Photo: Mathias Fossum

“Four ladies who thrash banjos, pluck fiddles, and bang marching drums, garbage cans, and cookie jars (!) like Appalachian witches drunk on White Lightning.”
– Spin.com

(NettwerkPressBlog) Norwegian all-female foursome Katzenjammer are set to release their debut album Le Pop in North America on May 4, 2010, with their new single “Tea With Cinnamon” out March 2.

Le Pop, which was produced by Kåre Westrheim and Mike Hartung (known for their work with notable Norwegian artists Marit Larsen and Superfamily), showcases the ladies eclectic blend of genres, which one Norwegian reviewer described as ”a mix between Eastern European folk music, B-52s, the sisters Kate & Anna McGarrigle, seasick bluegrass, country blues and a carnival orchestra on the run.” Le Pop not only earned Katzenjammer a nomination for “Newcomer of the Year” at the Norwegian Grammy Awards, but also the distinct honor of opening the show with their hit single “A Bar In Amsterdam.”

The quartet first stormed the States with their circus of a live show in Austin at SXSW last year, where they commanded the attention of industry types and music lovers alike with their raucous set consisting of the rotation of up to 29 instruments on which that the four women are self-taught, including the tuba, the balalaika bass, drums, harmonica, piano, banjo, accordion, mandolin, guitar, melodica and trumpet. They also caught the attention of David Byrne, who invited them to play his artist-curated stage at 2009’s Bonnaroo, alongside Santigold, the Dirty Projectors and Dave Byrne and Brian Eno, and ended their US run with a stop by Summerfest where they opened for Elvis Costello.

After witnessing their live set at Bonnaroo, New York Times critic Jon Pareles wrote:
“They came on like a Norwegian version of the B-52’s, pounding a beat and chirping random phrases in unison, but that didn’t last. Soon they were bouncing to a polka (complete with trumpet), or singing in pure close harmony that suggested Scandinavian traditional music, or delivering a cherry-pie recipe over a ukulele-strumming tune suggesting 1920’s jazz (with close-harmony “diddley-diddley-diddleys), or going near-Goth with a raspy song about “walking in the big black woods,” or sharing an a cappella dirge (with a drumbeat) about a dust storm. Accordion, banjo and kazoo came and went; their finale was a bluegrassy bounce. There was no telling what they’d do next, except that it was sure to be deft and charming.”

Katzenjammer – Solveig Heilo, Anne Marit Bergheim, Turid Jørgensen and Marianne Sveen – will announce N. American tour dates in the coming months, but have already been confirmed to join the 2010 Lilith Tour, along with artists like Sarah McLachlan, Mary J. Bilge, Norah Jones, Loretta Lynn, Sugarland, Metric, Sia and more!

They came on like a Norwegian version of the B-52’s, pounding a beat and chirping random phrases in unison, but that didn’t last. Soon they were bouncing to a polka (complete with trumpet), or singing in pure close harmony that suggested Scandinavian traditional music, or delivering a cherry-pie recipe over a ukulele-strumming tune suggesting 1920’s jazz (with close-harmony “diddley-diddley-diddleys), or going near-Goth with a raspy song about “walking in the big black woods,” or sharing an a cappella dirge (with a drumbeat) about a dust storm. Accordion, banjo and kazoo came and went; their finale was a bluegrassy bounce. There was no telling what they’d do next, except that it was sure to be deft and charming.

After Bonnaroo, they’re headed to New York, to play the Mercury Lounge on Tuesday.

ArtsBeat / New York Times

The editors at SPIN Magazine pick 25 “Must-Hear Acts” from the meaty line-up at the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee. Topping the list: Katzenjammer from Oslo, Norway!

Hometown: Oslo, Norway
Why they matter: Four ladies who thrash banjos, pluck fiddles, and bang marching drums, garbage cans, and cookie jars (!) like Appalachian witches drunk on White Lightning. If their live set is as raucous and fun as their sound, prepare for a crazed Bonnaroo hootenanny.
You should know: The word “katzenjammer” is German, meaning “discordant sound” — and is also sometimes used to indicate a general state of depression or bewilderment.

read more @ SPIN

David Byrne keeping an eye on Norwegian music. Photo: Tom Sheehan

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is an annual four-day giant bonanza that takes place in Manchester, Tennessee every June. Rolling Stone once called the festival “one of the 50 moments that changed the history of rock’n'roll”.

Bonnaroo brings together some of the best performers in rock and roll, along with dozens of artists in complementary styles such as jazz, Americana, hip-hop, electronica, and just about any contemporary music you can think of. In addition to dozens of epic performances, the festival’s 100-acre entertainment village buzzes around the clock with attractions and activities including a classic arcade, on-site cinema, silent disco, comedy club, theater performers, a beer festival, and a music technology village.

This year, Bonnaroo have decided to try something new – letting an artist curate one of their stages. They picked none other than renaissance man David Byrne for the job – former front man for the Talking Heads, Brian Eno-collaborator,  globe-trotting solo-artist, net pioneer, artist, writer and much more.

He has picked an eclectic list of acts to share the stage with Byrne & Eno on Friday June 12 – Santigold, The Dirty Projectors, Ani DiFranco, St. Vincent and … wait for it… Katzenjammer!

“We’ve been interested in inviting artists to play a curatorial role in Bonnaroo for some time now,” says festival founder and producer Ashley Capps. “David was the logical choice for us and we were thrilled that he agreed. His love for music of all kinds and his passion for sharing that music make him the ultimate musical guide.”

“This was an easy one”, says Byrne. “I basically reeled off a list of what I was listening to recently or who I had seen live recently and Ashley and Co did the rest. It’s not like these folks need me to introduce them to a wider audience, at least I don’t think they do…I’m just thrilled they’ll be added to the festival lineup”.