Guitarist and vocalist Knut Reiersrud began playing the blues at age 12, and this year marks his 40th anniversary as an artist. He celebrated the occasion with the release of his solo album “Aftonblues” earlier this fall. On the album, he plays some of the first blues songs he ever heard\u2014and learned to play. <\/p>\n
Ever since Hartvik & The Heartbreakers and Four Roosters, Reiersrud has helped shape Norwegian blues, whether on his own, in a duo with Iver Kleive and others, or with a band. He has studied under greats such as Buddy Guy and Dr. John, and over time he has also made a name for himself with projects in the world music genre. <\/p>\n
Reiersrud performed at the first Dark Season Blues in 2003, and he returned in 2010. This year, he is joined by fiddle player Hallvard T. Bj\u00f8rgum, one of the leading figures in the tradition of Hardanger fiddle music in Norway. The world musician from Setesdal has performed with American musicians such as Eric Andersen and Garth Hudson, and is making his concert debut in Svalbard.<\/p>\n