This week we present a guest post and Soundcloud playlist curated by Joakim Haugland, boss of Smalltown Supersound records and Festival Programmer for Norway’s by:Larm festival.

by:Larm will take over the city of Oslo from this Wednesday 26 February – to Saturday 1 March, showcasing the very best of Nordic music. For those that don’t know it, it’s essentially the biggest platform for Nordic music – a conference and showcase festival focused entirely on the Nordic scene.

The finest talent perform in venues across the city, ready to be discovered from the many international industry folk and media that flock to the conference each year.

Talking of discovery, acts that have performed at by:Larm that have gone on to have huge success around the globe include Icona Pop, Serena Maneesh, 120 Days, Turbonegro, Lindstrøm, Todd Terje, Lykke Li, Kvelertak, Mø, Elliphant and Mayhem.

This year we are excited to welcome established acts like When Saints Go Machine, First Aid Kit and Shine 2009 alongside the rising newcomers on the scene including Andre Bratten, Emilie Nicolas, Trvls, Man Tear and Lemaitre.

So what is the sound of the Nordics? Here we present some of the acts we are most looking forward to seeing at by:Larm 2014. Happy listening!

By:Larm consists of two parts: a festival and a conference. The main purpose is to present aspiring artists that are on the verge of success, either in their homelands or internationally. With a diverse live program, the artists at by:Larm represent the highlights of the current Nordic music scene. In addition to introducing the more established artists to an international audience, by:Larm directs the spotlight towards new talents by booking a few bands as the Jury’s Selection. Every year, around 1500 bands from all the Nordic countries apply for by:Larm with a common goal; to impress and convince representatives from the International Music Industry to spend their time and effort on them.

by:Larm, Oslo
Wed Feb 26th – Sat March 1st, 2014
http://bylarm.no