# Success for Norwegian Blues in London: Video, Photos

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2019/11/14/success-for-norwegian-blues-in-london-video-photos/
- Published: 2019-11-14T22:58:49+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**The weekend of November 8-10, the Norwegian blues community celebrated itself 
in a large-scale blues invasion of London. **

The finale was in the very large parlor of concert venues in London, and perhaps
in the world, namely the Royal Albert Hall. And what a brilliant weekend it was!
Both artists, organizers and the audience beamed about the race after the final 
note died out on Sunday night. The Norwegian Blues Adventure delivered tremendously!

Success for Norwegian blues weekend in London

To achieve something like this, you need a man with big and crazy ideas, as well
as a dedicated team that can put your dream to life. Long-time player in the Norwegian
blues community, Eric Malling, had the idea, and the company Koment, Norwegian Blues
Union and many volunteers provided the implementation.

**Blues in church**

Friday night there was a blues concert for the Norwegian Seamen’s Church in London.
Eric Malling visited London on May 17 to promote the event for London-resident Norwegians.
That trip led to a good relationship with the people at Seamen’s Church, so why 
not start right there?

![Suksess for norsk blueshelg i London](https://i0.wp.com/bluesnews.no/Files/Images/
NBA%20London%2019/royalalberthall_alle.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

The Seaman’s Church in London is located in the Bermondsey area, and is an important
point of reference for Norwegians living in London. The small church turned out 
to house a nice lounge area, and further into is the church room itself. The atmosphere
was very nice and the crowd was a mix of visiting blues fans and locals. The music
this evening, the duo Jolly Jumper & Big Moe and Reidar Larsen, together with Arne
Skage, stood for. They each did their own section before finishing with Mahalia 
Jackson’s Go Tell it on the Mountain.

And it is almost needless to mention that the evening ended with the venue being
sold out for beer!

![](https://i0.wp.com/bluesnews.no/Files/Images/NBA%20London%2019/jolly-Moe_london.
jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

Jolly Jumper & Big Moe at the concert at the Seamen’s Church in London. (Photo: 
Per Ole Hagen).

**Vorspiel on Subterania**

Saturday was the day before the day, and as it should be heard and should be time
for vorpiel. This evening it was the Norwegian Blues Union that was responsible 
for the program and the event, which was held at the Subterania rock club in the
Portobello area. There were two concerts that day, both at 4pm and 8pm, with the
same program.
 In the first part of the concert, this year’s union band, Maldito,
played before Pristine, Reidar Larsen with band and Eric “Slim” Zahl & The South
West Swingers were in the fire. In the second part of the concert was Notodden Blues
Festival Roadshow husband, while various artists guest on stage. In turn, J.T. Lauritsen,
Daniel Eriksen, Hans Bollandsås and Helene Misund, Trond Ytterbø, Åste Sem, Spoonful
of Blues and Joakim Tinderholt.

Chaplain Jostein Forsberg made sure to tie it all together effectively.

For us in the audience it was a fantastic concert, with a lot of varied music. The
exchanges between the artists went fast, making sure people didn’t lose the mood
and thread along the way. The room was good, with stands down in front of the stage
as well as a gallery with both standing and seating upstairs.

![](https://i0.wp.com/bluesnews.no/Files/Images/NBA%20London%2019/subterania1.jpg?
w=640&ssl=1)

On stage at Subterania: Arne Skage, Morten Omlid, Joakim Tuinderholt, Jostein Forsberg,
Tony Caddle and Daniel Eriksen. Below: Jostein Forsberg tied together the many musical
elements. (Photo: Per Ole Hagen).

![](https://i0.wp.com/bluesnews.no/Files/Images/NBA%20London%2019/subterania_jostein.
jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

Pristine delivered a sparkling performance. (Photo: Per Ole Hagen).

Well back at the hotel, no one would go to bed, and we are not surprised if turnover
records were set at the bar in the early night. The delicious blues caramel we had
all wanted to suck a little extra time on!

**Norwegian show in London’s Great Hall**

As Åge (Aleksandersen) sang in his big hit from 1975, it is far back to the Royal
Albert Hall for Norwegian bands. Sunday night in London broke this myth as Norwegian
musicians entered the prestigious stage and delivered a concert night that will 
not be overstated at first.

