CLOSE TO THE RAIN
Robin Mortensen wants to big up prog in the northern hemisphere with a festival inspired by Norway’s climate.
Scandinavia’s music scene has long been a powerhouse of progressive creativity, but while
Sweden has hosted events such as the Sweden Prog Fest and Progressive Circus, Norway has often lagged behind. The team behind Bergen’s Close To The Rain want to change that.
“Our aim is really to showcase the best Norwegian prog bands,” reveals organiser Robin Mortensen. “We have a very vital and happening scene at the moment, and we tend to put on more Scandinavian-sounding bands rather than the neo-prog and prog metal acts that are common at bigger festivals.”
Mortensen, who’s also the boss of Apollon Records and co-founded Norway’s Karisma Records in 2003, set up Close To The Rain last year with help from stage manager and Sipher bassist Leif Herland. Also on the team is graphic designer Maja Markegård, whose work has graced the sleeves of numerous Karisma acts.
Now in its second year, the three-day festival runs from June 7-9 at Garage in Bergen’s city centre. The legendary rock club, which is one of Enslaved’s favourite local haunts, is near to public transport and comfortably holds just
over 300 music fans.
Close To The Rain 2018’s line-up includes performances from Arabs In Aspic; the folk-inspired Tusmørke, who’ll also play a free afternoon concert for younger fans; and Anekdoten, whom the co-founder is a big fan of. Although there are now 11 bands in total on the bill, the original idea for the event came about when Mortensen was booking local gigs for Karisma labelmates Magic Pie and Airbag. However, like all good works of prog, his small dream quickly grew to epic proportions and before he knew it, he’d booked a full festival!
Although it’s still early days for
Close To The Rain – the name mixes Mortensen’s favourite Yes album with Norway’s unforgiving weather – the response so far has been so good that he hopes it will become an annual event. And he already has ideas to expand it outside Bergen.“We’re planning an Oslo edition of the festival around August/September time as well,” he reveals.
The line-up and exact details are still to be announced but expect artists from Karisma and Apollon’s roster, with a few surprises thrown in! NRS
“We have a very vital and happening scene in Norway at the moment.”