Katzenjammer

Formed during 2005 in Oslo, the all-female Norwegian quartet Katzenjammer fuses pop/rock foundations with country-folk textures. Its lineup consists of multi-instrumentalists Turid Jørgensen, Solveig Heilo, Marianne Sveen, and Anne Marit Bergheim, who collectively perform on accordion, mandolin, guitar, piano, balalaika bass, glockenspiel, trumpet, kazoo, melodica, banjo, drums, and additional instruments. The group maintains a close creative partnership with songwriter Mats Rybø while also generating original material, citing Goran Bregovi, Danny Elfman, Django Reinhardt, and Knutsen & Ludvigsen among its wide-ranging influences. Katzenjammer issued its first full-length album, Le Pop, in 2008 on Propeller Recordings; the set contained the breakout novelty hit “A Bar in Amsterdam” plus the singles “Play My Darling, Play” and “Hey Ho on the Devil’s Back.” Nominated for a Spellemannprisen as best debut album of 2008, Le Pop reached the Norwegian albums chart’s Top Ten and was reissued the following year with the newly added single “Demon Kitty Rag.” The band further distinguished itself as a commanding live act, appearing at major international festivals such as the 2009 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in the United States.