Back in 2004 Mayall was honoured with the Blues Award at Notodden in honour of his effort as the main ambassador for the blues in Europe. Together with his colleagues, Mayall was responsible for introducing the blues music to a pan European audience, before the American blues had managed to find foothold across the continent. John Mayall is still going strong and releases albums as well as doing frequent tours.

Notodden will be the focal point of a small Scandinavian Tour this autumn.

Amund Maarud, Billy T Band and Vidar Busk are the ones competing for the Norwegian Grammy Award aka Spellemannsprisen.
Maarud is nominated for his album 'Dirt', Billy T Band for the album 'Mo-Billy-T', while Vidar Busk & His Bubble of Trouble received a nomination for 'Troublecaster'.

During a press conference at DogA, in Oslo, Norway on February 12, the nominees gathered to celebrate, and maybe even wish each other luck. Left to right:

Bill Troiani, Ole Evensen, Ian Fredrick Johannessen, Vidar Busk, Håkon Høye, Alexander Pettersen (two nominations) and Amund Maarud.

On February 1st, representatives from Bluesnews and the Norwegian Blues Union were present in Memphis, TN, USA, where they received the 2012 Keeping The Blues Alive Award in the category 'print media'. 14 other awards were also handed out during the ceremony.

Board member of Bluesnews, Elisabeth Solum and leader of the Norwegian Blues Union, Bitten Svendsen, accepted the trophy on behalf of the magazine. 

Picture left to right: Kåre Amundsen, Gøran Stensrud, Anlaug Landsverk, Bitten Svendsen, Ragnhild Naas, Elisabeth Solum and Arne Swedin. (Photo: Roald Jungård).

Bluesplayer Amund Maarud is awarded with a Norwegian Grammy – in Norway called Spellemannspris – for his 2011 release "Electric".

In 1971, I was asked by Pete Lowry, the owner of Trix Records, to go with him to Chapel Hill University in North Carolina, and be part of the house band at an historic concert there.  It was to be the first blues concert held on campus. The great Peg Leg Sam was there, as well as Eddie Kirkland, Frank Edwards, Tar Heel Slim, Roy Dunn and Guitar Shorty, among others.

Billy T Band is awarded with a Norwegian Grammy – in Norway called Spellemannspris – for their 2010 CD-release L.O.V.E. (Just a Silly Notion). 27 different awards were announced during the big TV show in Oslo Spektrum March 6. On the picture, Billy T Band with the trofe, from left Bill Troiani, Alexander Pettersen, Håkon Høye and Ian Fredrick Johannessen. (Photo: Harald Olsen).

The Spellemann is the Norwegian equivalent of the Grammy Award. Three well known names on the Norwegian blues scene are nominated in the category Blues for 2010. They are Billy T Band, Eric "Slim" Zahl & The South West Swingers and Little Andrew. Picture from left Eric Zahl, Andreas Stamnes and Bill Troiani. (Photo: Merete Eide)

Apart from meeting polar bears, this year's blues festival at Svalbard - from 21 to 24 October - offered all kinds of experiences. The lineup included local, national and international artists and bands. Visitors could take sightseeing tours, check out the kennels, watch a curious polar fox listen to the music outside the main venue, or behold the spectacular northern lights. Longyearbyen was bathed in moonlight most of the time, and the always smiling organizers did everything in their power to satisfy their guests. The picture shows the festival artist Bill Sims Jr.

The Norwegian Blues Union (NBU) and The European Blues Union (EBU) invite Norwegian blues artists to participate in the newly formed European competition for blues artists, The European Blues Challenge. The idea for the contest, held in Berlin in March 2011, is from the International Blues Challenge held every year by The Blues Foundation in Memphis, USA.

Many highlights and magic moments were presented from the main stage "Magic Mirror" at this year's Blues in Hell. On Friday Roffe Wikström, Omar & The Howlers, Bernie Marsden and Dana Gillespie ruled. Saturday it was the New Yorkers Popa Chubby (picture) and Chris Bergson, and not to forget soul diva Bettye LaVette, who gave the audience great moments.

The 23rd Notodden Blues Festival opened Thursday 5 August. The opening was as always marked with a free concert on the main stage with musical samples from some of the festival artists. The prestigious blues prize was awarded Notodden's successful blues singer Rita Engedalen. On the main stage at night Solomon Burke was back after five years and showed once again who is the King of Soul in 2010 (photo). Photo: Roald Jungård.

With ZZ Top as headliner Skånevik Blues Festival had the biggest crowd ever the first weekend of July. Not only the mega stars from Texas contributed to this year's success. The audience could enjoy memorable concerts from artists like Bergen Blues Band, Knut Reiersrud, Trampled Under Foot, Beth Hart and Aynsley Lister. Festival boss Alf Warloe Christophersen and his crew of volunteers worked hard the whole weekend and gave artists and visitors a great blues weekend. Some logistical problems around ZZ Top's concert Friday, otherwise everything went smoothly. Once again a successful festival! (Photo: Roald Jungård).

The idea of a blues festival at the small town Hagan in Vestfold county was conceived one late night during Dark Season Blues at Svalbard. Four years later the wild nachspiel idea has grown into a well-run festival with a very good musical program. (Picture: Earl Thomas & The Coalminers).