World renowned musical entertainers Sting, Shaggy and A-ha helped 2018’s edition of the Kongsberg Jazz Festival to become highest attended event within the festival’s 54-year history.
Almost 40,000 tickets were sold to the 4 day music extravaganza; smashing the previous attendance record set in 2016.
STING, SHAGGY & A-ha
7,000 souls held tickets for Thursday’s Kirktorget concert featuring both Sting & Shaggy, while 12,000 enjoyed Friday’s A-ha concert.
Kai Gustavsen, Kongsberg Jazz Festival Director, gave comment upon this past weekend’s event, saying; “What’s pleasing is that the club concerts featuring strong names like Marius Neset, Chick Corea Akoustic Band and Gurls also saw packed attendance.”
Minister Trine Skei Grande (V) opened this year’s music festival Wednesday, July 4th. That same day, composer and saxophonist Eirik Hegdal won the festival’s major music prize of NOK 200,000.
Kongsberg Jazz Festival or Kongsberg Jazzfestival is an international jazz festival that has been held annually in Kongsberg, Norway, since 1964.
The festival is also an opportunity for young talented musicians to perform, and many now well-known Norwegian jazz-artists have begun their career in Kongsberg.
The Kongsberg Jazz Award (also called the DNB award, established in 1996) is an award given to the most prominent Norwegian jazz artists of the year at the festival.
© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today
