2_9_ScanMag_72_Jan_2015_Text_Q10_Scan Magazine 1 09/01/2015 22:44 Page 34
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Festivals in Norway
Combining Sunnmøre’s spectacular nature, with live, quality music events that offer heart, spirit and a unique atmosphere – little else can compete with Momentium’s inimitable position in the music industry.
Norwegian music gaining international Momentium Momentium started out as a wish: to bring people and music together in the purest of ways. A local, small-scale festival quickly turned huge, and the crowds were cheering for more. Today Momentium is – arguably – one of Norway’s biggest festival organisers, with three massively popular music festivals under their belt: Sommerfesten [The Summer Fest], Jugendfest and Ålesund Live. Beyond these examples, Momentum’s passion for music has been manifested in the innovative, state-of-the-art recording studio Ocean Sound Recordings. The results? Not so small-scale anymore. By Julie Lindén | Photos: Momentium
“It was some 13 years ago,” says Ronny Stokke, Manager at Momentium, continuing: “The founders of the company were hosting a smaller, private gathering for their friends – about 35 to 40 people or so. Everyone brought something to eat, as a joint effort – they had a lovely time – and it was such a success that they decided to make it a yearly thing. The next year 300 people showed up!” This was the start of Momentium’s company structure and very first festival, Sommerfesten, which eventually would to grow to encompass thousands of music lovers from all over the country and
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beyond. “Around 2011 Sommerfesten had 30,000 visitors,” Stokke continues. “The concept was still the same: pairing good music with good food that everyone brought to share. There was no set ticket price, so people just paid what they wanted or could pay. Imagine that!” Highly valued relationships Still today Sommerfesten remains the treasured heart of Momentium, a company which now also hosts the youthful Jugendfest and the more mature Ålesund Live, all taking place in the traditional north-western district of Sunnmøre. And,
while Sommerfesten remains a cosy outing where set ticket prices are unheard of and the coffee, cake and food is brought to share, Jugendfest attracts some of the world’s top live performers to a range of shows that will blow you away. If you’re not yet convinced of its prominence, names such as David Guetta on the list of previous performers should do the trick. “This year we’ll have artists like Norwegian Gabrielle and Lars Vaular at Jugendfest,” says Stokke. “At Sommerfesten we’ll welcome Isac Elliot, who has really grown in popularity recently. Festival planning is to some extent a very risky business, as we’re dependent on booking great artists, as well as having multiple other factors work in our favour.” He pauses, before explaining that while Momentium has a mere eight employees working for them full time, 1,000 volunteers help make every festival as great as it can possibly be. “Planning a spectacular festival is a long process, and so you’ll