August Selnes will perform at Bergenfest 2026 Saturday, June 13.
“I honestly can’t think of a better representative of Bergen’s traditional singer-songwriter heritage than Selnes,” wrote BT critic Petter Lønningen about the 25-year-old from Bergen. August Selnes draws inspiration from songwriters such as Ole Paus, Bob Dylan and Alf Prøysen, exploring the Norwegian folk and singer-songwriter tradition through a sound that feels both timeless and fresh.
His lyrics cover a wide emotional range, and Selnes is equally convincing when singing about everyday life as when moving into larger existential themes. With a steadily growing catalogue of original songs, he brings new life to Norwegian song traditions on stage, while also being an avid translator and interpreter of English-language lyrics.
After releasing a string of singles throughout 2025, Selnes is set to release his long-awaited debut album Gjennom veggen in spring 2026. Armed with voice, guitar, harmonica and a three-digit catalogue of original songs, everything is in place for a concert where Norwegian song heritage is carried forward