Damer i Blues

In 2023, Rita Engedalen and Margit Bakken can celebrate 20 years together as the concert artists "Damer i Blues". Over the years, Engedalen and Bakken have visited most places in Norway with "Damer i Blues", and they have toured internationally as "Women in Blues" in countries such as the USA, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Switzerland and Germany.

With its origins in Notodden, "Damer i Blues" have played at the Notodden Blues Festival countless times throughout these 19 years together. It is therefore entirely appropriate that the Notodden Blues Festival is the venue for a magnificent 20th Anniversary with both a concert and their own exhibition.

This past year, Rita Engedalen has spent a lot of time on her solo career with touring and a new critically acclaimed album "Sun Will Come". The album has garnered excellent reviews and received radio play both in Norway and abroad. Despite this great success, Engedalen will devote a lot of time to "Damer i Blues"in connection with their 20th Anniversary.

Engedalen and Bakken released the album "Broken Soul Blues" in 2012 under their international stage name "Women in Blues". It's getting to be a while since this release. That's why it's gratifying to hear that new music is in the works. In connection with the Anniversary concert, "Damer i Blues" and the band will offer both newly written material and a well-chosen selection of their most popular songs.

The exhibition "Women in Struggle", which Rita Engedalen and Margit Bakken created for this year's LO congress, will be shown at the Bok & Blueshuset as part of their Anniversary project for the festival. It will be the first time that this exhibition is shown in a context where it is open and accessible to everyone.