Yes, It Was Good – Norwegian Wood

Last year’s four-day festival failed to do half of its 9,000-capacity, causing Norwegian Wood chief Jørgen Roll to cut this year’s festival to three days.

The decision paid off as this year’s average daily crowd at Oslo’s 9,000-capacity Frognerbadet Park was more than 7,000. Rune Lem of Live Nation Norway, which books Norwegian Wood, said he was a little disappointed to see only 6,500 show for the first day with Arcade Fire and White Lies.

Swedish rockers Kent supported by local Norwegian acts Ane Brun and Violet Road matched that on the second day, with John Mayer selling out the final day.

Mayer also sold out when he went further north to Bergenfest (June 11-15), where event chief Frank Nes was pleased his 4-year-old event fell only a little short of its 6,500-per day capacity.

In 2012 Bergenfest, which had run as an indoor festival for 18 years, stepped outdoors, where it has suffered from almost constant rain for two of the three subsequent years.

The other acts on Bergenfest included ZZ Top, The Strypes, Robert Plant & The Sensational Spaceshifters, Blondie, and Simple Minds.

Norwegian Wood June 12-14 also had Passenger, James Vincent McMorrow, and Marie Munroe.