Polarjazz

The Polar Jazz Festival Polarjazz
Status	Active
Genre	Jazz Festival
Date(s)	Early February
Begins	1 February 2017
Ends	5 February 2017
Frequency	Annually
Location(s)	Longyearbyen
Country	Svalbard
Years active	1998 - present
Website
www.polarjazz.no

Polarjazz or The Polar Jazz Festival (initiated 1998 in Longyearbyen, Svalbard) is the northernmost jazz festival in the world, and is arranged every year in February.^[1][2]

Background

The 19th Polarjazz festival took place February 3–7, 2016, with almost 2,500 visitors.^[3] This unique music festival that residents, visiting audience and not least the artists, keep coming back to. Over the years a multitude of the best jazz performers and other musicians have visited Polarjazz. Polarjazz not only offers a varied musical experiences, but also other activities in the polar night. There are provided music for all ages and therefore the festival includes performances both in kindergartens, schools and the youth house. Some musicians are sent to perform for our neighbors in the Russian settlement of Barentsburg.^[1][2][4]

Artists and bands (in selection)

2011 February 3–7 Hot Club de Norvege Solveig Slettahjell Beady Belle and PUST Halvdan Sivertsen Stian Carstensen[1] 2012 February 1–5 Bård Watn Bjelleklang Christianssands String Swing Ensemble DeLillos Kaizers Orchestra Maria Mena Ole Paus The Real Thing

2013 January 31 - February 3 Kari Bremnes Madcon The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain Babylon Brothers Bargoo Sivert Høyem Howlin' Huskies 2014 February 5–9 Mezzoforte Rypdal & Tekrø Stillhouse Urban Tunélls Klezmerband

2015 February 5–8 Bo Kaspers Orkester Violet Road Vidar Johnsen Morten Abel Emilie Nicolas Bugge Wesseltoft & The Organ Club Árstíðir Nina & the Butterfly Fish Svalbard Kirkes Trio (World premiere) Solid Comfort Nora Konstanse[5]

2016 February 3–7 Per Mathisen and Ulf Wakenius Sondre Lerche Ingebjørg Bratland D'Sound Lyriaka SvaJazz Numa Edema Sofia Jannok – Susanne Sundfør Dos Mosquitos Longyearbyen Storband Hekla Stålstrenga[6]

References

1. Kelman, John (2011-02-21). "Polar Jazz: Longyearbyen, Svalbard, February 3-7, 2011". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
2. "Polarjazz". Svalbard.net. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
3. Palm, Eirik (2016-02-15). "Music festival in the polar night". Svalbardposten. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
4. "Polarjazz: The world's most northerly jazz festival. 78 degrees north.". VisitNorway.com. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
5. "Polarjazz Svalbard - Cool place Hot music" (in Norwegian). Polarjazz.no. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
6. "Polarjazz Svalbard - Cool place Hot music" (in Norwegian). Polarjazz.no. Retrieved 2016-04-22.

External links

• Official website (Norwegian)