Weekly Blues Dispatch – March 2, 2026: Oz & The Wizards, Fresh News & Keep the Blues Alive

Hey Blues Friends – Let's Talk About This Week

Another Monday, another reason to be grateful for this music. I've been sitting here in my home office in southern Norway, coffee in hand, turntable spinning some Muddy Waters, and thinking about what an incredible week it's been for the blues. There's a lot to cover, so let's get into it.

First things first: if you're anywhere near Kristiansand this Saturday – you know where you need to be.

🔥 Oz & The Wizards Release Concert – This Saturday in Kristiansand!

This is the big one. Saturday, March 7, at Teateret in Kristiansand – Oz & The Wizards are doing their album release concert. I've been following these guys closely, and I genuinely believe they're one of the most exciting things happening in Norwegian blues right now.

Original blues from Kristiansand. Chicago and Delta-rooted, written and performed by Osmund 'Oz' Grytdahl, Oddvar Micaelsen, and Ole Louis Lilløy. These three have that thing – you know, that raw, honest, no-nonsense approach to the blues that makes you forget you're in Norway and not in a juke joint on the South Side.

Tickets are available now at https://teateret.no/event/oz-the-wizards. Full artist profile on SlowBlues: https://slowblues.no/scandinavian-blues/oz-and-the-wizards. If you're on Sørlandet, this is your Saturday night sorted. Bring a friend. Fill every seat. These guys deserve it.

🇳🇴 Norwegian & Nordic Blues News

The Nordic blues scene continues to punch above its weight. Knut Reiersrud remains one of the most respected blues musicians in Europe, and the younger generation – artists like Amund Maarud and the crew around Notodden Blues Festival – keep pushing the boundaries of what Scandinavian blues can be.

If you haven't explored our Scandinavian Blues section yet, I'd encourage you to dive in: https://slowblues.no/scandinavian-blues. We've got profiles on artists from Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark – from established legends to exciting newcomers. The Nordic blues community is small but mighty, and it deserves your attention.

🇪🇺 European & International Blues Updates

Blues is alive and well across Europe. From British blues-rock to the thriving scenes in Poland, France, and Germany – there's more great blues being made on this continent than most people realise. Our European Blues section covers it all: https://slowblues.no/european-blues.

On the American front, the Blues Music Awards season is heating up. Keep an eye on our news ticker for the latest developments – it updates every 6 hours with fresh blues news from around the world: https://slowblues.no/news-ticker. We've got the nominees, the predictions, and the conversations you need to be part of.

🧠 Weekly Blues Quiz – New Questions Are Live!

It's Monday, which means a fresh set of blues quiz questions is waiting for you! Three difficulty levels – from casual listener to full-on blues nerd. We've got audio clips where you guess the artist, questions about classic albums, history, instruments, and more.

Take the quiz at https://slowblues.no/blues-quiz and see how you stack up on the leaderboard. Share your result on social media with #BluesQuiz #SlowBlues – I love seeing the scores roll in. Last week's winner nailed 9 out of 10 on expert mode. Can you beat that?

🛍️ Support the Blues – Check Out Our Merch Store

SlowBlues.no is a one-person passion project. No corporate sponsors, no ads – just genuine love for the music. If you enjoy what we do, one of the best ways to show support is by visiting our merch store at https://slowblues.no/merch. T-shirts, accessories, and more – all designed with the blues spirit in mind.

Every purchase helps keep the site running, the content flowing, and the blues alive. We've recently updated the collection with several new items. Take a look – you might find your new favourite blues shirt.

📡 Live Blues News Ticker – Updated Every 6 Hours

If you haven't seen it yet, we've got a live news ticker running on SlowBlues.no that automatically updates every 6 hours with fresh blues news from around the world. Album releases, tour announcements, festival updates, obituaries – it's all there.

Check it out at https://slowblues.no/news-ticker and bookmark it. It's like having a blues news wire service in your pocket.

🌍 Keep the Blues Alive – Share, Support, Show Up

Here's the thing about the blues: it's not just music you listen to. It's music you show up for. Whether it's Oz & The Wizards in Kristiansand, a local jam night at your neighbourhood bar, or a festival three hours away – go. Be there. The blues lives in those rooms, in those moments, in that connection between the player and the crowd.

And if you can't make it to a show this week, here's what you can do: share SlowBlues.no with a friend. Forward this newsletter. Post about the quiz on social media. Tell someone about an artist you discovered on the site. Every share, every conversation, every link clicked – it keeps this community growing.

We're now at 330+ artist profiles, available in three languages, with a weekly quiz, live news ticker, merch store, and a growing Scandinavian blues archive. None of this would exist without you reading, sharing, and showing up. Thank you. Truly.

Until next Monday – go see some live blues. Keep the Blues Alive. 🎸 #SlowBlues #KeepTheBluesAlive #OzAndTheWizards #NordicBlues