Shining FTW

Shining is first act to win 1 million NOK from A-ha's stipend fund competition, beating out runner-up Hanne Hukkelberg.

A-ha - Butterfly, butterfly (the last hurrah)

A-ha's new (final?) single "Butterfly, butterfly (the last hurrah)" is posted for preview: http://www.warnerwall.no/h%C3%B8r-den-nye-singelen-til-a-ha/
The track will be available as a paid download on July 5 and will also be included on "25", the band's best-of compilation to be released on July 19.

8 finalists chosen for A-ha millions

Eight finalists have been chosen to be potential recipients of the lucrative A-ha stipend: http://www.vg.no/musikk/artikkel.php?artid=10008166 (in Norwegian)
The artists in question: Shining, Hanne Hukkelberg, Moddi, Adjagas, Casiokids, Lars Vaular, Susanne Sundfør and Pink Robots.

A-ha live report

Chromewaves reports on seeing the A-ha farewell tour stop in Toronto: http://www.chromewaves.net/2010/05/a-ha-and-ray-materick-at-massey-hall-in-toronto/

A-ha to give away millions for new talent

A-ha will be directly contributing to up-and-coming Norwegian artists by giving four lucky acts 1 million NOK each plus an opening slot on their farewell tour. Read more: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2010030115553739489127

A-ha announces final UK dates

A-ha has announced UK dates for their farewell tour: http://www.a-ha.com/news/languages/english/AHA_fullStory.aspx?PostID=5810

A-ha to play final US dates in May

US dates have been announced for A-ha's worldwide farewell tour: http://www.a-ha.com/tour/
NYC and LA only and fan presales are already gone, but that's the way it goes.

Apparatjik to play live, release album

Soundvenue is reporting that Apparatjik, the all-star project featuring Jonas Bjerre (Mew), Guy Berryman (Coldplay) and Magne Furuholmen (A-ha), will be making their live debut on February 1 at the CTM Festival in Berlin where they will perform inside of a glass cube. Or something like that. And they'll be releasing their full-length debut that day too. Read more: http://www.soundvenue.com/nyheder/2010/01/29/albumdebut-fra-apparatjik-paa-vej (in Danish)
More in English: http://www.twentyfourbit.com/post/358746952/apparatjik-to-perform-in-glass-cube-drop-debut-album

Apparatjik confirm new single

Apparatjik, the all-star project featuring Jonas Bjerre (Mew), Guy Berryman (Coldplay) and Magne Furuholmen (A-ha), will release the new single "Electric eye" as a digital download on November 30 via their own (cryptic) website: http://www.apparatjik.com/

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Donkeyboy - Caugh in a Life
02. Bjørn Eidsvåg - De Beste
03. Jonas Fjeld feat Henning Kvitnes - Den Gamle Veien
04. Sivert Høyem - Moon Landing
05. Herborg Kråkevik - Kvar Ein Dag
06. Ole Ivars - Femten Ferske
07. Nilsen/Aalberg - Call Me a Dreamer
08. The Blacksheeps - Blacksheeps
09. Anne Nørdsti - Livet er nå
10. Kråkesølv - Trådnøsting
11. Tord Gustavsen Ensemble - Restored, Returned
12. Malin - Malin
13. John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen - For Sant Til Å Være Godt
14. Diverse artister - Go'natt
15. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
16. Alf Prøysen - De kjente og kjære sangene
17. Kings Of Convenience - Declaration of Dependence
18. Solveig Slettahjell - Tarpan Seasons
19. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
20. Mari Boine - Sterna Paradisea

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Donkeyboy - Caugh in a Life
02. Bjørn Eidsvåg - De Beste
03. Sivert Høyem - Moon Landing
04. Jonas Fjeld feat Henning Kvitnes - Den Gamle Veien
05. Anne Nørdsti - Livet er nå
06. The Blacksheeps - Blacksheeps
07. Tord Gustavsen Ensemble - Restored, Returned
08. Solveig Slettahjell - Tarpan Seasons
09. Herborg Kråkevik - Kvar Ein Dag
10. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2009
11. Diverse artister - Go'natt
12. Mari Boine - Sterna Paradisea
13. Kings Of Convenience - Declaration of Dependence
14. Bjølsen Valsemølle - Mohammeds Cafe
15. John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen - For Sant Til Å Være Godt
16. Minor Majority - Either Way I Think You Know
17. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
18. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
19. Thomas Dybdahl - En Samling
20. OnklP & Jaa9 - Sellout!

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Sivert Høyem - Moon Landing
02. Jonas Fjeld feat Henning Kvitnes - Den Gamle Veien
03. The Blacksheeps - Blacksheeps
04. Asbjørn Ribe - Ornand Vet Hvordan
05. Minor Majority - Either Way I Think You Know
06. Kings Of Convenience - Declaration of Dependence
07. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2009
08. Solveig Slettahjell - Tarpan Seasons
09. John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen - For Sant Til Å Være Godt
10. Anne Nørdsti - Livet er nå
11. Mari Boine - Sterna Paradisea
12. Thomas Dybdahl - En Samling
13. Tommy Tee - Studio Time
14. OnklP & Jaa9 - Sellout!
15. Immortal - All Shall Fall
16. Steinar Engelbrektson Band - Minna Som Eg Har
17. The Cumshots - A Life Less Necessar
18. Adjagas - Mànu Ràvdnji
19. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
20. Paperboys - Oslo Agreement

A-ha calls it quits

A-ha has announced they'll be officially breaking up after 25 years and will be playing for the last time ever on December 4, 2010 in Oslo. Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8308829.stm

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Sivert Høyem - Moon Landing
02. Kings Of Convenience - Declaration of Dependence
03. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2009
04. John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen - For Sant Til Å Være Godt
05. Solveig Slettahjell - Tarpan Seasons
06. Thomas Dybdahl - En Samling
07. Mari Boine - Sterna Paradisea
08. OnklP & Jaa9 - Sellout!
09. The Cumshots - A Life Less Necessar
10. Steinar Engelbrektson Band - Minna Som Eg Har
11. Paperboys - Oslo Agreement
12. Yoga Fire - Fuck You Eller Penga Tilbake
13. a-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
14. Jan Garbarek Group - Dresden - In Concert
15. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
16. Röyksopp - Junior
17. Askil Holm - Rolling The Slow Bus Home
18. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Halleluja Live Vol. 2
19. Christina Bjordal - Warrior Of Light
20. Stavangerensemblet - Samlekasse

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2009
02. Solveig Slettahjell - Tarpan Seasons
03. John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen - For Sant Til Å Være Godt
04. Kings Of Convenience - Declaration of Dependence
05. OnklP & Jaa9 - Sellout!
06. Thomas Dybdahl - En Samling
07. Jan Garbarek Group - Dresden - In Concert
08. Ghost Dog - First Book of Samuel
09. Mari Boine - Sterna Paradisea
10. Steinar Engelbrektson Band - Minna Som Eg Har
11. Alexander Rybak - Fairytales
12. Paperboys - Oslo Agreement
13. Stavangerensemblet - Samlekasse
14. A-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
15. Röyksopp - Junior
16. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Halleluja Live Vol. 2
17. Bjørn Berge - Fretwork
18. Hilde Heltberg - Elske Fritt
19. Contrazt - Uten Kart og Kompass
20. Eriksen - De aller beste