Jon Gunnar Hansen (guitar and vocals), stage name JG Hansen, is a local singer/songwriter who is well known to the festival audience, first as a member of Howlin’ Huskies and later as a solo artist. This year he is performing for the first time with his own band, with members with experience from various bands – and Svalbard: Bjørn Pedersen (drums and vocals), Eirik Dahl (bass) and Bjørn Anders Nymoen (guitar and vocals).
Hansen has lived in Svalbard for over 25 years, and has many years behind him in the Svea mine. After the mine was closed, he worked as an electrician in the now defunct Gruve 7 just outside Longyearbyen. In his spare time, he has played in local bands such as Howlin’ Huskies, Advent Bay Poolboys and Trio Grande. As a solo artist, he plays roots-based music with elements of blues, Americana and rock, and last year he released the EP “Some Songs From The Mountain” with his own songs. “A Coal Mining Problem (In A Tourist Town)” is one of several with a local take. With the band, the repertoire is leaning more towards blues rock and a mix of self-produced material and old classics, inspired by pioneers such as Robert Johnson and newer artists like Gary Clark Jr.
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