Dark Season Blues is an annual

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...

music festival A music festival is a festival, community event with music, performances of singing and instrument playing that is often presented with a theme such as musical genre (e.g., rock music, rock, blues, folk music, folk, jazz, classical music), nation ...

in late October, at 78 degrees north in

Longyearbyen Longyearbyen (, , "Longyear Town") is the world's northernmost settlements, northernmost settlement with a population greater than 1,000, and the capital and the largest inhabited area of Svalbard. It stretches along the foot of the left bank ( ...

(

Svalbard Svalbard ( , ), previously known as Spitsbergen or Spitzbergen, is a Norway, Norwegian archipelago that lies at the convergence of the Arctic Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean. North of continental Europe, mainland Europe, it lies about midway be ...

) in

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

, and marks the beginning of the dark season when daylight and the sun is about to leave Svalbard for four winter months. The festival lasts four days, and features local, Norwegian and international musicians performing in most of Longyearbyen's venues. The festival is based on voluntary work in order to carry out the event. The economic goal is to break even, and any surplus is transferred to next year's festival. The first Dark Season Blues festival was arranged in 2003, and has run without interruption until the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

resulted in the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 festivals. It started out as a small intimate festival, and presented 15 bands spread on 17 events in 2010.

Past performers

2011

Dark Season Blues 2011 * Bryan Lee (US) * Mike Zito (US) * JW-Jones (CA) * Tina Lie (NO) * Mike Andersen Band (DK) * Micke & Lefty feat. Chef (FI) * T-Bear & The Dukes of Rhythm (SE) * Eric ‘Slim’ Zahl & the South West Swinger (NO) * The Douglas Group (NO) * Blåmyra (NO) * Bright Side Five (NO)

2010

Dark Season Blues 2010 * The Reba Russel Band * Victor Wainwright * Cadillac Kings * Grainne Duffy *

Knut Reiersrud Knut Reiersrud (born 12 February 1961) is a Norwegian blues guitarist. His work also incorporates elements of Norwegian traditional music and African music. Reiersrud has recorded and played with David Lindley, the Blind Boys Of Alabama, Rickie ...

* Rita Engedalen & Margit Bakken with guests Tuva Syvertsen & Susanne Hansen * Dave Fields *

Noora Noor Noora Noor aka Noora (born 8 July 1979) is a Somali-Norwegian neo soul singer. Career Noor performed locally from the age of eight and got a recording contract with Warner Music Group, Warner Music at 15. She then began working with Stargate ( ...

Ledfoot Tim Scott McConnell also known as Tim Scott (born March 23, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and 12-string guitarist who performs since 2007 under the artist name Ledfoot. The artist's repertoire consists solely of self-written songs. ...

Tim Scott McConnell Tim Scott McConnell also known as Tim Scott (born March 23, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and 12-string guitarist who performs since 2007 under the artist name Ledfoot. The artist's repertoire consists solely of self-written songs. ...

Linda Gail Lewis Linda Gail Lewis (born July 18, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter and pianist. She has recorded with her brother Jerry Lee Lewis, as well as Van Morrison, Robbie Fulks, Wanda Jackson, Melanie, Dale Watson, Mitch Ryder and Robert Gordon ...

* Bill Sims Jr * Westby Band * Deadwood * Longyearbyen Storband * Blaamyra

2009

Dark Season Blues 2009 * Bobby Jones * Jackie Payne & Steve Edmondson band * Billy Gibson feat Dave Fields * JT. Lauritsen & The Buckshot Hunters * Kirk Fletcher band * Hemisfair * Tinal Lie * Groovy Company * Joakim Tinderholt Express * Blaamyra

2008

Dark Season Blues 2008 * Super Chikan * Billy Gibson * Sherman Robertson * Greasy Gravy * Bedrock Bluesband * Monika Nordli m/band * Rita Engedalen & Backbone * Little Jenny & The Blue Beans * Dr. Bekken * Blackbirds * Billy T Band * Howlin’ Huskies * Blaamyra Bluegrass

2007

Dark Season Blues 2007 * The Mannish Boys * Dr.Bekken * Spoonful of Blues * Orbo & the longshots * Trond Ytterbø Band * Little Jenny & The Blue Beans * Billy T Band * Little Victor * Steinar Albrigtsen & Monika Nordli * Howlin’Huskies

2006

Dark Season Blues 2006 * Sherman Robertson * Sky High * Vidar Busk * Kåre Virud Band * Buzz Brothers * Rita Engedalen & Margit Bakken * J.T. Lauritsen Band * The buzzers * Varpen

2005

Dark Season Blues 2005 * Paal Flaata * Frode Alnæs * Peer Gynt Band * Reidar Larsen & The Storytellers * Rita Engedalen & Backbone * Mitch Kasmar *

Rick Holmstrom Rick Holmstrom (born May 30, 1965) is an American electric blues and rhythm and blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. Holmstrom has previously worked with William Clarke, Johnny Dyer, and Rod Piazza. He is currently the bandleader for Mavis ...

* Arsen Shomakhov * Peter Price * Spoonful of Blues * RC Finnigan & The Blue Flames * Billy T Band

2004

Dark Season Blues 2004 * Amund Maarud * Kid Andersen * RC Finnigan * Erik Bergene * Noise Pollution * Fingerprint * Good Time Charlie * Dark Season All Star band

2003

Dark Season Blues 2003 * Knut Reiersrud * JB and the Delta Jukes * Allen’s Pit

References

{{Reflist

External links

Homepage Dark Season Blues

Facebook page
Music festivals established in 2003 Longyearbyen Blues festivals in Norway Folk festivals in Norway Music festivals in Norway 2003 establishments in Norway