Oslo in my opinion has a relatively large live music scene for a small European capital. Instead of large concert halls, it offers many small to medium-sized venues with high-quality artists both local and international. For me, as I always prefer to see a band on stage instead of a nightclub with only a DJ, Oslo is a tremendous city for that.

Melahuset is one of those places that offers a solid program of concerts with a focus on multicultural artists from the Global South. Melahuset is also the organizer of one of the most famous festivals in the Nordic countries when it comes to world music, Melafestivalen.

Last time the festival happened in 2019, it had a lineup with Manu Chao, Manu Dibango and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, to name a few. Fortunately, this year the festival takes place from August 13th to November 5th 2021 in a smaller version inside Melahuset. This means a busy concert season compared to last year.

Melahuset is in the heart city center and of the nightlife area of Oslo, close to the busy Youngstorget with easy access from public transportation. Check the program on their website for more info.