Oslo’s annual “Norwegian Wood” outdoor music festival got off to a wet start on Thursday, as rain poured down on its first sold-out concert at the Frogner park. Eric Clapton kept the crowd warm, though, in a performance that won good reviews.
Clapton has been known to travel to Norway in June before, to go salmon fishing along Norwegian rivers. This time, rivers of water rolled through the crowd of around 8,000 persons who came to hear him but they didn’t seem to mind the weather at all. “People come when the performers are good, regardless of rain or wind,” said festival spokesperson Pelle Neraas. Ticket-holder Sara Hjelle Øiestad could confirm that, hanging on to a glass of beer inside her poncho and telling newspaper Aftenposten: “Rain doesn’t matter!”
Clapton ran though a playlist of classic hits like Layla, Cocaine and Wonderful tonight and opened the way for other veteran performers due to play at Norwegian Wood through the weekend like Patti Smith and her Band on Friday and Ringo Starr on Saturday. The Eagles were scheduled to close the festival Monday evening.
Views and News staff
