# 2004 in Norwegian music

The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 2004 in Norwegian music.

## Events
### January

* 1 – The pop/country singer Kurt Nilsen, whom won the first season of the Norwegian version of the reality television show Pop Idol in May 2003, wins the World Idol competition which was a one-off international version of Pop Idol featuring winners of the various national Idol shows.
* 22 – The 7th Polarjazz started in Longyearbyen, Svalbard (January 22 – 25).
* 30 – The 23rd annual Djangofestival started on Cosmopolite in Oslo (January 30 – 31).

### February

* 5 – Kristiansund Opera Festival opened (February 5 – 21).

### March

* 6 – The election of the participant for Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004.
* 12 – The annual By:Larm started in Oslo (March 12 – 15).

### April

* 2
** The 31st Vossajazz started at Voss (April 2 – 4).
** Magne Thormodsæter was awarded Vossajazzprisen 2004.
* 3 – Svein Folkvord performs the commissioned work Across for Vossajazz 2004.
* 23 – Ole Blues started in Bergen (April 23 – May 1).

### May

* 11 – The 15th MaiJazz started in Stavanger (May 11 – 15).
* 19
** The start of Bergen International Music Festival Festspillene i Bergen (May 19 – 30).
** The 32nd Nattjazz started in Bergen (May 19 – 29).

### June

* 16 – The Norwegian Wood started in Oslo (June 16 – 19).
* 30 – The 40th Kongsberg Jazzfestival started in Kongsberg (June 30 – July 3).

### July

* 12 – The 44th Moldejazz started in Molde (July 12 – 17).
* 20 – Maria Mena performs "You're the Only One" on Late Show with David Letterman.

### August

* 5 – The 17th Notodden Blues Festival started in Notodden (August 5 – 8).
* 9 – The 19th Oslo Jazzfestival started in Oslo (August 9 – 15).
* 11 – The 18th Sildajazz started in Haugesund (August 11 – 15).

### September

* 1 – The Trondheim Jazz Festival started in Trondheim (September 1 – 5).
* 14 – The DølaJazz started in Lillehammer (September 14 – 17).
* 30 – The 2nd Ekkofestival started in Bergen (September 30 – Oktober 3.

### Oktober

* 3 – The Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival started in Oslo (Oktober 3 – 17).
* 26 – The 3rd Insomnia Festival started in Tromsø (October 26 – 28).

### November

* 2 – The Oslo World Music Festival started in Oslo (November 2 – 7).

### December

* 11– The Nobel Peace Prize Concert was held in Oslo Spektrum.

## Albums released
### August

| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes | Ref. |
| 30 | Diverted Travels | Jon Balke & Magnetic North Orchestra | ECM Records | Produced by Jon Balke, Manfred Eicher | |

### September

| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes | Ref. |
| 27 | In Praise of Dreams | Jan Garbarek | ECM Records | Produced by Jan Garbarek, Manfred Eicher | |

### Unknown date

A

#### Eivind Aarset

* Connected (Jazzland Recordings)
S

#### Karl Seglem

* New North (NorCD)

## Deaths
### January

* 14 – Terje Bakken, rock singer known as "Valfar", Windir (born 1978).

### February

* 20 – Ørnulf Gulbransen, classical flautist (born 1916).

### May

* 13 – Kjell Bækkelund, classical pianist (born 1930).

### July

* 2 – Carsten Klouman, jazz pianist and band leader (born 1923).

### October

* 2 – Bjørnar Andresen, jazz bassist (born 1945).
* 13 – Erik Bye, journalist, artist, author, film actor, folk singer and radio and television personality (born 1926).
* 16 – Jon Bratt Otnes, opera singer and diplomat (born 1919).

### December

* 21 – Arild Nyquist, singer, author, and visual artist (born 1937).
* 26 – Sigurd Køhn, jazz saxophonist, tsunami (born 1959).