Dark Season Blues
Dark Season Blues is an annual blues music festival in late October, at 78 degrees north in Longyearbyen (Svalbard) in Norway, and marks the beginning of the dark season when daylight and the sun is about to leave Svalbard for four winter months.
The festival lasts four days, and features local, Norwegian and international musicians performing in most of Longyearbyen's venues.
The festival is based on voluntary work in order to carry out the event. The economic goal is to break even, and any surplus is transferred to next year's festival.
The first Dark Season Blues festival was arranged in 2003, and has run without interruption until the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 festivals. It started out as a small intimate festival, and presented 15 bands spread on 17 events in 2010.
== Past performers ==
=== 2011 ===
Dark Season Blues 2011Bryan Lee (US)
Mike Zito (US)
JW-Jones (CA)
Tina Lie (NO)
Mike Andersen Band (DK)
Micke & Lefty feat. Chef (FI)
T-Bear & The Dukes of Rhythm (SE)
Eric ‘Slim’ Zahl & the South West Swinger (NO)
The Douglas Group (NO)
Blåmyra (NO)
Bright Side Five (NO)
=== 2010 ===
Dark Season Blues 2010The Reba Russel Band
Victor Wainwright
Cadillac Kings
Grainne Duffy
Knut Reiersrud
Rita Engedalen & Margit Bakken with guests Tuva Syvertsen & Susanne Hansen
Dave Fields
Noora Noor
Ledfoot / Tim Scott McConnell
Linda Gail Lewis
Bill Sims Jr
Westby Band
Deadwood
Longyearbyen Storband
Blaamyra
=== 2009 ===
Dark Season Blues 2009Bobby Jones
Jackie Payne & Steve Edmondson band
Billy Gibson feat Dave Fields
JT. Lauritsen & The Buckshot Hunters
Kirk Fletcher band
Hemisfair
Tinal Lie
Groovy Company
Joakim Tinderholt Express
Blaamyra
=== 2008 ===
Dark Season Blues 2008Super Chikan
Billy Gibson
Sherman Robertson
Greasy Gravy
Bedrock Bluesband
Monika Nordli m/band
Rita Engedalen & Backbone
Little Jenny & The Blue Beans
Dr. Bekken
Blackbirds
Billy T Band
Howlin’ Huskies
Blaamyra Bluegrass
=== 2007 ===
Dark Season Blues 2007The Mannish Boys
Dr.Bekken
Spoonful of Blues
Orbo & the longshots
Trond Ytterbø Band
Little Jenny & The Blue Beans
Billy T Band
Little Victor
Steinar Albrigtsen & Monika Nordli
Howlin’Huskies
=== 2006 ===
Dark Season Blues 2006Sherman Robertson
Sky High
Vidar Busk
Kåre Virud Band
Buzz Brothers
Rita Engedalen & Margit Bakken
J.T. Lauritsen Band
The buzzers
Varpen
=== 2005 ===
Dark Season Blues 2005Paal Flaata
Frode Alnæs
Peer Gynt Band
Reidar Larsen & The Storytellers
Rita Engedalen & Backbone
Mitch Kasmar
Rick Holmstrom
Arsen Shomakhov
Peter Price
Spoonful of Blues
RC Finnigan & The Blue Flames
Billy T Band
=== 2004 ===
Dark Season Blues 2004Amund Maarud
Kid Andersen
RC Finnigan
Erik Bergene
Noise Pollution
Fingerprint
Good Time Charlie
Dark Season All Star band
=== 2003 ===
Dark Season Blues 2003Knut Reiersrud
JB and the Delta Jukes
Allen’s PitList of blues festivals

== External links ==
Homepage Dark Season Blues
Facebook page