Slottsfjell Signals Market Recovery

The Slotsfjell Festival in Tønsberg provided further proof that the Norwegian festival market is in better health than it was a couple of years ago by selling out its 10,000 capacity.

Not that it ever had the financial problems that dogged the festivals at Quart and Hove, which has since been revitalised by the UK’s Festival Republic, but Norwegian outdoors tend to be smaller than 20,000 and need to be lean creatures to survive.

This year Slotsfjell added a new stage for upcoming talent, which it’s running in cahoots with national broadcaster NRK P3, but increasing the number of international acts looks to be the way to raise its pan-European profile.

The lineup included Anthrax, Biffy Clyro, Crystal Castles, Erasure, Grinderman, Kaizers Orchestra, Mogwai, Mudhoney and The Go! Team.

Hove, which once vied with Quart to be the country’s biggest festival, has recuperated well since Festival Republic bought the name from the official receiver in 2009.

It pulled 62,000 across four days, which was the biggest gross it’s had in its five-year history.

The festival began in 2007 when Quart Festival director Toffen Gunnufsen quit to start the new event. It also pulled 62,000 in its second year but hefty overheads took it down. It’s taken three years for the new owners to restore it to its former glory.

The acts putting Hove back on the map June 28 to July 1 included The Strokes, 30 Seconds To Mars, Robyn, Deadmau5, Kasabian, Brandon Flowers, Kaizers Orchestra, and Anna Calvi.