Kaare Virud Band

Virud is the king of blues in Norwegian and the pioneer of all blues in Notodden. Kåre Virud has been playing blues at Notodden since 1965. On New Year's Eve he turns 82, and he is still at the height of his musical career. 

Kåre Virud has a special place in our hearts. The huge turnout at his concerts at the festival shows that our audience also has a special place in their hearts for this Norwegian blues pioneer. Kåre Virud has a permanent place at Notodden Blues Festival for as long as he wants. There will be no more Notodden Blues Festival than a concert with Kåre Virud.
That's why we're setting up a new concert with him in 2026. It's simply great for us when he accepts our invitations, and that we can announce to everyone that there will be a concert with Kåre Virud Band and the king of blues in Norwegian also during the upcoming festival. This time, Kåre Virud Band will play on our Rootsville stage where there is seating and room for many. 

We don't know which songs Kåre Virud will choose for this concert, but there are probably classics to choose from; "Storgata", "Ild og Vann", "Dama Mi", "Ikke jeg", "Blind Lemon", "Uflaks", and all the other well-known and beloved Kåre songs. 

Kåre Virud is a pioneering artist when it comes to singing the blues in Norwegian. One of his first appearances as a musician was with the local rock band The Tornadoes at Notodden Theatre in 1962. In an interview in connection with his own 60th birthday in 2003, he said that he discovered the blues genre in Copenhagen in 1964, and started what was probably Norway's first blues band in a bomb shelter in Notodden in 1965.

Kåre Virud made his debut album with Barbeinte Engel in 1974. Since then, there have been many album releases. All in Norwegian. His lyrics often have a local touch, which has earned him enormous respect in his hometown of Notodden, but the lyrics are still written in such a way that they have a general and national significance. Audiences all over Norway have embraced Kåre Virud, and he is more recognized and popular than ever. 

Kåre Virud Band consists of Kåre Virud (vocals, guitar), Espen Fjelle (keyboards), Tore Wildauer (drums) and Bård Slagsvold (bass, vocals).