Punkt Festival
‘The Punkt Festival in Kristiansand, has a programming aesthetic
that makes it stand alone.’ (Downbeat Magazine)
Founded in 2005 by artistic directors Jan Bang & Erik Honoré, Punkt Festival is an annual three-day music event based in Kristiansand, Norway. Punkt is a concept centred around the live remix of music of any genre and is the brainchild of the artistic directors Jan Bang and Erik Honoré, who specialise in live sampling and live electronics.
Each Punkt Festival is a mix of Nordic and international musicians – highlights have included Brian Eno, David Sylvian, Laurie Anderson, Thurston Moore and John Paul Jones, as well as a vast catalogue of emerging European and Norwegian musicians and bands.
Always open for adventure, Punkt’s international editions have been presented in the UK, France, Canada, Spain, Germany, Estonia, Italy, China, India, Poland and the Czech Republic.
In 2025, Punkt will present its 21st edition in Kristiansand between 4 - 6 September.
Highlights include the album release and live premiere of Nordic Music Prize winner Benedicte Maurseth’s Mirra, a grandiose celebration of Trygve Seim’s ECM classic Different Rivers, performed by Seim and his 10-piece ensemble, the poetic splendour of Remembrance by Solveig Slettahjell/Knut Reiersrud/In the Country, a unique double bill at the spectacular venue Kunstsilo featuring ECM royalty Jon Balke’s Skrifum, and the album release of After the Wildfire by Arve Henriksen & Jan Bang featuring Eivind Aarset and Ingar Zach.
Other programme highlights include Ghosted (Oren Ambarchi/Johan Berthling/Andreas Werliin), rhythmic explorations by MOCH (Patricia Brennan/Noel Brennan), traditional songs from Ethiopia, Armenia, Sweden and beyond reimagined by Sofia Jernberg & Alexander Hawkins, premieres of Andrea Giordano’s Àlea and Erik Honoré’s Temporary Empire, Scottish dream pop from Mercury Prize nominee C Duncan and Punkt’s signature live remixes by Jo David Meyer Lysne, Andrea Giordano & Jan Bang, Even Sigurdsen Røstad and others.
The renowned Punkt Seminar curated and led by David Toop will be hosted at Kunstsilo, with presentations and performances by Mariam Rezaei, Oren Ambarchi, crys cole, Sofia Jernberg, Alexander Hawkins and Kate Carr.
Arts & Parts leads the international delegation of industry professionals and encourage those who are interested in attending Punkt 2025 with a view to reviewing the programme or collaborating with Punkt, to be in touch with us here.
See full programme, here.