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Friday, March 29, 2024

Rock band a-ha extends its farewell

Norway’s most successful rock band in history, a-ha, is setting off on a huge farewell concert tour around the world, and now its three members plan to end their era on an even higher note. They’re adding concerts both at home and abroad, and aim to nurture a new generation of musicians.

Rock band a-ha in their younger days. PHOTO: a-ha

Band members Morten Harket and Magne Furuholmen told reporters in Oslo on Monday that they’re adding six new concerts in Norway this summer, and will share some of the proceeds with four new up-and-coming musicians who also will get the chance to be their opening acts.

“We’re at the end of our adventure,” Furuholmen said. “Now we’re excited about what will happen in the future and will gladly influence it.” The four budding acts will each get NOK 1 million (about USD 160,000) in addition to time on stage at concerts in Oslo, Kristiansand, Trondheim, Bergen, Stavanger and Tromsø.

The goal is to help other Norwegian bands make an international breakthrough. Musicians will be able to apply for the concert spots and support via a band website and a jury will nominate candidates.

A-ha is launching its international concert tour in Buenos Aires this week, with 62 performances scheduled throughout the year. Three farewell concerts at the Oslo Spektrum arena in December sold out quickly when tickets went on sale.

It remained unclear whether a-ha would be able to carry out a concert scheduled for on Saturday in Santiago, because of the devastating earthquake that hit Chile over the weekend. The band’s Norwegian manager Harald Wiig told newspaper Aftenposten that they were planning to go ahead with the concert if the airport reopened, unless they receive a message from organizers that the concert must be cancelled.

Views and News from Norway/Nina Berglund
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