Guide to Oslo World 2022
The nights grow longer, and Oslo World gets closer - but which concerts should you attend?
We’re proud of the program this year, but it’s not necessarily easy to get an overview (we’ve spent a year trying). Here are some themes you can use to navigate this week - there are limitless possibilities, of course, and perhaps you feel you belong in several categories. We do. But we hope you find something that piques your interest. Get in touch if you have questions, bring an old friend to a concert or meet new ones there. We hope we’ll see you!
The Legends
We are looking forward to finally welcoming Jane Birkin, the french singer and actor, to our festival, where she will perform at Rockefeller. The opening concert with the Cuban artist Omara Portuondo will be a meeting with eight decades of musical history - from Chucho Valdés and the Tropicana cabaret and up till today. The Mbalax legend Youssou N’Dour will visit Oslo World for the very first time at Sentrum Scene, while Fatoumata Diawara has become a dear friend of the festival throughout the years. But this is the very first time she performs in the Norwegian Opera & Ballet - and the first time a female african artist holds a solo concert at this venue.
The Trips
People hungry for mind expanding musical experiences have a lot to look forward to. We have invited the Japanese psych rock legends Acid Mothers Temple. They have done some legendary gigs in Oslo before, but never during Oslo World, and never with the current lineup. At Blå, we will hear them together with the eclectic duo WaqWaq Kingdom. The Soweto based afro-psychedelic band BCUC centers around the endlessly inventive bass player Nosebetsi Jan Nzimande, and will present their hard hitting explorations at Nasjonal Jazzscene. Inger Hannisdal Ensemble is inspired by music from Norway and the Middle East, among other things, and will release one of the most fascinating Norwegians records this autumn, during Oslo World. Meet them at Hærverk!
The Parties
The show the kuduro star Pongo put on at Blå last year was the stuff of legends, and we didn’t hesitate in inviting her back - this year, she will play at a slightly bigger venue, at Parkteatret. The Oslo based Kenyan gengeton sensation Matata is among music Norways most fascinating stories at the moment. They’re experiencing an international breakthrough, and their night at Blå together with the DJ crew Boko Boko is not to be missed. The Bosnian legends in Dubioza Kolektiv never lets a crowd down, with their mixture of ska, punk, reggae and hip hop. They will visit Cosmopolite this year, and this venue will also host Nu Genea, the duo at the epicenter of the burgeoning Neapolitan club scene, which will bring a huge disco band to Oslo.
The hip hop stars of the future
These last years, Oslo World has prided itself in bringing the most interesting new hip hop from Scandinavia and beyond to the festival. This year, the masked heroes of Norwegian hip hop, T Section, will play to concerts at Parkteatret in collaboration with Oslo World Youth. We’re continuing our collaboration with YLTV, and will present a night with Jelassi, L1NA and Cherie Mwangi at the same venue. One of the most central names in the East African hip hop underground, MC Yallah, will perform at our opening party at Blå and Alyona Alyona, the Ukranian rapper who was one of the highlights of last years festival, will return to play a show at our new venue, Trekanten.
The surprises
Are you curious about Mongolian throat singing? We have invited Batzorig Vaanchig, one of Mongolias most accomplished performers of this tradition, to Riksscenen. Two trailblazers of Indian classical music, Zakir Hussain and Niladri Kumar, will perform a sitar/tablas duo concert at Cosmopolite. The spanish duo Raül Refree and Niño de Elche will bring their genre crossing post flamenco (in lack of a better word) to Kulturkirken Jakob and Kid Fourteen will perform intense avant punk at Kafé Hærverk. We are also collaborating with one of Oslos weirdest and most wonderful concert/club series, Endelig Belg - where everything centers around the accordion. They will present Tuulikki Bartosik and Gabriels Novgorod during the festival.
Something beautiful
Lucas Santtana is an essential part of a new wave of Brazilian music, with roots in tropicália, psychedelic samba and baile funk. He will visit Nasjonal Jazzscene, who also plays host to Ingrid Jasmin, who combines Norwegian singing traditions and Spanish flamenco in an exiting new mix. Arooj Aftabs sufi-inspired art pop will invite deep introspection and ecstasy at Trekanten.
The club nights
More and more, Oslo World centers around what’s happening after midnight at Oslos best clubs. The discerning and wide ranging club Sweetcheeks will join forces with the musical collective Nyege Nyege from Uganda. They will present Kabeaushé, Adipop and ASDFGHJKL at Blå. Our collaboration with Jaeger continues with resident DJs and guests such as Glitter55, Acid Arab and Kenny Dope. Kafé Hærverk will be visited by veterans such as Helene Rickhard and Lumi in the Sky With Diamonds, in addition to Noise Diva & LazerGazer from Syria and Liliane Chlela from Lebanon. And don’t miss out on our opening party with Oslo World favourite DJ Nefertiti! We will launch more club nights at Hærverk, Jaeger and Trekanten in the weeks to come.
The party never stops in Oslo, week 44!
