Welcome to New Nordic: Volume 3 where I bring you updates about some of the brilliant music happening right now in the Norwegian and Scandi scene.

If you are new to Nordic artists, then check out Volume 1 and Volume 2 to get a flavour of what is in store.

Takk! Shaun

🙋🏼‍♀️ International Women’s Day takes place on Friday and so Stord’s finest Skaar (Hilde Skaar) is marking the date by releasing a new version of Mad Woman, the title track from her debut album for which she earned a prestigious Spellemannprisen award nomination for Release of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. She has teamed up with Norwegian legend Emilie Nicolas - who previously collaborated with Björk in 2022 on Allow - for the new working which comes out for the day this Friday.

🟥 Girl In Red (Marie Ulven Ringheim) follows up news of a tour and new album with the release of the title track ‘Doing It Again Baby’ tomorrow (Thursday March 7) and teasing fans that the artwork may feature in a future exhibition.

UPDATE. Girl In Red have just announced a concert at Glasgow

🏆 Perhaps the biggest night in Norwegian music - Spellemannprisen (The Spellemen Awards) will take place on Thursday April 4, but won’t include any artists from the Universal Music label after they announced a boycott owing to their ongoing row with one of the events main sponsors, Tik Tok.

🗞You can read more about it at Nettavisen, which was Norway’s first ever online newspaper.

Nonetheless, the event remains a massive and prestigious night for all those who have been shortlisted for what is Norway’s equivalent to the BRIT Awards or US Grammy.

The list of nominees can be viewed in full here and includes:

💿 Release of the Year: Undergrunn, SKAAR, Kvelertak and Delara

💿 Songwriter of the Year: Michelle Ullestad, Kristoffer Cezinando Karlsen, Lars Vaular and Hilde Skaar

💿 Song of the Year: Alessandra, Bausa, DJ MØMØ ft. Kjartan Lauritzen, Emma Steinbakken, Kudos & Golf Club and Undergrunn

💿 Producer: Asjell, Fay Wildhagen, Morten Gillebo and Vetle Junker

💿 Music Video: Arif x Karpe, Gouldian Finch, Lars Vaular and Rambow

💿 International Artist: Girl in Red, Caroline Ailin, Erik Smaaland, Kristine Tjøgersen, Lise Davidsen and Marius Neset

💿 Pop: Dagny, Aden Foyer, Cezinando and Delara.

💿 Electronic: NIILAS, Jouska, FAKETHIAS and Lindstrøm

💿 Rock: Skin Cancer, Bride of Christ, Arrow & Bow and Sparrow

💿 Metal: Dwaal, Incultter, RUÏM and Tsjuder

💿 Country: Krissy Mary, Norma, Ole Kirkeng and Sweetheart

💿 Classic: Amalie Stalheim / Christian Ihle Hadland, Engegård Quartet, Kåre Nordstoga and Sir Mark Elder, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Roderick Williams, Claudia Huckle, Gemma Summerfield, Brother Magnus Tødenes, Bergen Philarmonic Choir, Edvard Grieg Choir, Collegium Musicum Choir

💿 Show: Ingebjørg Bratland and Odd Nordstoga, Ingrid Olava, Julie Henrikke and Stein Torleif Bjella

💿 Contemporary: The Norwegian Soloist Choir / Ensemble Allegria / Grete Pedersen, Lemur, Maja S. K. Ratkje & Nordic Affect and Sara Övinge / Edward Gardner / The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra

💿 Alternative Pop/Rock: Ea Othilde, Oda Felicia, Signe Marie Rustad and Tuvaband

💿 Children’s Music: Fantorangen, Mikrokosmos, SaraLy and Unge Oslo and Trygve Kongshavn

💿 Blues: Marius Lien, Women in Blues, Spoonful of Blues and Joakim Tinderholt and His Band

💿 RNB/Soul: Beharie, GiddyGang & Vuyo, Hillari and Isah

💿 Trad: Kim Rysstad / Tord Gustavsen / Arve Henriksen, Sidiki Camara, Sigrid Moldestad and Synnøve Brøndbo Plassen

💿 Hip Hop: B-Boy Myhre, Arif, Rambow and Undergrunn

💿 Open Class: Lilja, Erland Dahlen, Nils Økland / Sigbjørn Apeland and 9 Grader Nord

💿 Jazz: Anja Lauvdal, Bendik Giske, Malstrøm and Harald Lassen

💿 Author: Kristoffer Cezinando Karlsen, Amanda Delara Nikman, Ingrid Olava Brænd Eriksen and Stein Torleif Bjella

💿 Composer: Stian Westerhus, Anne Hytta, Åsmund Feidje and Edvin Østergaard

💿 Party: Bausa, Carina Dahl, Golf Club and Hagle

💿 Breakthrough of the Year: Rambow, Hillari, Emma Steinbakken, Bausa, Alessandra and Aden Foyer

⛪️ Trondheim’s summer festival Olavfest has unveiled its line-up of gigs taking place between Sunday July 28 and Saturday August 3. Chris Holsten and Emelie Hollow kick things off, followed by the likes of Angelique Kidjo, Beharie, Sigrid, Moyka, Katarina Barruk, Bigbang, Darling West and Oda Felicia. Tickets at their website.

🎟 Tickets are going fast for one of the highlights of the summer - Øyafestivalen - in Oslo from Thursday 8 to Monday 12 August, featuring acts including Brits winner Raye, Astrid S (Astrid Smeplass), Moyka (Monika Engeseth), Pulp, The National and Queens of the Stone Age to name a few. Worth noting that this festival was also rated Outstanding for its environmental credentials by the respected A Greener Future judging team.

✨Huge news for Amalie Holt Kleive who will be opening for Aurora every night of her Norwegian tour which begins tonight with three dates in Bergan followed by Trondheim, Stavanger and another triple date in Oslo.

🇲🇽 Ålesund star Sigrid meantime has added a mega gig in Mexico City to her forthcoming and first South American tour which will also take in other dates across May in Guadalajara, São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Santiago.

Which neatly sees us finish off today’s update with news that rock legends Journey will play Oslo Spektrum on Sunday June 9 as part of their 50th anniversary tour.

We can think of one Norwegian singer who might be just a little bit excited about that.

Norwegian artists and promoters, got something to tell us? Just use the Share Your News tab at the top of the page to get in touch. Takk.

Ha det!