On July 8 to 14 2013 was, thank an enthusiastic organizer Dagfinn Pedersen, held in the little town of Gjerstad on the south of Norway in a beautiful Nordic country Bluegrass Workshop and Festival. The workshop, itself, which was located in Gjerstad school participated in up to fifty students, mainly from Norway, but also from other European countries. This year Dagfinn collected lectors from the USA, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Norway, and Italy.
- Banjo – Petr Brandejs (CZ)
- Harmony singing – Sue Thompson (US) and Don Share (US)
- Mandolin – Radim Zenkl (US)
- Guitar – Ralph Schut (NL/CZ)
- Guitar – Ondra Kozak (CZ)
- Dobro – Henrich Novak (SK)
- Fiddle – Martin Burza (SK)
- Fiddle – Oystein Fosshagen (NO)
- Bass – Davide (IT)
The lessons took place from Monday to Thursday every day from morning to evening which in Norway looked like afternoon due to “long” days and consisted of the actual study of individual instruments and harmony singing and from extremely popular “band labs” in the afternoon.
On Thursday evening started in the local mill and amphitheater with performances of “band lab” groups the Festival itself. The festival ran through Sunday with performances of Norwegian and foreign bands and groups. Sue Thompson band, Radin Zenkl, and friends, G-Runs and Roses, just to name the foreign ones.
I enjoyed being a part of the workshop as a lector and at the festival, as a member of Sue Thompson Band, met old and new musical colleagues, students, and fans.
To learn more about this event, here is the link to the festival’s website and workshops:
workshop and festival a facebook profile
