One would think it was Christmas already, as many wishes as we at the Øya office have fulfilled this week. A few days ago they released AURORA and KVELERTAK, both of which will play on Saturday 15th August. That day is started by an artist we have been following since the festival’s childhood year, SONDRE LERCHE. Organisers also fill up for other days, with three UK highlights – FLOATING POINTS will bring its very own variety of club music in large format, while old favorites SUEDE are finally ready for their first Øya Festival concert. The latter is in great shape and has impressed at several important festivals in recent years. In addition, organisers are very pleased that FKA TWIGS is playing her first Oslo concert in Tøyenparken in August 2020.

The English multi-talented Tahliah Barnett is known as FKA TWIGS. In 2019 came her much-anticipated second album Magdalene. The release is seen as one of the absolute highlights of the year by several music media. Pitchfork gave the enormously strong 9.4 out of 10, and wrote: – MAGDALENE is not just on the vanguard of pop, in a breathtaking class of its own.

Growing up, she should have been involved in everything from jazz to soul to post-punk and avant-garde, which explains her unpredictability and variety. Originally, she was to become a dancer and has appeared in several music videos, but the desire to make her own music became bigger and bigger. She has also worked on film and choreography. Prior to her debut album LP1 (2014), she had released a couple of EPs that received a lot of attention.

She has collaborated with exciting people like Future, Dev Hynes, Cashmere Cat, ASAP Rocky, Nicolas Jaar and Oneohtrix Point Never. FKA TWIGS has been one of this decade’s most exciting new names. We think she will be just that in the next decade as well.

Twigs has undeniable star power but seemingly zero interest in being a star in the traditional sense. She makes unwaveringly idiosyncratic music and eludes the spotlight whenever she can. But in front of an audience she is a true performer. Unlike many other singers, she challenges her dancers to keep up with her, not the other way around.

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Organisers have been wishing for FKA TWIGS at Øya festival for a few years, and organisers are thrilled that she will be coming to Tøyenparken in 2020. This will be her first concert in Oslo, and she promises to make a fabulous show.

SUEDE immediately broke through with his debut album in 1993, making their mark on British pop and rock for a number of years. They were audience and media favorites throughout the 1990s, while frontman Brett Anderson was the front cover choice for the English music magazines. After a few years of break, they reunited in 2010 to continue their success.

The band’s first four albums were all huge successes in their home country. The last two of them, Coming Up (1996) and Head Music (1999), also reached the top positions on the Norwegian sales list. All eight of SUEDE‘s singles have been top ten hits, including Animal Nitrate, Trash, Filmstar, Electricity and Beautiful Ones. Of course, we hope some of these will be played in Tøyenparken. Since they started playing together again, there have been three strong albums and a number of tours that show a band in big form.

SUEDE was one of the most important bands in a big wave of catchy guitar-based bands in the 90s, often referred to as brit pop. The band’s distinctive and very British sound had traces of past greats such as The Smiths and Bowie. We are looking forward to old and new SUEDE material on Friday night under the Island.

SONDRE LERCHE never stops playing or surprises. In 2020, he finally releases his new album, Patience, the sequel to double Spellemann Prize-nominated Please (2014) and critically acclaimed Pleasure (2017). In addition, he debuted as an author with the essay collection “All songs are about you” January 9 at Flame publishing house.

After touring the world, from Ål to Rio, with nearly 150 performances of the euphoric concert experience Pleasure in 2017, SONDRE abruptly withdrew from touring. In 2018, he moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, composed film music in Hollywood, wrote a book, ran some marathons – and now Norway’s most versatile and eclectic pop artist has outdone himself with his most poignant and amazing record so far in life and career.

Patience has taken its time, but should now be completely done. Ever since the historic hailstorm that interrupted the Øya debut in 2001, SONDRE has regularly returned to Øya festival – in constant motion, with an ever-growing arsenal of phenomenal tunes, from Two Way Monologue to Sentimentalist. And after the legendary Performance Please performance, which LERCHE and the band played Øya at sunset in 2015, it is with great pleasure that SONDRE and his regular quartet return now to complete the album trio the ogie on Øya’s biggest scene.

I feel like I grew up as an artist with the Island, so sharing Patience – a record that has almost driven me crazy – is especially rewarding – with the people at the Island Festival. I promise a soothing and refreshing experience, with songs from all over the journey so far.

Sondre Lerche

Sam Shepherd is the man behind the name FLOATING POINTS. He makes music suitable for both club life and listening. The debut album Elaenia was released in 2015 and received very good reception. It was released in the US on David Byrne’s label Luaka Bop. In 2019 came the album Crush, released on Ninja Tune. It went straight into first place on the UK dance chart. Pitchfork referred to the album as “an album of mischievous, melodic, stripped-down electronic music”, while Mixmag had it as the album of the month.

His broad musical curiosity shines through FLOATING POINTS‘ own music, with traces of everything from funk and jazz to house and techno. Allmusic.com has called his latest music “a raw and uncompromising blast of experimental – yet accessible – electronica“.

FLOATING POINTS sell out in big cities on both sides of the Atlantic. A couple of years ago he toured with The xx. This summer’s concerts will be based on the more danceable aspects of his music, and he will bring out some old favorites. We guarantee musical and visual enjoyment.

Ticket and accommodation packages for Øya Festival 2020 are on sale now from our friends Festicket, the world’s largest music festival travel website – just click the image below and choose the deal that works best for you!