Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Woman In Purple

“God, what have you ever achieved?” Roan imagines her mom wailing on the irresistible, autobiographical “Pink Pony Membership.” At Øyafestivalen on Wednesday night time (Aug. 6), Roan’s mom – who was within the viewers — obtained to listen to her daughter and a crowd of some 15,000 followers sing these phrases again to her. Regardless of the track’s lyrics on the contrary, one can’t assist however assume mama was proud. In any case, Chappell’s headlining set, which additionally noticed her rip by Coronary heart’s “Barracuda” and provides “The Subway” its first post-release efficiency, was goddess stage.

Norwegian singer-songwriter Anna Lille has some soul-baring moments on her 2025 EP how did I let this get so severe?, however she will be able to additionally ship the pop delights, as evidenced throughout a spirited run-through of unreleased pop tune “Maniac.” After her Wednesday set wrapped, Lille struck a few Hannah Montana poses as “The Better of Each Worlds” blared out from the audio system.

Ecuadorian-Swiss duo Hermanos Gutiérrez introduced their expressive, reverb-soaked Latin guitars to the fest’s first day, offering the proper chill soundtrack for a laid-back afternoon set — and proving that you simply don’t want theatrics (and even lyrics) to carry a crowd’s consideration.

Along with taking part in the correct pageant, HILLARI – an up-and-coming Filipino-Norwegian singer – carried out an acoustic rooftop set Wednesday morning atop Oslo’s historic Folketeater constructing. The 20-year-old boasts a wealthy vocal management and an easygoing, commanding stage presence, notably on her soulful Gen Z anthem “Two Cents.” (When you reside close to NYC, you’ll be able to catch HILLARI IRL on Sept. 10 at Manhattan’s Racket.)

After teasing “Joachim Trier summer time” throughout her Coachella set earlier this yr, Charli xcx made a shock look at an Oslo movie show to introduce Sentimental Worth, a brand new movie from the Norwegian director, simply hours earlier than her headlining set on Thursday (Aug. 7). Between performances of brat tracks at Øya, she hailed Norway’s “vibe,” “inside design” and “filmmakers, if what I imply.” Maybe the British pop star – who has separate movie initiatives arising with Aidan Zamiri and Takashi Miike – has one thing within the works with Joachim Trier, too?

Throughout her Thursday set, Lola Younger had the group consuming out of her hand, at the very least when that hand wasn’t busy pinching herself. “I’m blissful this track was the one to take me locations,” Younger stated, marveling on the large crowd in entrance of her earlier than belting out “Messy,” an unapologetic anthem that’s struck a chord with audiences across the globe, taking her to No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay and Various Airplay charts.

Up-and-coming singer Tolou not too long ago made waves with “Coco,” a slinky, vibey R&B bop that occupies the unlikely area between Scandinavian and African pop. Although she grew up in Tromsø, one of many northernmost cities in Norway, her father hails from Nigeria, and her rhythmic pop carries each flavors. Sporting a sunshine-yellow shredded skirt, Tolou served vocals and choreo throughout her efficiency, particularly on the bouncy, early ‘00s pop throwback “Dem Boyz.”

Sure, Norwegian individuals may be pretty reserved, however because of Edvard Munch, Oslo is a good metropolis for a Scream – and Moist Leg went the additional mile throughout their jugular-grabbing Thursday present. Amidst a setlist that lined new album faves (“Mangetout”) and viral hits (“Chaise Lounge”), frontwoman Rhian Teasdale led the all-too-ready crowd in a “scream remedy” session. After a sustained 40 seconds of fan-made noise, she flashed a depraved grin: “That was fairly stunning.”

RABO, a contemporary face on the Norwegian pop scene, impressed not as soon as however twice in the course of the week. On Thursday morning, she captivated a boatload of business professionals with an acoustic four-song efficiency. And sure, it was a literal boatload – RABO sang her effervescent single “Speak to Me,” the unreleased, Marilyn Monroe-inspired “Norma Jean” and two extra tunes on a watercraft because it traversed the beautiful Norwegian fjords. Two days later, she performed the correct pageant, and regardless of holding the less-than-enviable 2 p.m. slot, managed to tug in a large crowd.

