From Kampen to Gulljazz

For the fourth year in a row, Gulljazz invited all the elderly in Kongsberg to a separate jazz party at Skavangertun nursing home. On stage this Jazz Thursday, varied bands provided music the audience could both listen to and dance to.

With wine in the glass sitting at a long table with a group from Oslo, we find Bjørg Linnerud and Birthe Antersson who have come by bus all the way from Kampen in Oslo to Gulljazz. They are good friends and seemed to be having a great time at the jazz party.

- I love music, and this is of all time, says Birthe, aged 88.

Her friend Bjørg (84) was one of those who could often be seen on the dance floor.

- I'm here for the first time and it's really nice. Here is good music and nothing to complain about. I will definitely come back next year too, if I can manage it, says the fit 84-year-old enthusiastically.

- I have been dancing since I was 9 years old, and my friends call me "dance-Bjørg". I have never attended dance school. I've only had the rhythm in me and dance all kinds of things. Best of all, I have liked tango and foxtrot, but I have also danced a lot of other things, such as spring dancing.

Birthe Antersson (tv-) and Bjørg Linnerud came by bus from Kampen to dance and enjoy themselves at Gulljazz

- Everyone should be able to enjoy themselves at the jazz festival

This year's Gulljazz is sponsored by Toyota Funnemark, Kongsberg. Robert Mederud, general manager, says that through this collaboration, Toyota Funnemark wants to give everyone in Kongsberg the opportunity to come out and enjoy themselves during the jazz festival.

- Not everyone has the health to come to the festival in the city, and it was fantastic to see the great setting around Gulljazz in Skavangertun. It was a phenomenal setting around it all with good food and drink and big band music. Today I saw that the elderly were alive again, some danced and others clapped along.

Robert Mederud, general manager of Toyota Funnemark, Kongsberg, says they will help to facilitate that everyone who wants to can experience the jazz festival.

- As a car dealer, you are not reaching your target group by supporting this event, are you?

- As part of the business world, we also want to help facilitate that all the inhabitants of the city. Everyone has the right to experience culture regardless of who they are and where they are in life. And we can thank all former Toyota customers for allowing us to give something back today. I met former customers at Gulljazz who thanked me for good cooperation, and then you feel proud that you are involved and contributing.

Text: Inger Johanne Midtgarden / Photo: Inger Marie McQuown and Tommy Johansen