The Sword and three Norwegian acts added
THE SWORD (US)
CASIOKIDS (N)
LAMA (N)
ROGER GRÆSBERG & THE ANTI-MUSIC BONANZA (N)
Three new Norwegian acts are now confirmed, bands that we’re looking forward to introduce to a larger audience. Roger Græsberg & The Anti-Music Bonanza really caught us off guard during by:Larm in February. Casiokids will be presenting their entertaining and exciting electro pop. Behind the name Lama hides a young man with a liking for electronics and experimental music. In addition we’ll have the pleasure of presenting bulldozer rockers The Sword from Texas for the first time ever on a Norwegian outdoor stage.
THE SWORD (US)
The Sword is referred to as the most dangerous band in Austin, Texas. At the Øya Festival you’ll be able to check out for yourself if there’s any substance to this claim. If you appreciate heavy-as-hell, hard-as-stone rock, you’ll find a lot to like about this quartet. The Sword has been compared to Black Sabbath, Sleep, Melvins, Prong, and Mastodon. They groove like doomsday is fast approaching, and their references in rock history are well chosen. On the band’s MySpace page it says – quite to the point – that The Sword sounds like “a bunch of bison being pushed over a cliff”. 2006 saw the release of their debut album, ‘Age of Winters’, on one of our favorite labels, Kemado (also home Øya faves like Diamond Nights and Cheeseburger). After Easter, the same label will bring us the follow-up, ‘Gods of the Earth’, an album which is expected to sound even larger and more wicked than previous releases. We’ve had a little pre-listening session, and can promise you a musical bombardment that’ll make anyone’s hairs stand on end. Prepare for bulldozer rock and testosterone doom in large doses at Øya.
CASIOKIDS (N)
Bergen-based Casiokids have played a lot of gigs both at home and abroad over the past few years, and now they’re ready to perform before a large crowd in the Medieval Park. These guys primarily make playful electronica, and the common denominator for all of Casiokids’ songs is that they put you in a really good mood. They play their music on old, worn-out keyboards, and combine it with an original, visual, and cheerful show. Stay alert for sudden puppet-show or shadow theater features. During the summer and fall of 2008 they plan to release as many as six 7-inches. Many festival jobs in Denmark, Canada, the US, and England are already confirmed. Keep your ears peeled for new Casiokids material at Øya!
LAMA (N)
Nils Martin Larsen is a unique talent that up to now primarily has been famous for playing the keys in electronica jazz collective Jaga Jazzist, into which he was inducted at the age of eighteen. Three years down the road he has produced a handful of good songs which he presents in a world he refers to as Lamaland. On stage he has with him four other musicians who, in combination with the light design of Nils Martin’s brother, create a very special audiovisual live experience. Lama gave a very impressive concert at Oslo venue Blå earlier this month, and we simply had to book them. When seeing Lama live, one can’t help but think of other quality acts. There’s no doubt that Lama is inspired by both Sigur Rós and Mew as well as Jaga Jazzist and Kim Hiorthøy. If you like one or more of these artists, then you’re sure to dig Lama. Welcome to Lamaland!
ROGER GRÆSBERG & THE ANTI-MUSIC BONANZA (N)
We had singled out Roger Græsberg & The Anti-Music Bonanza in this year’s by:Larm program, but we must admit that we weren’t quite prepared for what we were served. This band delivered rock that in a very liberating manner branched out in many different directions – from lo-fi to country rock to pop to boogie. “They sound like the Norwegian version of Ween!” one of us exclaimed. The orchestra is fronted by the former mailman Roger Græsberg, and they perform songs from his back catalogue. During 2008 they will record some of the material for what will become their debut album. We’ve picked up that Græsberg is inspired by Giant Sand, Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Charles Bukowski, Brian Wilson, Richard and Linda Thompson, and Elvis. There’s no doubt that he handles their legacy with style. At Øya you’ll be introduced to a band that is both surprising and entertaining, and that’ll treat you to one unpolished pearl after another.
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