Although Queens of the Stone Age are finest identified for riff-heavy, sludgy rock, they’ll carry the wonder when they need. Throughout QOTSA’s Friday (Aug. 10) night time headlining set, frontman Josh Homme led the group, from the entrance row to the very again, in a sing-along to “Emotion Illness.” “It sounds so good,” Homme stated because the harmonies hit him on the hillside stage. “It’s a gorgeous night time right here.”

Pom Poko’s title – impressed by a 1994 anime by Studio Ghibli – is greater than only a random popular culture reference. The Norwegian four-piece brings the oddball detours and off-kilter sweetness of a Ghibli movie to their tuneful, careening storage rock, which injected a sugary, cacophonous power into the pageant’s rock-centric Friday lineup.

At Øyafestivalen, a lot of the homegrown expertise sang in English however spoke to the group in Norwegian; brenn., nonetheless, saved it totally native, utilizing Norwegian whereas bantering with the group and belting out their hard-charging rock. And why not? Guitars don’t want a translator.

“On the best way right here I we misplaced all our devices in Copenhagen, so it sounds slightly totally different,” Nilüfer Yanya revealed on Thursday with an comprehensible contact of disappointment. “The pageant kindly sorted us out with new ones.” Regardless of that not-insignificant setback, the British singer-songwriter and her band sounded completely at residence on their borrowed devices – and fortunately, her nuanced vocals aren’t the type of factor that may get left behind in Denmark.  

Touring behind final yr’s Romance, Fontaines D.C. have grown into among the finest rock bands on the touring circuit, delivering a deft mixture of emotional pathos, wealthy theatricality and idiosyncratic post-punk on daring, eclectic tracks like “Starburster,” “Favourite” and “Bug.” Whereas evaluating notes with quite a lot of attendees, their set was uniformly cited as a favourite.

Marie Ulven Ringheim, aka lady in pink, has severe vary. From queer indie-pop confessionals like “I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend” to immaculately constructed pop bangers similar to “Too A lot” to the garage-punk of “Unhealthy Thought!”, there appears to be little or no the Norwegian singer-songwriter doesn’t excel at — all of which was on wonderful show throughout her Saturday (Aug. 9) night time headlining set.

Towards the top of her set, she tagged in Honningbarna, who had introduced their blistering Norwegian punk fury to Øya two nights prior. Collectively, they turned her “Unhealthy Thought!” right into a gleefully uninhibited duet: flames licked the stage; electrical guitars ripped by the air like buzzsaws; Ringheim raced across the stage like a wildcat. When she and Honningbarna singer Edvard Valberg launched themselves into the entrance row, crowdsurfing atop a sea undulating followers with out lacking a lyric, it might have been one of the best second of your complete pageant.

Oslo’s personal Anna of the North shines whereas making dreamy, cinematic synth-pop – the type of laid-back but earnest music that completely is smart coming from Norway. From the synthy splendor of “Lovers” to buoyant new single “Give Me Your Love,” the Norwegian pop star introduced precisely the correct amount of power and chill you need from a day set on the ultimate day of a four-day pageant.

Somebody up there should be searching for Mk.gee. On the pageant’s ultimate day, the in any other case accommodating Oslo sky opened up, unleashing an absolute deluge – and he was the one artist performing beneath a fully-tented stage. “The rain is doing funky stuff to our gear, however we’re gonna get by it,” the New Jersey artist promised. Mk.gee was greeted with one of many pageant’s most hyped crowds, who eagerly sopped up his atmospheric soundscapes and expressive wails. Towards the top of his set, there was a magical second when the rain relented and an orange-gold blast of sunshine crammed the tent. So far as I may inform, mk.gee was the one artist who performed an encore in the course of the four-day pageant, with the rabid crowd forcing him again onstage for a repeat efficiency of “Rockman.”

Sløtface, a superb, lyrically intelligent Norwegian pop-punk outfit led by Haley Shea, didn’t play the pageant this yr (they rocked the Øya stage again in 2023), however they did steal the post-festival highlight. Throughout Saturday night time’s wee hours, Sløtface led Oslo night time owls (together with members of Honningbarna and Brenn.) by a deliriously enjoyable live-band karaoke social gathering that encompassed Kelly Clarkson, Nirvana, Beastie Boys and past. Relaxation assured: the best to social gathering was certainly fought for and gained.