![](https://i0.wp.com/bluesnews.no/Files/Images/NBA%20London%2019/subterania_pristine.
jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

Royal Albert Hall was erected in memory of Queen Victoria’s husband, German Prince
Albert. Victoria loved her husband dearly and was crushed when he died in 1861, 
just 42 years old. For the rest of her life, Victoria wore mourning clothes. The
hall was inaugurated in 1871, and nothing should be saved during the construction.
Even today, the concert arena is sensational. The stage is framed in deep red velvet,
as well as seats at several heights. There was also seating on the floor in front
of the stage.

Around the hall there are walkways all around, and on the walls you can see pictures
from live performances in the hall. There is pomp and splendor for all the money,
and a very beautiful hall. Most of the audience came early, and took the opportunity
to look around and visit one of several bars.

![](https://i0.wp.com/bluesnews.no/Files/Images/NBA%20London%2019/royal_ericmallingscena.
jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

Initiator of the big event in London, Eric Malling, thanks the audience and artists
from the scene. (Photo: Per Ole Hagen).

Eric Malling had pulled in the fine station for the occasion, posing in sober tuxedo,
which was just right. He welcomed Royal Albert Hall and The Norwegian Blues Adventure,
and was probably influenced by the moment. He left the stage to Vidar Busk, who,
wearing newly purchased white suit from Camden, started tonight’s show with his 
song I Came Here To Rock – and then the fun started.

Amund Maarud served as chaplain this evening and was also constantly watching and
listening to the guitar. As a “narrator” between some elements, we could hear Bill
Troiani’s voice.

![](https://i0.wp.com/bluesnews.no/Files/Images/NBA%20London%2019/royalalberthall_busk.
jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

Vidar Busk set the standard for the show with the opening song “I Came Here To Rock”.(
Photo: Per Ole Hagen).

The different artists played one to four songs each. The musicians went on and off
the stage, visiting each other’s performances. Besides Vidar, Amund Maarud, Kurt
Slevigen, Bjørn Berge, Trudy & Dave, Ronnie Jacobsen, Terje Nordgarden, Magnus Berg,
Kid Andersen, Tor E. Bekken, Richard Gjems, Tora Dahle Aagård and Knut Reiersrud
played.

Drums and percussion took care of Henrik Maarud and Martin Windstad, and the bass
job was shared between Bill Troiani and Rune Endal. A wonderful wind series with
Bendik Brænne on saxophone, Petter Marius Gundersen on trumpet and Hans Foyn Friis
on trombone color for many of the artists.

Like the night before, the music mix worked optimally. The scenes changed lightning
fast, and the musical got the audience everything from americana to both old and
more modern blues. The sound was very good and the sound in the beautiful hall was
adventurous.

Best of all, perhaps the great soundscape came to light when Dr. Bekken and Richard
Gjems played their song Midisjollin, based on folk tunes from Finnskogen. With just
piano and harmonica they enthralled the audience with extraordinarily beautiful 
music, and were able to raise the evening’s most intense applause.

![](https://i0.wp.com/bluesnews.no/Files/Images/NBA%20London%2019/gitarister_rah.
jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

Guitar power in “The Hall”: From v. Amund Maarud, Knut Reiersrud, Kurt Slevigen,
Vidar Busk, Ronnie Jacobsen, Kid Andersen and Tora Dahle Aagård. (Photo: Per Ole
Hagen).

The technical was supported by Jan Olav Sandsmark (sound), Per Marius Larsen (light),
Pål Emil Storm-Berg (backline) and Stig Kamonen (monitor and technical coordination),
and everything worked very well.

The music lasted from 7pm to 10:30 pm, including a half hour break. At the end, 
the program cracked a bit, and the final song on the set program, Vidar Busks Stompin‘
Our Feet With Joy, had to be dropped, due to very stiff fines if the artists exceeded
the agreed time. All in all, everyone was well pleased with what had been served
from the stage, and broad smiles and the very large superlatives characterized the
audience.

Chaplain Maarud thanked for the evening, and exclaimed that “I will never forget
this”. And those words probably cover the feeling everyone else in the hall and 
on stage left with. A slightly devotional feeling of having been involved in something
big and unique, right one night for the history books.

![Publikum i spektakulære Royal Albert Hall.](https://i0.wp.com/bluesnews.no/Files/
Images/NBA%20London%2019/royalalberthall_publ.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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