|
| The world's northernmost alternative newspaper |
| Local | Diversions | Polar Regions | World | Opinion | Blog | Photos | Video | Audio | Games | Resources |
| Frigid festival a hot ticket Polarjazz passes sell out in record time; a few shows still open
If you're reading this, it's probably to find out what you're already going to or what you're about to miss. All advance tickets and passes for this year's Polarjazz festival sold out in record time, leaving only a few performances away from the main venue open to listeners hoping to buy tickets at the door. "We started much earlier advertising the program on our Web site and updated every week," wrote Helen Flå, a member of the festival's board, in an e-mail interview. "Besides, we like to think that the festival is more and more regarded as a professional festival." A lineup of popular musicians, some new and some returning to the 12th annual festival, certainly didn't hurt. Among the headliners is Sivert Høyem, who for years was the leader of Madrugada, promoted as "Norway’s most successful rock band ever – give or take a-ha’s icy pop." He released his third solo album, Moon Landing, last year and will play Thursday night at the Radisson Blu Polar Hotel, where all major concerts are scheduled. Convincing Høyem to play at the world's northernmost jazz festival in mid-winter proved an easy sell. "I've been to Svalbard once before, with Madrugada back in March 2000," he wrote in an e-mail. "I loved it there, I thought it was like no other place I'd been before, so it was not hard to convince me to go again. I don't care if it's dark and cold, I'm from Northern Norway, and anyway, Oslo is way colder than Svalbard these days." "I've played at lots of jazz festivals before, it's really not that unique to have rock acts appear at jazz festivals anymore. It's all just music anyway, and I listen to all kinds of music." Among the returning Polarjazz musicians is Katzenjammer, an all-female quartet that will play its eclectic variety of instruments and styles during two Friday shows. They proved to be one of the most popular acts at the 2009 festival and band member Solveig Heilg said the warm feelings were mutual. "It's a dream come true," she said after their concert. "We've always wanted to come to Svalbard. It's almost like landing on the moon." Høyem said he planned to arrive a day early to see the area, a common occurrence among musicians who take advantage of the rare opportunity to go dog-sledding or on long-distance snowscooter trips during a gig. The festival also attracts some visitors from the mainland and distant countries, although officials said most tickets are being sold to locals. Concerts at the Radisson are tightly packed affairs, limited to about 400 people who squeeze into the main dining area are virtually all of the chairs have been removed. Those without tickets can see short midday performances free at noon Fridayat Lompensenteret and 1 p.m. Saturday at Svalbardbutikken (when a lavish "tropical" display of fruits and vegetables will also be on display). There are also three pay-at-the-door concerts: a "vorspiel" of various music by more than 70 local residents at 9 p.m. Wednesday, a jazz lunch performance by several artists at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barentz Pub and a 5 p.m. Sunday concert by the band Treasure at Svalbard Church. Information about this year's performers, including links to their sites, is available at this translation of the official festival Web site. Other information and coverage of past festivals is available at www.polarjazz.no.
Wednesday, Feb. 3 Thursday, Feb. 4 Friday, Feb. 5 Saturday, Feb. 6 Sunday, Feb. 7 All Radisson events Feb. 4-6 sold out
Published in the Feb. 2, 2010, print edition. |
||
All contents copyright 2009 by Icepeople or other copyright holders. Icepeople material may be reproduced elsewhere free of charge for noncommercial use. Contact Mark Sabbatini at marksabbatini@yahoo.com for information about anything else of seeming importance.
Home | Local | Diversions | Polar Regions | World | Opinion | Blog | Photos | Video | Games | Resources |
