Jon Gunnar Hansen has lived on Svalbard for over 25 years and has worked at the now-closed Svea Mine and as an electrician at the now-closed Mine 7. The songwriter and vocalist is well known to festival audiences, first as a member of bands such as Howlin’ Huskies and Advent Bay Poolboys, and later as a solo artist under the stage name JG Hansen. In 2024, he released the EP “Some Songs From The Mountain,” featuring his own roots-based songs. “A Coal Mining Problem (In A Tourist Town)” is one of several songs inspired by local conditions.
Last year, he performed for the first time with his own band, and at this year’s Dark Season Blues, the audience will get a sneak peek at what will soon be a full-length album by the band, featuring original songs about mining, love, polar heroes, and wild animals. Genre-wise, it’s a mix of roots, Americana, and blues. He’s been joined by the acclaimed producer, drummer, and percussionist Finn Sletten, who has participated in over 100 recordings, particularly within the jazz and folk traditions. The bassist is Eirik Dahl, who was also a member of the JG Hansen Band last year. Sletten grew up in Ny-Ålesund and Dahl is a teacher at Longyearbyen School, so this is a true Svalbard band through and through.
Dark Season Blues©2026
