Gospel Concert in Notodden Church!

Women in Blues

Rita Engedalen / Margit Bakken

Special guests:

D. K. Harrell / Adama Janlo

“Get Right Church” is a gospel concert with Women in Blues, specially commissioned for the Notodden Blues Festival. There is a long history of gospel and church concerts during the Notodden Blues Festival. The Five Blind Boys of Alabama began this tradition with a historically strong concert in Notodden Church in 1992. Last year, Earl Thomas and his Gospel Ambassadors really took off in a packed Notodden Church. This year, there will be a commissioned concert with the always popular Women in Blues, who this time will bring their band and specially invited guests such as the American star D.K. Harrell and the new Norwegian talent Adama Janlo. The concert has been titled “Get Right Church”. The title is based on an old traditional spiritual that in its message is about self-reflection, redemption and the search for salvation. It is reason for the audience to note that the concert in Notodden Church this year is on Friday and not Saturday as in the past.

The duo Women in Blues consists of Norwegian Grammy winner Rita Engedalen and Margit Bakken. Together they have built one of the country’s most popular and important music projects – a project that has made a name for itself both nationally and internationally. Now they are coming to Notodden Blues Festival with a brand new gospel line-up. The concert “Get Right Church” will be a powerhouse of dimensions in Notodden Church, and a concert you definitely don’t want to miss.

Engedalen and Bakken are no strangers to gospel music or to bringing in interesting guests on their albums or concerts. Rita Engedalen has made a number of recordings and concerts where she has collaborated with renowned gospel artists such as, Myra Turner from Clarksdale, Ruthie Foster, and The Coahoma Community College Gospel Choir from Mississippi. Women in Blues has collaborated with, among others, the London Community Gospel Choir, and over the years, they have had several exciting and high-profile musical guests.

At the concert “Get Right Church” in Notodden Church on Friday, August 1st, Engedalen and Bakken will be accompanied by a full band featuring musicians Espen Liland (guitar), Bård Gunnar Moe (bass), and Eivind Kløverød (drums).

Photo: Johannes Brendemo

Kongsberg Jazzfestival

July 5th / 2025

Women in Blues

Rita Engedalen & Margit Bakken

Guests: Noora Noor and Kid Andersen

Join us on a musical journey that expresses the deep respect and love they have for women in the blues!

Norway’s blues queen Rita Engedalen takes the stage with Margit Bakken in the duo Women in Blues. With them are Noora Noor, the lady who breathes soul and R&B, and Spellemann / Grammy winner and blues guitarist Kid Andersen.

Women in Blues has been thrilling audiences both nationally and internationally for years with their concerts and their musical project that pays tribute to women in the blues. At their concerts, they perform a selection of their own songs, as well as unknown and well-known songs from female blues pioneers.

Spellemann / Grammy winner Rita Engedalen and Margit Bakken have played together for over 22 years and performed on numerous stages and festivals. The duo’s long-awaited album MY PRECIOUS BLUES (2023) received rave reviews and was nominated for the Norwegian Grammy Spellemannprisen the same year.

They have played in Clarksdale, a historically important town in the Mississippi Delta. Here they performed at the legendary Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival, where they received a very warm reception for their musical project.

Join us on a musical journey that expresses the deep respect and love they have for women in the blues.

Noora Noor is one of Norway’s most powerful voices and our undisputed soul queen! With the critically acclaimed album Soul Deep she took the plunge into the world of neo-soul – and won the Spellemann / Award for best female artist in 2009.

Kid Andersen is one of Norway’s most recognized blues guitarists internationally! The Telemark guitarist has made himself the first choice for American blues legends such as Charlie Musselwhite and Elvin Bishop, with a sparkling guitar playing that really leaves a mark.

Rita Engedalen – vocals / guitar
Margit Bakken – vocals / guitar
Noora Noor – vocals
Kid Andersen -guitar
Jørgen Kværndal Olsen – guitar
Bård Gunnar Moe – bass
Eivind Kløverød – drums

Noora Noor: Photo, Helene Næss

Kid Andersen: Photo, Tina Abbaszadeh

Radio Downtown / Canada

Great to get airplay at the radio station and to be included in the January issue of Radio Downtown’s online music magazine

https://radiodowntownca.broadcast.radio/magazine 

Women in Blues

Netherlands 2025

Heyhoef Backstage