Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special
Where champions are caught Clusters upon clusters of fishing boats are patiently drifting just outside Svolvær in the north of Norway. No one is looking up at the dramatic mountains rising above them. Everyone’s attention is directed downwards, focusing on what they know to be lurking beneath the salty waves. By Stine Lise Wannebo | Photos: Magnar Jakobsen
Svolvær is located in the heart of Lofoten, an area that is not only known for its spectacular natural surroundings, but also for its remarkable history of fishing that goes back more than a thousand years. And the history continues. For two days every year, Svolvær is flooded with visitors from near and far as fishermen
from 14 nations travel to the idyllic fishing village to take part in the traditional Codfishing World Championships. This year will be the 26th, and all the 650 places have been booked for months. Locals from the entire region come to enjoy the atmosphere and excitement and watch as the eager fishers pull more than 40 tonnes of freshly caught cod ashore.
“The Championships are definitely the local highlight of the year,” coordinator Sten-Ståle Sortland says proudly. “Many people come to take part in the festivities even if they are not in the competition.” While the majority of fish caught during the event weigh between 15 and 30 kilogrammes, one lucky fisherman hauled a 32.2-kilogramme cod last year, the largest one to date. The Codfishing Championships 2016 take place on 1-2 April.
For more information, please visit: www.vmiskreifiske.no
Jazzing it up in Voss Vossa Jazz is the place to be for jazz lovers as well as those with an interest in music with a twist. Taking place 18-20 March, the programme is packed with top names including Jarle Bernhoft, Dave Holland, Susanne Sundfør and not least Nils Økland, the ground-breaking artist who is the commissioned musician for 2016. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Voss Jazz
The jazz festival is a yearly highlight in the small town of Voss, just an hour from Bergen. Beautifully situated between fjords and mountains it has the perfect surroundings for a music festival that is out of the ordinary. While topnotch jazz tunes are in focus, the festival heads take pride in an original take on the genre. “We like to say that everyone
may not like everything, but everyone will like something,” festival manager Trude Storheim says. So while good music sets the scene, Storheim has made it her mission to present it in an inventive way. She has clearly succeeded, mentioning ExtremeJazz as an excellent example of where she combines the surrounding nature with music
– whether on the roof of the town hall or in the ski slopes. Also worth mentioning is Badnajazz, which emphasises the role of children during the festival with music, dance and playfulness. “It is a festival for families, where children play an important role. We want to introduce them to the joys of music from the very start, and encourage them not only to listen, but to take part,” Storheim says. Tickets can be booked online now. For more information, please visit: www.vossajazz.no
48 | Issue 84 | January 2016