Reidar Larsen duo at Ogna Scene

Reidar Larsen aka "Mr Blues" - 51 years in the service of live music

On 17 May 1970, there was a big youth party in Stavanger's Atlantic Hall. Reidar Larsen was on stage with his Philicorda GM751 organ in the band Evil Sect (it was supposed to be tough...) and played current songs from artists such as Eric Burdon & The Animals, Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation and Tony Joe White. Piano lessons from the age of seven and a year and a half with the secondary school band Fidibus were the background. From there, it's been smooth sailing for Larsen, both as a band member in semi-legendary bands such as Nurk Twins, Stavangerensemblet and Smalhans, and with his own solo and band projects where blues has been the main ingredient.

Today, Reidar is considered one of the pillars and veterans of Norwegian blues, with countless performances at clubs and festivals at home and abroad (especially in the USA and England), 15 of his own record releases (one Spellemannpris, three gold discs), record releases with bands such as Stavangerensemblet and Smalhans and about 100 major and minor contributions to other bands and artists' releases. Collaborative projects and guest appearances with fellow artists such as Terje Tysland, Øystein Sunde, Marius Müller, Kristin Berglund, Knut Reiersrud, Hungry John, Rita Eriksen, Ole Paus, Jonas Fjeld, Steinar Albrigtsen, Svein Tang Wa and "everyone" in the vicinity of Norwegian blues and roots have also become part of the experience baggage. In addition, performances with Roy Rogers and other visiting artists such as "Banana" aka Lowell Levinger, Lowell Fulson, Alexis Korner, Peter Green, Mike Vernon, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Delbert McClinton, Mike Ledbetter & Mike Welch, Garth Hudson and Louisiana Red both live and on disc. Reidar can also look back on many years of collaboration with Ann Sinclair & The Spirit Of Love Singers from the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York, where Jan Erik Kongshaug was central to the work on a couple of concert discs. At most, Larsen has performed around 120 times a year, but he is now down to a more moderate pace with "only" around 75. Over the past few years, his side project Froddi & Compagniet has also grown.

I 2020 fylte Reidar 65 år i tillegg til at han feiret 50 år som artist. Et dobbelt jubelår var planlagt, men mye forsvant i covid-19. Likevel har en god del blitt tatt igjen som «51-års-jubileum» i 2021 med bl.a. Nidaros Blues i Trondheim, Notodden Blues Festival, Blues in Hell i Stjørdal osv. i tillegg til konserter på mange større og mindre klubbscener. Det er planlagt ferdigstilling av en eller to nye plater i løpet av 2022, da flere norske og engelske sanger i stor grad er klare. Reidar opptrer i flere formater, både solo, duo, og til og med storband. Det vanligste bandformatet er likevel med «hjemmelaget» Nå har han med seg:

Arne R. Skage: Gitarer

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Doors open at 12.45pm with Violetas pizza on sale.

ARE YOU COMING BY TRAIN?

It's not a long walk from Ogna station to Ogna Scene (15 min) but with Ogna Scene's Shuttle bus service, they pick up and drop off their fantastic audience members who are going to Ogna Scene at Ogna train station completely free of charge.

They arrange it so that those who take the train from Stavanger will be picked up at 12.50 (approx.). From Egersund 13.36 (approx.).

They will also bring you to the station after the concert.

Ogna Scene wants to make it easy and comfortable for you.

NB. They only have one car... If there are many people to be driven, there may be a 5-10 minute wait.