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JUNE
8
2002
WORLDTOUR
KICK OFF AT SOCCERSTADIUM
a-ha will open
their new world tour, An Afternoon High, in Oslo at the
Ullevåll soccer arena tonight. And Anneli is of course
present on stage with the successful trio. But before a-ha
and Anneli enters the stage, no less than five bands will
keep you warm, in the already hot sun.
THOMAS
OLSEN
REHERSALS: Anneli and Morten in duet during
the rehersals at Oslo Spektrum earlier this week (Photo:
Berte Hilmo, a-ha.com)
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Saybia (DK), Sondre
Lerche (N), Big Bang (N), A Camp (Nina Persson of The Cardigans'
solo project) (S), and even a surprise act is announced…
a-ha have decided to make the opening of their world tour
extra special this time. So we're actually talking about a
one-day-festival rather than a concert.
On their last tour
they brought with them Briskeby as support act in Germany,
and finally in Norway also Anneli had the chance to show
her own material as a support act in front of thousands
of people. And the idea is now, as then, to give other up'n'coming
artists a little extra attention.
a-ha is the most
successful band coming from Norway ever, and their comeback
after years of silence must have made them grateful and
probably just as surprised as their fans. Maybe that was
the reason they wanted to use their own fame to help other
artists?
And what a comeback
Minor Earth, Major Sky was two years ago. Who had expected
Morten, Magne and Paul on the top of the charts again after
suddenly disappearing in the mid-90's? And who would believe
that a-ha would do one of the best and fastest selling tours
in Germany two years ago? These tree Norwegian guys... Who
would even remember them?
THE STAGE (Photo: Berte Hilmo, a-ha.com)
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The answer seemed
to be: Everyone! Absolutely no one had forgotten the northern
trio, which during the glittering 80's gave us hits like
"Take On Me", "The Sun Always Shines On TV",
"Cry Wolf", "Manhattan Skyline", "The
Living Daylights" and so on, and so on…
Almost 23.000 people
have bought tickets for tonight's show. That's a lot of
people. And "Lifelines" have sold approx 67.000
copies in Norway. And that's a lot of records too - In a
small country like Norway. But Germany is still crazy about
the band, and the album is also one of the most selling
albums there at the moment. There's no doubt the concerts
in Germany later this year will be as successful as last
time.
But before a-ha
reach Germany they will visit Finland, Sweden, Denmark,
The Netherlands, Belgium, France, London, Spain and Russia.
And Anneli will join all the way, except for the shows in
Spain and Russia. At that time she will be in Harstad busy
being the Official Festival Composer at The Festival of
North Norway.
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