Highlights From a Norwegian Music Festival

My Øyafestivalen 2022 experience

Aurora and her entourage perform at Øyafestivalen 2022 in Oslo. Photo by author.

This weekend I was in Oslo, Norway to attend one of my favourite music festivals — Øyafestivalen!

Øya is a four-day music festival that occurs every August. This was my third Øya and I always thoroughly enjoy myself. The lineup of artists is excellent, the venue pleasant, and the crowd chill. Everything is just very well run, and I wish there were more festivals like Øya.

I bought my Øya tickets back in early 2020, but the festival was cancelled two years running. So that made 2022 the year we were all waiting for.

Some big Scandinavian and international acts performed at this year’s Øya, including First Aid Kit, Florence & the Machine, Gorillaz, Michael Kiwa­nuka, Nick Cave, and Suede.

But I want to tell you about two Norwegian artists who were festival highlights for me — Metteson and Aurora.

Metteson is touted to be Norway’s next biggest popstar, and if his performance on Saturday was anything to go by, I think they’re right. Metteson (Sverre Breivik) is more than an indie-pop singer. He also brings dance and theatre into his musical act. Not surprising considering he studied at the National Academy of the Arts in Oslo.