The first four tracks from Kaizers Orchestra live set are now up. The sound quality isn't perfect, but what's not to like about a band that sounds like (and is enjoyed by) Tom Waits combined with Norwegian folk, bangs on scrap metal percussion and has a frontman named The Jackal? You can't go wrong.

The highly esteemed Tom Waits lists Kaizers Orchestra as one of this top 10 picks: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/feature/-/543611/ref%3Ded%5Fqpe%5Fdp%5F1%5F1/202-1529693-0745458

Kaizers Orchestra will not be touring again for a year after the Rockefeller show in Oslo on September 11, but the band members will still be keeping busy. Janove is releasing a solo album in September and guitarist Terje Killmaster Kaizer's punk band Skambankt has a debut release set for mid-October. They plan to then reconvene around February/March next to year to record the band's next full-length.

Norway's Tønes has a new website: http://www.toenes.com/
Their new Tim Scott-produced album "Grønnare Gras" comes out August 30 via Farmen Records, home of Kaizers Orchestra. Listen to samples here: http://www.farmenas.com/toenes/gronnaregras.htm

Upcoming releases in the works from Denmark's Morningside Records and label-supplied descriptions:

Delicia Mini - tba - Kaizers Orchestra on tranquilizers?! Full length cd.
My Friend George - "Born in the U.S.A." (working title) - lo-fi, not-a-lot-of-skill, but great songs. Full length cd.

Upcoming Northern European tourdates for Kaizers Orchestra:

08/12 - Askim (NOR)
08/13 - Målrock, Årdal (NOR)
08/16 - Malmöfestival, Malmö (SWE)
08/18 - Tivoli, Utrecht (NL)
08/19 - Pukkelpop (BEL)
08/25 - Toten (NOR)
09/03 - Radio Eins Festival, Berlin (GER)
09/05 - Studentsamfunnet, Aalborg (DK)
09/06 - Rytmeposten, Odense (DK)
09/07 - Train, Århus (DK)
09/09 - Vega, København (DK)
09/11 - Rockefeller, Oslo (NOR)

Tons of new bands confirmed for the Malmöfestivalen today including Sahara Hotnights, Teddybears Sthlm, Markoolio, Kaizers Orchestra, Sandy Mouche, PowerSolo, Tiger Tunes, The Tremolo Beer Gut, Learning From Vegas, Sterling, Epo-555, Niccokick, Latin Kings, Promoe, Chords, Pluxus, Universal Poplab, Conevant, Alice in Videoland and more.

Streaming playlist: Native tongue

Summer tourdates for Norway's Kaizers Orchestra:

05/21 - Horsens Open Air, Horsens (DK)
05/29 - Rock I Herning, Herning (DK)
05/30 - Pinkpop, Landgraaf (NL)
06/03 - Skive beach party, Skive (DK)
06/04 - Rock Am Ring, Nürburgring (GER)
06/05 - Aalborg open air, Aalborg (DK)
06/12 - Silkeborg Open Air, Silkeborg (DK)
06/25 - Midtfyns Festival, Ringe (GER)
06/26 - Verdurrock, Namur (BEL)
07/02 - Open Air St. Gallen, St. Gallen (CH)
07/04 - Spirit of music, Outen (CH)
07/29 - Storsjøyran (SWE)
07/30 - Storås (NOR)
07/31 - Telemark Festival, Bø (NOR)
08/06 - Bodø (NOR)
08/08 - Skandeborg (NOR)
08/09 - Torget, Stavanger (NOR)
08/12 - Askim (NOR)
08/13 - Målrock, Årdal (NOR)

The mighty Kaizers Orchestra is doing a few Norwegian dates at the end of the month:

04/27 - Østsia, Kristiansand
04/28 - Folkenm, Stavanger
04/29 - Ole Blues, Teatergarasjen , Bergen
04/30 - Samfundet, Trondheim

Some new bands added to the Yran Festival: Gluecifer, Bo Kaspers Orkester, Mattias Alkberg BD, Moneybrother, Jakob Hellman, Kaizers Orchestra, The Mo, Sara Löfgren, Nocturnal Rites, Ane Brun, Sugerplum Fairy, Empire Dogs and Peggy Lejonjärta.

The full schedule has been confirmed for Norway's Ole Blues Festival in late April and the lineup is pretty much a complete who's who of Norwegian music. Some of names listed include Fenrik Lane (feat. World Idol champ Kurt Nilsen), Magnet, Sondre Lerche, Thomas Dybdahl, Gluecifer, Datarock, Evil Tordivel, Jaga Jazzist, Kaizers Orchestra and tons more. Full details: http://www.oleblues.net/

Some of the winners of the Spellemannprisen, the Norwegian version of the Grammy:

Best music video: Kaizers Orchestra - Evig Pint
Dance band: Ole Ivars
Pop group: Ephemera
Hip hop: Equicez
Blues/country: Vidar Busk
Rock: Turbonegro
Best female pop soloist: Bertine Zetlitz
Best male pop soloist: Magnet (Even Johannessen)
Metal: Dimmu Borgir
Open class: Niko Valkeapää
Jazz: Atomic
Best newcomer: Julian Berntsen
Hederspris: Wenche Myhre
Spellemann: Silje Nergaard
Best song: Kurt Nilsen - She's so high

Read more: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2004030115152272157473

Better late than never, Panorama.no lists their top picks from 2003:

Best Norwegian single:
01. Girls Keep Secrets in the Strangest Ways – Ephemera
02. Lay Lady Lay – Magnet feat. Gemma Hayes
03. Fuck the World – Turbonegro
04. Salt & Pepper – Kaizers Orchestra
05. Et Sunnhetstegn – Johndoe
06. Think Twice – Ralph Myerz And The Jack Herren Band
07. Breaking news – Amulet
08. Skull EP – Martin Horntveth
09. You're the One that I Want – Jim Stärk feat. Claudia Scott
10. Lorraine EP – Lorraine

Best Norwegian album:
01. On Your Side – Magnet
02. The Ghost of Our Love – Ricochets
03. Waffy Town – Julian Berntzen
04. Evig Pint – Kaizers Orchestra
05. It's a Record – Sergeant Petter
06. The Perfect Cure – Lorraine
07. Scandinavian Leather – Turbonegro
08. Stray Dogs – Thomas Dybdahl
09. Hin Bordende Sod og Sø – Ásmegin
10. No Time Wasted – Jim Stãrk

Gaffe's best of Denmark list for 2003:

Best album: Kashmir – "Zitilites"
Best band: Kashmir
Best songwriter: Dicte
Best singer: Tim Christensen
Best new act: Carpark North
Best song: Kashmir – "Rocket Brothers"
Best live act: Kashmir

Norway's Kaizers Orchestra won best foreign live act. More: http://gaffa.dk/nyheder/view.php/news_id=11487