Kid Andersen returns to Longyearbyen with a heavy blues history, J.T. Lauritsen & The Buckshot Hunters come in award-winning form, Ben Poole offers British blues rock, and our own JG Hansen gives us Svalbard stories from Longyearbyen and Svea.
Kid Andersen (US/NO)
Christoffer “Kid” Andersen from Herre in Telemark has long since become a big name in the international blues world. As a guitarist, producer and driving force behind Greaseland Studios in California, he has worked with some of the genre’s leading artists. He’s played with Charlie Musselwhite, John Nemeth and Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, winning awards both as a musician and producer. Now he returns to Dark Season Blues with a strong team of musicians behind him.
J.T. Lauritsen & The Buckshot Hunters (NO)
J.T. Lauritsen & The Buckshot Hunters have been playing their own blend of blues, soul and fun since 1991, and are more relevant than ever. Their album Still Be Friends marked 30 years as recording artists, won the Blues Music Award for best international blues album and was nominated for Spellemannprisen. During Dark Season Blues 2026, the audience will get to experience both the band with their own concert and as backing for American Sugaray Rayford.
Ben Poole (UK)
British guitarist Ben Poole is one of the guitarists at the forefront of a new, rocking generation of blues musicians. As a teenager he was already making a name for himself in British blues clubs, and since then he has earned praise from greats such as Jeff Beck, Gary Moore, John Mayall and Walter Trout. With roots in Hendrix-inspired guitar playing, blues and rock, Poole has developed a powerful expression. Now he’s finally coming to Dark Season Blues.
JG Hansen (NO)
JG Hansen is a familiar name to Dark Season Blues audiences, both from Howlin’ Huskies and as a solo artist. After more than 25 years in Svalbard, with a background from Svea and Gruve 7, he writes songs with clear local roots. His music moves in a roots-based landscape with elements of blues, Americana and rock. In 2024, he released the EP Some Songs From The Mountain, with his own songs inspired by life in the north.
