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\u2019 Huskies and Advent Bay Poolboys, and later as a solo artist under the stage name JG Hansen. In 2024, he released the EP \u201cSome Songs From The Mountain,\u201d featuring his own roots-based songs. \u201cA Coal Mining Problem (In A Tourist Town)\u201d is one of several songs inspired by local conditions. <\/p>\n\n
Last year, he performed for the first time with his own band, and at this year\u2019s 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\u2019s a mix of roots, Americana, and blues. He\u2019s 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-\u00c5lesund and Dahl is a teacher at Longyearbyen School, so this is a true Svalbard band through and through. <\/p>\n\n
Dark Season Blues\u00a92026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n