# 2016 in Norwegian music

The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 2016 in Norwegian music.

## Events
### January

* 21 – Ice Music Festival started in Geilo (January 21–24).
* 27 – Bodø Jazz Open started in Bodø (January 27–30).
* 29 – Nordlysfestivalen started in Tromsø (January 29 – February 7).

### February

* 4
** The Polarjazz Festival 2016 started in Longyearbyen (February 4–7).
** Kristiansund Opera Festival opened (February 4–20).
* 5 – Knut Kristiansen and Bergen Big Band's release concert for the album Kuria Suite at Verftet in Bergen.
* 7 – Oslo Operaball was arranged in Oslo (February 7).
* 16 – Andreas Loven's release concert for the album District Six (Losen Records) at Victoria – National Jazz Scene in Oslo.
* 17 – Uhørt! – Sund jazz program on tour at Victoria – National Jazz Scene in Oslo.
* 27 – The 54th edition of the Norwegian national Melodi Grand Prix final will select Norway's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.

### March

* 2 – The By:Larm started in Oslo (March 2–5).
* 3
** Frode Alnæs' release concert for the album Kanestrøm (Øra Fonogram) at Victoria – National Jazz Scene in Oslo.
** Vinterjazzfestivalen started in Fredrikstad (March 3–6).
** Oslo International Church Music Festival 2016 opened in Oslo (March 3–13).
* 4 – Narvik Winter Festival started (March 4–13).
* 18 – Vossajazz started in Voss (March 18–20).
* 19
** Øyvind Skarbø was awarded the 2016 Vossajazzprisen.
** Nils Økland performs Glødetrådar, the commissioned work for Vossajazz 2016.
* 23 – Inferno Metal Festival 2016 started in Oslo (March 23–26).

### April

* 21 – Nidaros Blues Festival opened in Trondheim (April 21–24).
* 22 – SoddJazz started in Inderøy Municipality, Nord-Trøndelag (April 22–26).
* 28 – Karmøygeddon Metal Festival started in Karmøy Municipality (April 28–30).

### May

* 2 – Trondheim Jazz Festival started (May 2 – 12).
* 3 – MaiJazz 2016 started in Stavanger (May 3 – 7).
* 4 – AnJazz the Hamar Jazz Festival started at Hamar (May 4 – 7).
* 25 – The Festspillene i Bergen 2016 started (May 25 – June 8).
* 26 – The Nattjazz 2016 started in Bergen (May 26 – June 3).

### June

* 2 – Christian Grøvlen is awarded the Robert Levins Pianistpris, a memorial prize, in Oslo by Mona Levin.
* 15 – Bergenfest 2016 with headliner Sigur Rós (June 15 – 18).

### July

* 6
** Kongsberg Jazzfestival 2016 opened with Pat Metheny consert (August 6 – 9).
** Susanna Wallumrød was recipient of the Kongsberg Jazz Award or DNB.prisen 2016 at the Kongsberg Jazzfestival.
* 18 – Moldejazz 2016 started with Ola Kvernberg as artist in residence (August 18 – 23).

### August

* 3 – The 29th Notodden Blues Festival start in Notodden (August 3–7).
* 4 – The 22nd Hemnesjazz started in Hemnesberget ( August 4–7).
* 9 – The 18th Øyafestivalen started in Oslo ( August 9–13).
* 10
** The 5th Kids in Jazz festival started in Oslo as part of the Oslo Jazzfestival (August 10–14).
** The 30th Sildajazz started in Haugesund (August 10–16).
* 11 – The Tromsø Jazz Festival started in Tromsø (August 11 – 14).
* 14 – The 31st Oslo Jazzfestival started in Oslo with opening concert by Jan Garbarek Group featuring Trilok Gurtu (August 14 – 20).

### September

* 4 – The 11th Punktfestivalen started in Kristiansand ( September 4–6).

### October

* 13 – The 33rd DølaJazz started in Lillehammer ( October 13–16).

### November

* 9 – The Vardø Blues Festival (Blues i Vintermørket) started (November 9 – 13).

### December

* 11 – The Nobel Peace Prize Concert was held at Telenor Arena.
* 29 – The 11th RIBBEjazz starts in Lillestrøm.

## Albums released
### January

| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes |
| 22 | Abbath | Abbath | Season of Mist | |
| 22 | Klangkammer 2 | Stian Omenås | NorCD | Executive producer Karl Seglem |
| 29 | Momento | Ayumi Tanaka Trio | AMP Records | |
| 29 | What Was Said | Tord Gustavsen, Simin Tander, Jarle Vespestad | ECM | Produced by Manfred Eicher |

### February

| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes |
| 5 | Kuria Suite | Knut Kristiansen and Bergen Big Band | Grappa | |
| 11 | District Six | Andreas Loven | Losen | |
| 12 | Warp | Jon Balke | ECM | Produced by Jon Balke and Manfred Eicher |
| 12 | Here Be Monsters | Motorpsycho | Rune Grammofon | Produced by Bent Sæther |
| 14 | Story Of I | Myrna | Tomtom & Braza | |
| 19 | Stifinner | Tone Hulbækmo | Heilo | |
| 26 | Eastern Smiles | Hanna Paulsberg Concept | ODIN | |

