Thursday 25 March 2010

Announcing: Café Grössenwahn

There’s been whispers in the shadows, absinthe fountains have been purchased, bands have been approached, some of Norway’s most exciting designers are working on the graphics, but only now can it be made official: Norway’s first club devoted to neofolk (and related genres) is now a reality. The name is Café Grössenwahn, which translates as “Café Megalomania” and is a nod to the several gathering places in inter-war Europe where dreamers, eccentrics and decadents have gathered.



We’ve secured an amazing venue in central Oslo, where we plan, a few times a year, to create an atmosphere where extravagantly attired ladies and gentlemen (and perhaps a Basset hound or two…) hobnob over glasses of absinthe and fine beer, while truly initiated DJ’s and fine live acts provide the entertainment.

The opening night will be on Saturday, April 24th, where Duo Noir, the stripped-down acoustic version of Sol Invictus, will provide the entertainment, and other, exciting bands are being booked as we write.



The bad news is that the events are only open to card-carrying members of the Norwegian Society for Megalomania. The good news is that the society is accepting (indeed, soliciting!) new members, and is looking for people with a minimum of manners (as the club will mostly have acoustic performances), who understand that importance of dressing up to create the right atmosphere, and are not cheap, as these events will depend upon the venues having a certain turnover in the bar.

In principle, the Society is open to anyone who fulfills these criteria, regardless of religion, politics and so on, but because of the sad state of affairs here in Scandinavia we feel the need to very explicitly distance ourselves from right-wing extremists. Such people will be refused membership.

Prospective members are hereby invited to drop a line to neofolk (at) zog (dot) no.

6 comments:

  1. Sol Invictus, will provide the entertainment, and other, exciting bands are being booked as we write.

    * Are you implying we are not exciting. I mean we are not, pretty tedious in fact, but it's a bit cruel to be so blatant about it.

    from right-wing extremists. Such people will be refused membership.
    * So you won't be letting Renee in then.

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  2. Tony: Now you're just being difficult. Take a deep breath and a glass of sherry.

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  3. Absinthe, Neofolk... Luky you are!
    _
    oO

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  4. Well, we're hoping we can create something worth attending!

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  5. Bragagild in Copenhagen also presentet Mr. Wakeford at our first concert way back in 2001, where :OTWATM: had their concert debut too, and we have had many good concerts since then.
    All the best wishes to Café Grössenwahn.
    Lars Erik Hildesvin

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  6. It's not exactly a secret that our club in Oslo has taken a fair bit of inspiration from Bragagild, Mr. Hildesvin. And you would indeed be more than welcome if you'd want to take the boat up here.

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