Venues - the heart of the festival experience
Dark Season Blues is known for its unique ability to create closeness between artists, audiences and locals – both musically and personally. The festival utilizes a number of small and intimate venues scattered throughout Longyearbyen, and it is precisely this that gives the festival its distinctive character. Here you can experience world-class blues in everything from a coal mine and a wooden church, to a brewery, restaurant and the town’s cultural center.
No two concert experiences are ever the same—and that’s the point. At Karlsberger Pub, you stand shoulder to shoulder with both musicians and regulars. At Gruvelageret, you can enjoy blues by candlelight along with a three-course dinner. At Svalbard Church, magical moments arise amid the silence and acoustics, while Huset provides space for larger productions and bigger crowds. The festival’s strength lies in its contrasts—and its intimacy.
By using the entire town as a stage, Dark Season Blues makes Longyearbyen itself part of the experience. The audience wanders between venues in the polar night, beneath the northern lights, enjoying a festival experience unlike any other. Here is an overview of the venues for 2026.
Croa
Kroa is a Longyearbyen institution, known for its cozy atmosphere, local history, and distinctive interior. Here you can enjoy lunch and dinner—or cap off the evening with a late-night pizza.
During the festival, Kroa serves as an important gathering place, featuring kickstart jams, blues lunches, and evening concerts from Wednesday through Sunday. During the day, priority is given to seating, while the evening concerts feature a mix of seated and standing room. In keeping with tradition, the festival concludes with a blues jam at Kroa on Sunday evening.
Seating capacity:
Day/afternoon: approx. 120 seated
Evening: approx. 200 seats and standing room
| • Richard Gjems & The High Rollers | ||
| • T-Bear and the Dukes | ||
| • Mike Farris & The Fortunate Few | ||
| • Spoonful of Blues |
The Cultural Center
Longyearbyen Kulturhus is one of the festival’s main venues and serves as the setting for the official opening of Dark Season Blues. Here, the audience will get a taste of the festival program, along with greetings from the festival and our partners.
The Kulturhuset also serves as a venue for children’s and school concerts on Friday mornings and for seated evening concerts on Thursday and Friday. The hall is set up with small tables and rows of chairs, so that the audience can sit back and enjoy the performers in a relaxed and comfortable setting. A bar and food service will be provided in collaboration with Tio Monchos.
Audience capacity: approximately 150 seated
Svalbard brewery
Svalbard Brewery is one of the festival’s most intimate venues. The concerts take place right next to the production facility, surrounded by tanks, barrels, and locally brewed craft beer.
The venue’s intimate size fosters a sense of closeness between the artists and the audience and gives the concerts a personal atmosphere. Of course, the brewery’s own beers are also served here.
Seating capacity: approximately 70.
Mine storage
At Gruvelageret, the public is invited to an atmospheric and exclusive blues dinner in historic surroundings. The former warehouse is filled with traces of Longyearbyen’s mining history, giving the concert a setting all its own.
A three-course dinner is served with a beverage package, while the music is performed up close to the audience. This is one of the festival’s most popular events and often sells out quickly.
Seating capacity: approx. 50
Karlsberger pub
Karlsberger Pub, often simply called KB, is a legendary mining-themed bar with an impressive selection of fine drinks.
This is one of the festival’s smallest and most intimate venues. The audience stands close to both the artists and each other, and when the blues fills the room, a warm and truly unique atmosphere takes hold.
Audience capacity: approximately 70 seats and standing room.
Thursday at 21.00
| • Big Creek Slim & “9Finger” Thorvaldsen | ||
| • Håkon Høye Trio |
Friday at 21.00
| • Sears Crossing | ||
| • T-Bear and the Dukes |
Saturday at 3:00 p.m.
| JG Hansen Band | ||
| • Big Creek Slim & “9Finger” Thorvaldsen |
Polarriggen – Vinterhagen Restaurant
Polarriggen is a distinctive lodging with a long tradition in Longyearbyen. The concerts are held at Vinterhagen Restaurant—a cozy, green oasis with plants, warm lighting, and a relaxed atmosphere.
The Winter Garden is well-suited for intimate concerts during the day and in the evening. Most people have seats, but there is also some space for standing room.
Audience capacity: approximately 70 seats and standing room.
Friday at 7:00 p.m.
| • JG Hansen Band | ||
| • Richard Gjems & The High Rollers |
Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
| • Mike Andersen | ||
| • T-Bear and the Dukes |
Svalbard Church
Svalbard Church holds a very special place in the festival program. Its warm and informal atmosphere offers an intimate concert experience and a nice contrast to the festival’s larger, more energetic stages.
Tickets are sold only for the number of seats available in the church itself. Audience members may also choose to watch the concert from the fireplace room.
Audience capacity: approx. 120 seated.
Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
• Gospel in the blues style
Sunday at 5:00 p.m.
• Mike Farris ( solo)
Mine 3
Mine 3 was in operation until 1996 and is now a museum and one of the festival’s most distinctive concert venues. Gruveblues takes place in the above-ground facility, surrounded by machinery, work equipment, and traces of mining operations.
The concert is a standing event, and there is a bar serving drinks. The venue can be chilly, so dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes. A shared bus from Lompensenteret is included with the ticket and is the only way to get to the event.
Audience capacity: approx. 200 standing
Saturday at 3:00 p.m.
• Krissy Matthews
Basecamp
The Basecamp Hotel is decorated in traditional trapper style and is one of Longyearbyen’s most distinctive places to stay. During this year’s festival, the hotel will be used as a concert venue for the first time.
Here, the audience is invited to an intimate concert on Friday afternoon. The small venue and rustic decor create an intimate concert experience, with seating and some standing room at the back.
Audience capacity: approximately 40 seats and standing room.
Friday at 4:00 p.m.
• Ben Poole (solo)
The House
The building has been an important gathering place in Longyearbyen for over 70 years and is one of the town’s most iconic structures. Its history is embedded in its walls, and during Dark Season Blues, both floors will once again be filled with live music.
On Saturday evening, there will be concerts on two stages, so the audience can move between different artists and musical styles throughout the evening. A free bus will run from downtown to Huset at 6:30 p.m.
Seating capacity: approximately 700 seats and standing room, spread over two floors.
Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
1st floor
• Ben Poole
• Adama Janlo
• Baskery
• Spoonful Of Blues
• Richard Gjems & The High Rollers
2nd floor
• Compagniet
• Kid Andersen
• Mike Farris & The Fortunate Few
• Sugaray Rayford
