Little Stevens Blues School - recipient of Keeping the Blues Alive Award!

The mood was naturally high with us when the news came from The Blues Foundation in Memphis that they are honoring the Notodden Blues Festival's long-standing training project for young people with the prestigious "Keeping the Blues Alive Award".  It is the blues world's foremost award and recognition for activities to promote the blues as a form of music. The award will be presented at a ceremony in Memphis on January 10. 

“This is absolutely huge. A fantastic recognition for the work we have done for and with young people continuously since 1989. This is the greatest honor and recognition we can receive. This is a great inspiration in our further work with training and investing in young musicians within our music genre. 2024 thus continues to be a fantastic year for the Notodden Blues Festival. We now have to get to Memphis to accept the award. Little Steven has also said he will come," says general manager of the Notodden Blues Festival, Halvor Sælebakke.

The reason for the award from The Blues Foundation:

"The Blues Foundation proudly recognizes Little Steven’s Blues School for its exceptional contributions to blues music education through its longstanding partnership with the Notodden Blues Festival in Norway. Established in 1989 as the Notodden Blues Festival Blues Seminar, it stands among the oldest blues education programs for youth, fostering a new generation of blues talent in Norway and beyond.

The program has helped launch the careers of renowned Norwegian musicians such as Amund Maarud, Odd Nordstoga, Vegard Tveitan, Thomas Haugen, and Christoffer “Kid” Andersen, all of whom have become professional touring blues artists and musicians.

Little Steven’s Blues School offers two distinct pathways:
Band Camp 1: An introductory program for youth aged 13–18.
Band Camp 2: A more advanced, career-focused program for young adults aged 19–26.

Since 2015, Little Steven’s involvement has expanded the program’s reach, creating collaborations with the Pinetop Perkins Foundation and the European Blues Union. The school’s faculty includes esteemed Norwegian musicians and notable international guest artists such as Earl Thomas, Johnny Burgin, Bob Margolin, Lowell “Banana” Levenger (The Youngbloods), Canned Heat, Kid Andersen, Bernard Purdie, Doug MacLeod and Little Steven himself.

In 2024, Little Steven’s Blues School was featured in the documentary “Blues Town Rising,” which explores how blues music can drive cultural and community renewal. By inspiring young musicians to engage with and perform blues music, the school plays a critical role in preserving and advancing the blues tradition in Norway."
This program continues to be a beacon for blues education, proving that music can transcend borders and build vibrant communities.