Oya Festival Top Picks Pt. 2

More Norwegian must see acts

Find out more tips for local bands to check out at next week’s Øya Festival, happening in Oslo from the 11th to the 15th August.

Boasting it’s fair share of International headliners, Arctic Monkeys, Bon Iver, Satyricon, The Bronx, Chairlift, the event is also a strong showcase for Nordic talent.

Clash asked some of the journalists attending to share the bands that they’re sure to be checking out.

Read our first batch of Øya tips HERE.

Huw Stephens , BBC Radio 1

Ungdomskulen – http://www.myspace.com/ungdomskulen
I have seen them briefly before and I want to do it again – they were tremendous. Ungdomskulen is a Norwegian band that so far has drawn more people to their gigs in London and New York than in Bergen and Oslo (without any further comparison). Back here, they’ve been critic faves for a long time, and internationally they’ve gotten more praise than most bands could ever dream of – and in big music mags like NME, Pitchfork, Uncut and Kerrang, too. Live-wise, the power trio has grown into a brutal and rhythmic monster.

Death is Not Glamorous – http://www.myspace.com/deathisnotglamorous

Pow Pow – http://www.myspace.com/powpow2

Nils Bech – http://www.myspace.com/nilsbech
Are you one of the many who’ve noted the praise that Nils Bech has gotten lately? If you haven’t had a chance to see him yet, Nils will perform in the Medieval Park in August. He has previously been a member of Snuten and Point Shirley. Bech combines dramatic pop music with a kind of performance art, which as an artist makes him quite unique in that he delivers live performances that go beyond what one would normally expect. He works in close cooperation with saxophone player Bendik Giske, and together they draw inspiration from the worlds of modern art and fashion. The result is playful pop that possesses the ability to surprise the audience. The recording of an album, expected to be out later this year, is currently in progress. Last year, Nils performed at Blå on Club Night. This year he’ll be coming to the park, so get ready for some wicked beats and sexy saxophone.

Captain Credible – http://www.myspace.com/nortmiehd
Born of British parents and currently residing in Trondheim, Daniel Lacey McDermott, a.k.a. Captain Credible, points to coffee as one of his greatest inspirational sources. And when listening to his music, it becomes fairly obvious that this guy is in the habit of consuming rather large quantities of caffeine. His music is both weird, charming, chaotic and ecstatic, all at once, and live it is even more extreme. Attending a Captain Credible live show is like playing Nintendo 8bit with the volume cranked up to the max and you yourself being the main character in the game. Imagine being Mario for a night. This is one of the shows that we’re looking the most forward to this year. Yi-haa!

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Steve Tilley, Kilimanjaro Live

I Was A King – http://www.myspace.com/iwasaking
Saw them at Great Escape and really enjoyed and would love to see them on home turf so to speak

Katzenhammer – http://www.myspace.com/katzenjammerne
I missed them at Slotsfjell recently but heard lots of people talking about them after their set so i’m going to make amends at Oya and get to check them out.

Satyricon – http://www.myspace.com/satyricon
You can’t beat a dose of Norwegian thrash metal and the drummer alone makes it worth the admission price.

Karin Park – http://www.myspace.com/karinpark
Has been recommended to me by a friend so I’m intrigued by his description.

Diskjokke – http://www.myspace.com/diskjokke
Again I have heard great things and Coda Agency have picked him up in the UK so I’d also liked to check him out.

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Dermot O´Leary & his radio team, BBC Radio 2

Norma Sass – http://www.myspace.com/normasass
Lately, the staff at Øya HQ has been hooked on the fresh indie pop songs of Oslo act Norma Sass, who recently shortened their name from Enorma Sass. After having seen one of their shows this winter, we had no choice but to offer them a slot in the Medieval Park this summer. These five young girls are still at the start of their career, but they have strong material and a strong will. This is a band we’ll keep a close eye on in the years to come. Their slightly mysterious and enticing songs just make you want to hear more. You may call it indie or you may call it rock, but on the whole, Norma Sass is just cracking good pop music. 2009 will bring many opportunities to see Norma Sass live, not least in the Medieval Park in August. We dare predict that the new year will label them as the new Norwegian pop hope.

Munn Til Munn Metoden – http://www.myspace.com/munntilmunnmetoden
Munn Til Munn Metoden will be the next big thing to come out of the Norwegian electronica scene – or at least it would be so if there had been some justice in this world. However, we all know that that’s rarely the case, but when Munn Til Munn Metoden performs in the Medieval Park during this year’s festival, you’ll have a chance to get a load of the boys before they take over the world – be it the entire world, your world or an imaginary world.

Kråkesølv – http://www.myspace.com/krakesolv
Kråkesølv consists of four young gentlemen who’ve barely turned eighteen, and they’ll be coming to the Øya Festival packing a handful of tunes remindful of e.g. Sonic Youth, Blonde Redhead and the dark polar night. They’ll be coming all the way down from our pearl to the north, the city of Bodø, and they also sing all their songs in pure North-Norwegian. Rumor has it that they also have a bowling team of their own, so take this opportunity to challenge them to a match.

Ungdomskulen – http://www.myspace.com/ungdomskulen
Ungdomskulen is a Norwegian band that so far has drawn more people to their gigs in London and New York than in Bergen and Oslo (without any further comparison). Back here, they’ve been critic faves for a long time, and internationally they’ve gotten more praise than most bands could ever dream of – and in big music mags like NME, Pitchfork, Uncut and Kerrang, too. Live-wise, the power trio has grown into a brutal and rhythmic monster.
The band’s production rate is impeccable; five 7-inches and a full-length CD in only a couple of years, as well as a new album that will be out soon. We’ve heard it, and it’s great!
Their new album ‘Bisexual’ will be out March 9. They seem to have adopted the motto “More of everything!” this time around. There are more wicked songs, noise, prog, club scene influences, hard beats and uncompromising song structures on this release than on previous ones. It’s quite simply a really wicked record.

Pow Pow – http://www.myspace.com/powpow2

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Mark Johnson, Koko booker

Kråkesølv – http://www.myspace.com/krakesolv

Firefly Effect – http://www.myspace.com/fireflyeffect
With their retro-futuristic sunshine pop, Firefly Effect has illuminated many a dark and gloomy concert venue over the past two years, and now they’re ready to outshine the sun in the Medieval Park. If you’re ready for some happy and playful synth pop, make sure you’re there.

The Cheaters – http://www.myspace.com/cheatersoslo

Ungdomskulen – http://www.myspace.com/ungdomskulen

The Megaphonic Thrift – http://www.myspace.com/megaphonicthrift

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