Astrid Kloster - The High Priestess of Soul - En hyllest til Nina Simone

Astrid Kloster started out as the frontwoman of Bergen-based Aftenlandet in the 1990s. For the past 20 years, she has worked as a solo artist based in Stavanger. She has released several solo albums, including the critically acclaimed album SPOR, which was a tribute to her late friend and colleague Kenneth Sivertsen. This probably means that many people will primarily associate Astrid with the folk singer. But this lady is just as happy to sing soul, jazz and American singer-songwriter material as her own Norwegian-language music, and she does so with a big, warm voice and a distinctive ability to communicate.

The legendary African-American pianist, singer and firework of an artist; Miss Nina Simone or The High Priestess of Soul, as she was called, would have turned 90 in 2023. Nina Simone was a colourful and complex human being, with strong inner demons. She was an icon both musically and politically in the years she lived and worked. With her deep, distinctive voice, charisma and power, she captivated audiences. Together with her band, Astrid has created a musical portrait of Nina Simone, where strong interpretations of Nina's songs and stories from her life are intertwined.

The band consists of Idar Hauge on keyboards, Øystein Bru Frantzen on bass and Bjørn Tjøstolvsen on drums.