### March

| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes |
| 3 | Kanestrøm | Frode Alnæs | Øra Fonogram | |
| 3 | Opus 15, Sonatas and Variations for Guitar by Mauro Giuliani and Fernando Sor | Njål Vindenes | On It | |
| 11 | All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend | Aurora | Decca, Glassnote | |
| 11 | Culturen | Skadedyr | Hubro Records | International release in May 2016 |
| 25 | Let’s Dance | Per Oddvar Johansen | Edition Records | |
| 29 | Ført Bak Lyset | Tusmørke | Svart Records, Blek Kopi | Produced by Benedikt Momrak, Kristoffer Momrak, Lars Fredrik Frøislie |
| 30 | The Dance Upon My Grave | COKKO (Marte Eberson, Natalie Sandtorv, Ole Mofjell) | Playdate Records | |

### April

| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes |
| 1 | Bacteria Cult | Kaada/Patton | Ipecac Recordings | Produced by Kaada/Patton |
| 1 | Joni Was Right | Marit Larsen | Håndbrygg Records | EP |
| 1 | Ulv Ulv | Moskus | Hubro Records | Produced by Andreas Risanger Meland and Moskus. International release June 3, 2016. |
| 14 | Multiverse | Anette Askvik | Bird Records | |
| 15 | Thick as Thieves | Mongrel – Thomas Litleskare, Ayumi Tanaka, Stian Andersen, Tore Flatjord | Losen Records | |
| 22 | Kem Som Kan Å Leve | Building Instrument – Mari Kvien Brunvoll, Åsmund Weltzien, Øyvind Hegg-Lunde | Hubro Records | Produced by Building Instrument, Jørgen Træen |
| 22 | Triangle | Susanna | SusannaSonata | Produced by Susanna |
| 26 | Reflections | Trondheim Soloists | 2L Records | Produced by Lindberg Lyd AS |
| 29 | Amputation | Stian Westerhus | House of Mythology | |
| 29 | Sun Blowing | Danielsson Neset Lund | ACT Music | Produced by Morten Lund & Lars Danielsson, executive producer Siggi Loch |

### May

| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes |
| 13 | Nattesferd | Kvelertak | Roadrunner Records | Produces by Nick Terry |
| 13 | Cloud Nine | Kygo | Sony, Ultra | |
| 20 | Camp Echo | Highasakite | Propeller Recordings | Produces by Kåre Vestrheim. Recipient of the pop music Spellemannprisen |
| 20 | La Mascarade | Rolf Lislevand | ECM New Series – ECM 2288 | Produces by Manfred Eicher |
| 27 | Solitary Moon | Liv Stoveland | Ponca Jazz Records | |

### June

| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes | Ref. |
| 10 | Wolf Valley | Eyolf Dale | Edition Records | Nominated for the jazz Spellemannprisen | |
| 28 | Now Is The Time | Spirit In The Dark (Audun Erlien, Anders Engen, David Wallumrød) | Jazzland Recordings | Produced by Spirit In The Dark | |

### July

| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes |
| 9 | Sounds Of 3 | Per Mathisen Trio (including Frode Alnæs and Gergő Borlai) | Losen | |
| 29 | The Magical Forest | Sinikka Langeland | ECM | Produced by Manfred Eicher |
| 29 | Rubicon | Mats Eilertsen | ECM | Produced by Manfred Eicher |

### August

| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes |
| 5 | Apokaluptein | Live Maria Roggen | Kirkelig Kulturverksted | Produced by Live Maria Roggen |
| 19 | Femte | Isglem | NorCD | Produced by Karl Seglem |
| 19 | Norwegian Caravan | Come Shine – Kringkastingsorkesteret | Lawo Classics | Produced by Erlend Skomsvoll, Vegard Landaas. Nominated for the jazz Spellemannprisen |
| 26 | Air | Frode Haltli with the Trondheim Soloists and Arditti Quartet | ECM | Executive producer Manfred Eicher |
| 26 | Rumi Songs | Trygve Seim | ECM | |
| 26 | Snowmelt | Marius Neset | ACT | Produces by Marius Neset with Anton Eger |

