It is an honor to welcome the Norwegian prog rock legends to Dark Season Blues. Junipher Greene was one of the first progressive group from Norway. They started as a blues band in Oslo in 1965. The inspiration came from British blues and later Chicago blues, but the style gradually changed more in the direction of progressive rock. Junipher Greene made Norwegian history in 1971 by releasing Norway’s first double album “Friendship” – with an iconic picture painted by a 23-year-old Odd Nerdrum as a fold-out cover.
The initial line-up included Bent Åserud on guitars, keyboards, flute and vocals, Geir Bøhren on lead vocals, drums and sax, Helge Grøslie on keyboards, Freddy Dahl on guitar and vocals and Øyvind Vilbo on bass. Jon-Willy Rydningen (Hammond B3) has been a member since 2008. In 2007, “Friendship” was voted Norway’s best pop/rock album in an award in the newspaper Dagens Næringsliv, and the following year the band began a series of reunion concerts.
After a break for a few years, the band is again ready to celebrate the legendary album, this time in Longyearbyen. Svalbard has a special place in the consciousness of Geir Bøhren (drums) and Bent Åserud (guitar/harmonica/flutes). The duo is behind the music for more than 30 films and 25 TV series, including the movie success “Orion’s Belt” – where the action is set on the island. They have promised to play the theme from the movie when they perform at this year’s festival.
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