Oslo’s Øya summer music festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, serving cake to early arrivals when it opened Wednesday afternoon. Organizers reported it was sold out as of last week, even before media commentators ranked it as Norway’s “biggest and best” once again.
International stars, new artists and a broad selection of Norwegian artists on the line-up were cited by music critic Geir Rakvaag, for example, as reasons for Øya‘s success. It evolved from the Kalvøya festival in Sandvika that wound down in the 1990s, starting up first along Oslo’s eastern waterfront near Bjørvika until construction projects in the area prompted its move to the park at Tøyen.
This year’s line-up includes Norway’s pop comet Sigrid, Sweden’s Robyn, the French band Christine and the Queens and Norway’s venerable Hellbillies, among many others. The Cure was playing Wednesday night, and Razika was also due to make a farewell appearance, at least for now. The festival runs through Saturday.
newsinenglish.no staff
