Sist oppdatert kl. 16:44 30. juni 2018
– The aim is not to create a new Hove Festival, but a new festival at Hove, says Marius Berge Amundsen, CEO in the new norwegian festival company, Seaside Production.
Four years after the Hove Festival was held for the last time under british ownership, there is again life in plans for a new festival at Hove. Since the festival at the island Tromøy, Arendal, Norway was terminated by the owner, Festival Republic LTD, there has locally been a hope that a replacement could come to life. Next june it could be a reality.
GREAT OPPORTUNITIES: Marius Berge Amundsen emphasizes that the company must be one hundred percent sure that a new Hove festival will have a long life and a solid financial basis. Photo: Esben Holm Eskelund
Next june
– Our major aim is to start in 2019, says Marius Berge Amundsen, General Manager of Seaside Production to Lokalavisen Geita.
The company was formally estabelished in february this year. Chairman of the board is former CEO of the Stavern Festival, Brynjar Løkke. The board also has Trond Myhre Eriksen, who has been deeply involved in the Stavern Festival. In the board is as well Benedikte Nilsen, the norwegian CEO of Hove Republic. The company was terminated in october 2014.
No confirmations
Amundsen will confirm very little about the project he is working on together with the board. The aim is to put in place long-term in the festival project. He will not say anything about ticket sales date or festival dates.
– We want to put in place a new festival that is sustainable in every way, and then there are many pieces that must be in place before we are ready to launch a new festival at Hove, says Amundsen.
NEW FESTIVAL: The summer season biggest event over several years probably does a return. Probably the new major festival will be released for the first time in June next year. Photo: Esben Holm Eskelund
Local anchoring
Amundsen says the company has conducted a thorough analysis in the festival market. Based on this, the board has decided to try to create a new festival with international format, but with local anchoring. Amundsen confirms that Seaside Production AS has entered into a lease agreement with Hove drifts- og utviklingsselskap AS. The municipal joint-stock company is responsible for the operation of the Hove area on behalf of the community.
– For us, it is about long term when we get started. We want to be clear in the market for at least the next ten to twenty years, he says – again without confirming there will be a festival summer at Hove next year.
What the festival may be named, he is not saying anythting about. However, the internet address hovemusicfestival.no was registered in April this year.
The worlds most beautiful
INVOLVED: Former CEO of the Hove Festival, Benedikte Nilsen, is a board member of the newly established company. Photo: Esben Holm Eskelund
Benedikte Nilsen is looking forward to work with people who think about the festival in the long run. That the festival will get to continue for years.
– This will be exciting, I am lucky to be in the team with many great and good people who want to create long-term and sustainability, she says to Lokalavisen Geita.
She believes that with Arendal and with help from all over Norway she believes in getting something done together.
– Hove is after all the worlds most beautiful festival area, she says.
Imagine Dragons
That is probably a something that the band Imagine Dragons shares with the former CEO of Hove Republic. In a concert at Oslo Spektrum this april Dan Reynolds demanded the festival back at Hove.
– Hove, the Hove Festival! They must get it back. I’ll call them up and ask them to restart it, he said in a video shared on Twitter.
— helene (@IiIith) 25. april 2018