Heine Totland has gone from a classical background to popular all-round entertainer. Photo: Svein Finneide
Feel the power of music at Kraftfestivalen In August ever year, Kraftfestivalen brings the whole region of Indre Østfold together in Askim for a programme packed full of big Scandinavian artists. The festival, which is named after Askim’s many power plants (‘kraft’ means ‘power’), always kicks off in a majestic, protected turbine hall, but continues in the town centre exclusively to boost energy levels to the max. By Eirik Elvevold
We’re allowed to use the space twice a year, for the opening of the festival in August – which always brings heavyweights of Norwegian politics, like Erna Solberg, Åse Kleveland, Grete Faremo and Olemic Thommessen to town – and for the annual Christmas concert,” says festival manager Tommy Leret.
In the early days of the 20th century, large power plants were constructed around Norway to electrify the country. One of the first was built at Kykkelsrud in Askim to exploit the current of Norway’s largest river Glomma. Today, the old, discontinued power plant has been turned into a protected cultural heritage site, where pop sensation Eva Weel Skram will open the annual Kraftfestivalen this August.
Booking the best for all ages
“The old turbine hall at Kykkelsrud is almost like a cathedral. The vibe quickly gets majestic when we bring artists in to play among the historical machinery.
Leret can finally look back at yet another successful December performance from the Norwegian boys’ choir Sølvguttene (the Boys of Silver) and start focusing on this summer’s festival programme.
40 | Issue 96 | January 2017
Judging by his booking record since he took charge in 2011, it is guaranteed to be a good one. “If you look at the last five years, many of Norway’s most popular artists – Bjørn Eidsvåg, Jahn Teigen, Lillebjørn Nilsen, Postgirobygget, Hellbillies – have played for us. I like to say that a-Ha is the only name missing,” says Leret. The 2017 programme is by no means complete, but so far includes acts such as Björn Rosenström, Heine Totland, Plumbo, Staysman & Lazz, Loveshack and the aforementioned Eva Weel Skram, who took Norway by storm as the vocalist of Eva & The Heartmaker in 2016 with hits including Mr. Tokyo, Signals and Gone in a Flash. “Eva and her husband Thomas Stenersen will open the festival with an acous-