### September

| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes |
| 2 | Buoyancy | Nils Petter Molvær | Okeh Records | Produced by Jo Berger Myhre, Nils Petter Molvær |
| 2 | Bushman's Fire | Bushman's Revenge | Rune Grammofon | |
| 2 | Jazz, Fritt Etter Hukommelsen | Bushman's Revenge | Rune Grammofon | |
| 2 | Salmeklang | Gjermund Larsen Trio | Heilo Records | Recipient of the composer Spellemannprisen |
| 4 | Personal Piano | Morten Qvenild | Hubro | |
| 9 | Atmosphères | Tigran Hamasyan, Arve Henriksen, Eivind Aarset, and Jan Bang | ECM Records | |
| 9 | Changing Tides | Lukas Zabulionis | Curling Legs | |
| 9 | Grand White Silk | Torun Eriksen | Jazzland Recordings | Produced by Kjetil Dalland, Torun Eriksen |
| 9 | Joni Was Right I & II | Marit Larsen | Håndbrygg Records | Produced by Marit Larsen |
| 11 | Hommage À Eberhard Weber | Pat Metheny, Jan Garbarek, Gary Burton, Scott Colley, Danny Gottlieb, Paul McCandless, Michael Gibbs, Helge Sunde, and SWR Big Band | ECM | |
| 11 | When You Cut Into The Present | Møster! | Hubro | |
| 16 | Sunrain | Haakon Graf Trio, including Erik Smith and Per Mathisen | Losen Records | Produces by Graf, Smith, and Mathisen |
| 18 | Echo | Anja Eline Skybakmoen | Triogram | |
| 18 | Megalodon | Megalodon Collective including with Henrik Lødøen | Gigafon | |
| 18 | Waldemar 4 | Trygve Waldemar Fiske | Gigafon | |
| 25 | Circadian Rhythm And Blues | Hayden Powell | Periskop Records | |
| 25 | Mønster | Espen Berg Trio | Atterklang | Produced by Espen Berg Trio. AKLANG314 |
| 30 | Blood Bitch | Jenny Hval | Sacred Bones | Produced by Jenny Hval, Lasse Marhaug |
| 30 | It’s Another Wor d | Sigrun Tara Øverland with Picidae | NorCD | |
| 30 | Somewhere In Between | Bugge Wesseltoft | Jazzland Recordings | |

### October

| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes |
| 2 | Time Is A Blind Guide | Thomas Strønen | ECM | Produced by Sun Chung, Thomas Strønen |
| 7 | Gode Liv | Stein Torleif Bjella | Heime Med Hund Records | |
| 7 | Kurzsam and Fulger | Christian Wallumrød Ensemble | Hubro Music | |
| 14 | Rainbow Session | Harald Lassen | Hagen Recordings | Produced by Harald Lassen |
| 21 | Her Bor | Frida Ånnevik | Grappa Music | Recipient of the folk Spellemannprisen |
| 31 | No Right No Left | Andreas Wildhagen | Nakama Records | |

### November

| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes |
| 11 | December Songs | Olga Konkova and Jens Thoresen | Losen Records | |
| 11 | StaiStua | Ulvo / Hole / Haltli | NorCD | Produced by Andreas Ulvo, Musikk I Hedmark |
| 11 | The Mechanical Fair | Ola Kvernberg | Olsen Records | 2xLP produced by Todd Terje |
| 11 | The Sleeping Gods/Thorn | Enslaved | Scion Audio/Visual | EP |
| 12 | Stories | Jan Gunnar Hoff | 2L | Solo piano |
| 14 | Portrait With Hidden Face | Bjørn Kruse | LabLabel | |
| 17 | My Head Is Listening | Motif | Clean Feed | Produced by Motif |
| 19 | 3 Pianos | Tanaka/Lindvall/Wallumrød | Nakama Records | |
| 22 | Midt På Natta | Operasjon Hegge | Particular Recordings | P!8 |
| 25 | Vannmann86 | Hjerteslag | Eget Selskap | |

### December

| Day | Album | Artist | Label | Notes | Ref. |
| 2 | Puzzler | Hilma Nikolaisen | Fysisk Format | Indie rock | |
| 16 | New York City Magic | Per Mathisen, Utsi Zimring, and David Kikoski | Alessa Records | | |

## New Artists

* Aksel Rykkvin, boy soprano nominated for Spellemannprisen, and named "The Musician of the Year" during the national part of the Youth Music Championship 2016-2017.
* Astrid S, singer and recipient of the newcomer Spellemannprisen.

## Deaths
### January

* 5 – Hanna-Marie Weydahl, classical pianist (born 1922).
* 25 – Leif Solberg, contemporary classical composer and organist (born 1914).

### February

* 19 – Harald Devold, jazz saxophonist (born 1964).

### March

* 11 – Kari Diesen Jr., entertainer (born 1939).

### April

* 4 – Andris Snortheim, children's musician (born 1950).
* 24 – Jan Henrik Kayser, classical pianist (born 1933).

### May

* 25 – Per Øien, classical flutist (born 1937).

### June

* 8 – Terje Fjærn, jazz and pop music orchestra conductor, "La det swinge" (born 1942).
* 17 – Willy Andresen, jazz pianist and bandleader (born 1921).
* 18 – Sverre Kjelsberg, popular music singer and bassist (born 1946).

### July

* 31 – Jon Klette, jazz saxophonist (born 1962).

### August

* 10 – Per Müller, musician and singer (born 1932).
* 18 – Fred Nøddelund, jazz flugelhornist and band leader (born 1947).

### September

* 9 – Knut Wiggen, contemporary classical composer (born 1927).
* 30 – Lilleba Lund Kvandal, opra singer (born 1940).

### November

* 30 – Ivar Thomassen, traditional folk singer, songwriter, and jazz pianist (born 1954).