Back at Moldejazz!

Growing up close to the town Molde meant that I was able to enjoy the amazing Moldejazz festival every summer. For those of you that don't know this festival here are some quick facts:

• - It was established in 1961, and been arranged every year since - making it one of the oldest jazz festivals in Europe.
  
• - During Moldejazz, the number of people in Molde is estimated to be five times as high as the rest of the year. Molde during Moldejazz is a different town than the rest of the year.
• - Some of the most famous jazz artists visiting the festival is: Chick Corea (3 times), Miles Davis (2 times), Pat Metheny (2 times), Herbie Hancock (5 times) and Dizzy Gillespie.
  
• - The 2008 festival: 6 days, 16 different stages, 61 concerts, 54 artists/groups.

The festival is not only jazz. To secure enough income, and to make it a festival for everyone, not just the jazz-lovers, the festival always features one or more big non-jazz artists as well. These concerts are held at the wonderful out-doors stage at Romsdalsmuseet (The Romsdalen Folk Museum) with a capacity of about 8000. These concerts have always been the subject of discussion, some feeling that it's wrong that Moldejazz features non-jazz artists.

Big non-jazz artists featured on that stage have been Sting, Mary J Blige, Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, Ray Charles, Santana, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and Blues Brothers.

Moldejazz will always be special for me, and I think I will always enjoying going back and enjoy this wonderful festival. And it feels really good to be back again this year after a couple of years absence. I'm attending six concerts, and have very high expectations :)