location
Notodden
Norway
Link
Description
The Best of People and Blues
At 20 years young, this European festival has become one of the most well known Blues stops in the world. When this festival began in a hotel ballroom, there were no Blues festivals in Norway, today there are at least 70. There were no Blues societies in Norway, today there are nearly 80 with over 8,000 members. Because it consistently brings over 30,000 fans to Notodden (population 12,000), this festival has won tourism awards in Norway and made the Blues cool in Norway.
The musical fireworks aren't always on a stage. Downtown streets are covered with street musicians like Dr. Harmonica or the very talented father-daughter pair who play to large crowds from morning to night each day of the festival. This festival turns every available site into a "Blues Camp," a Woodstock-like gathering of vintage campers and tents that sprout up on any available surface. According to the promoters, the festival rents out nearly 4,000 campsites for the event, while another group in the town rents out 4,000 more, meaning there is a total of nearly 8,000 fans who rent campsites and party each year.
Because this festival runs for four days and the shows begin at 10 p.m. each night, musicians have time each day to relax with friends, to be part of the Festival's workshop series, or to take part in the recreational activities that the festival and region offer. For example, Sue Foley and her band took advantage of the free, 45-minute glider flights over Notodden. Or Super Chikan was invited to go fishing with his guide's family one afternoon. Or Teresa James and her husband Terry Wilson had time to spend an hour hiking around the lake and hotel.
One area that sets this festival apart from many other Blues festivals is its Talking Blues Workshop series held Friday and Saturday afternoon in the town library. Fans are provided the opportunity to get up close and personal with their favorite performers and hear their personal stories in the Festival's intimate meet-and-greet sessions held each day.
Line-up (49)
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