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Festivals
Norwegian Festival Organiser Enters Bankruptcy
A Norwegian live music company has entered bankruptcy just weeks after postponing its inaugural rock festival, leaving suppliers and other creditors facing substantial losses.
Norwegian concert and festival organiser High Voltage Live AS has entered bankruptcy following the cancellation of High Voltage Rockfest in Bergen.
Bankruptcy proceedings were opened on 21 September, with lawyer Bjørn Åge Hamre appointed trustee. Official Norwegian company records confirm that High Voltage Live AS is in bankruptcy.
Bergens Tidende reports that the company has debts of at least NOK 2.5 million (€231,000), while around NOK 400,000 (€36,900) was available in the company. A supplier contracted to provide sound and lighting for the festival reportedly faces a loss of around NOK 1 million (€92,300).
Around NOK 2 million (€184,600) worth of tickets had been sold for the event, according to information reported from the bankruptcy administrator.
High Voltage Live was established in October 2025, with Geir Carlsen serving as managing director and chairman.
King’s death cited in festival cancellation
High Voltage Rockfest had been scheduled to take place at Vestlandshallen in Bergen on 4–5 September, with a line-up including D-A-D, Airbourne, Sleggefett and Morax.
Five days before the festival was due to begin, organisers announced that the event would not go ahead as planned, explicitly citing the death of King Harald V and the resulting situation in Norway.
In its statement, High Voltage said the extraordinary circumstances had significantly affected the festival and that ticket sales had “almost completely stopped”.
Festival director Geir Carlsen subsequently told Bergens Tidende that sales had been satisfactory and had shown strong progress earlier in the week. According to Carlsen, the change occurred on the Friday following the King’s death, when sales stopped and remained stalled throughout the weekend.
The festival did not disclose the number of tickets sold at the time and initially said work on a new High Voltage Rockfest would begin immediately.
The cancellation subsequently led to questions from ticket holders about refunds. Norway’s Consumer Council told Bergens Tidende that customers were entitled to their money back, while the organiser said it had not refused refund requests.
On 19 September, less than three weeks after the cancellation, High Voltage Live announced that it would file for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy proceedings were formally opened on 21 September.