Vidar Vang
Encyclopedia
Vidar Andre Vang is a Norwegian songwriter and musician. He has recorded five full length albums.
. Some of his earlier work can be heard on his very limited release, the 1999 album Blue.
. During this period, friemanns lead guitarist Gaute Fredriksen and Vang started to collaborate on music and lyrics, a collaboration which continues to this day. They embarked on a Norwegian tour in August 2001, selling their eponymously titled EP at shows.
In the summer of 2002, the band released a four-title EP in anticipation of their first full-length album Rodeo. By now, Vidar Vang & friemann had become Vidar Vang & The Northern Men, and this would be the official name and lineup during 2002, 2003 and 2004.
. In September 2007, he opened for The Waterboys
on the three dates of the Norwegian leg of their European tour.
EPs
Singles
Early life
Vidar Vang began his musical career by singing lead vocals in various local bands as a teenager. By the age of 17 he was writing his own songs. As his songwriting abilities progressed, he left his teaching job and set out to become a full time musician, relocating to OsloOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. Some of his earlier work can be heard on his very limited release, the 1999 album Blue.
The Northern Men
In 2000, Vang and several of his friends came together to form Vidar Vang & friemann. Apart from bassist Eirik Bjarghov, all band members were natives of Vangs hometown BjerkvikBjerkvik
Bjerkvik is a village in the municipality of Narvik, Norway. Its population is 1,220. Bjerkvik is located at the head of Herjangsfjorden, an arm of Ofotfjord in the northeastern corner of Nordland county. There is less than 20 km to the border with Troms...
. During this period, friemanns lead guitarist Gaute Fredriksen and Vang started to collaborate on music and lyrics, a collaboration which continues to this day. They embarked on a Norwegian tour in August 2001, selling their eponymously titled EP at shows.
In the summer of 2002, the band released a four-title EP in anticipation of their first full-length album Rodeo. By now, Vidar Vang & friemann had become Vidar Vang & The Northern Men, and this would be the official name and lineup during 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Solo career
In 2005, Vang split amicably from The Northern Men, hired session musicians and recorded an acoustic self-titled album. Compared to the all out rocking on his two preceding albums, Vidar Vang was toned down, had more introspective lyrics than its predecessors and was met with good, sometimes rave reviews in the Norwegian musical press.Touring
In May and June 2005, Vang opened for Madrugada on their Norwegian and European tour in support of The Deep End. He has also toured extensively on his own behalf, amongst other for the Norwegian cultural project Concerts NorwayConcerts Norway
Concerts Norway was established in 1967 on the initiative of the Arts Council Norway , with the main purpose described as follows: "Concerts Norway should do living music of high artistic quality accessible to all people in the country." The organization had its opening concert in Hammerfest...
. In September 2007, he opened for The Waterboys
The Waterboys
The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland and England. Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York, and Findhorn have all served as homes for the group. The band has played in a...
on the three dates of the Norwegian leg of their European tour.
The Northern Men band members
- Vidar Vang (guitar, vocals, harmonica, organ)
- Gaute Fredriksen (guitar, backing vocals)
- Eirik Bjarghov (bass, backing vocals)
- Kenneth Simonsen (drums, percussion)
- Raymond Jensen (bass, guitar, keyboards)
Other musicians
- Michael Lindqvist (piano, keyboards)
- Lise Sørensen (violin, backing vocals)
- Erland Dahlen (drums, percussion)
- Bjørn Holm (bass)
- Ingrid Olava Brænd EriksenIngrid Olava-External links:* at Goldstar Music...
(backing vocals)
Discography
Albums- Blue (1999)
- Rodeo (2002) (also on limited edition vinyl plus CD with five bonus tracks)
- Stand Up Straight (2004)
- Vidar Vang (2006)
- Sleepless Songs (2010)
EPs
- Vidar Vang & friemann (2001)
- Under Six Strings (2002)
Singles
- Happy (2004)
- Love, Love, Love (feat. Tift MerrittTift MerrittCatherine Tift Merritt is an American singer-songwriter, musician and North Carolina native. With her longtime band, she has built what has been called a "unique" and critically acclaimed body of work of "sonic short stories and poignant performances." She has been compared to songwriters like...
) (2009)