About us

In pleasant surroundings in the city centre, Notodden Blues Festival offers everything from small intimate club concerts with local artists to blues cruises on the idyllic Heddalsvannet, workshops in Europe’s Blues Centre, church concerts, band seminars for youths, and children and family events to large concerts with the biggest world stars. Notodden Blues Festival was granted the status of Norwegian Knutepunkt festival for blues in 2007, and in 2010 the festival was honored with the “Keeping The Blues Alive Award” for best international blues festival. The KBA is awarded by the international organization Blues Foundation in Memphis and is considered the blues’ answer to The Academy Awards. Notodden can also offer Europe’s only blues museum, the Notodden Blueseum, which is well worth a visit. The list of blues, soul and rock greats who have performed at Notodden is almost endless and includes artists such as B.B. King, Buddy Guy, ZZ Top, Robert Plant, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Johnny Winter, Gary Moore, John Mayall, Van Morrison, Koko Taylor, The Black Keys, Dr. John, Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett, Robert Cray, Otis Rush, etc. Notodden has a lively blues environment throughout the year. Every year at the festival you can also experience Notodden artists such as Kåre Virud Band, Rita Engedalen, Notodden Blues Band, Spoonful of Blues, Lady J & Her Bada Bing Band, Norske Menn i Hus og Hytte, Terry Lehns, etc.