Notodden Blues Festival 2026: My Experience at Little Steven’s Blues School
By Samuele Talmelli (Talmek)
First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Davide Grandi, President of the European Blues Union, and Roberto Formignani, President of the Associazione Musicisti di Ferrara, for giving me the opportunity to take part in the incredible experience of the Notodden Blues Festival 2026 and Little Steven’s Blues School. This opportunity came through Davide Grandi, who was looking for motivated young musicians to participate in the project. Roberto Formignani, my guitar teacher and one of the leading figures of the Italian blues scene, recommended me for the program. Receiving this invitation was a great honor, and I immediately accepted, knowing how valuable such an experience would be both artistically and personally.
An International Blues Community
From the very first day, I felt that I had become part of something truly special. The organizers and participants welcomed me with warmth and kindness. Musicians from several European countries gathered with one thing in common: a genuine passion for blues music. Among the inspiring people I had the pleasure of meeting was Espen Fjelle, a respected musician and an important figure in the European blues community who has collaborated with internationally renowned artists. During our first meetings, the organizers introduced the week’s schedule, giving us an immediate understanding of the high level of the program and the exciting journey ahead. What impressed me most was how naturally people from different cultures created an open, supportive, and collaborative environment. From the very beginning, I felt completely at home.
Learning, Collaboration, and Creativity
Throughout the week, our days alternated between educational workshops, rehearsals, songwriting sessions, and live performances. Every day our group worked together in the rehearsal room, preparing the repertoire we would later perform on the festival stages. One of the most rewarding parts of the experience was composing an original song together during the first days of the camp. This creative process allowed me to exchange ideas with musicians from different backgrounds, discovering new approaches to songwriting, arranging, teamwork, and musical communication. Each evening concluded with live performances on the stages of the Notodden Blues Festival, giving us the chance to immediately apply everything we had learned during the day in front of a real festival audience.
More Than Music
The most meaningful part of this experience goes far beyond the music itself. I met musicians driven by authentic passion, always willing to share their knowledge, ideas, and experiences without barriers. I experienced a genuine sense of belonging that I had rarely encountered in international environments. I truly felt at home. Every person I met enriched my musical and personal journey, and I hope I was able to share some of my own experiences and passion with them as well.
Inside One of Europe’s Most Important Blues Festivals
Experiencing the Notodden Blues Festival from behind the scenes was incredibly educational. I witnessed an outstanding level of organization, with every detail carefully managed—from the concert stages and artist hospitality to audience engagement and logistics. The entire city embraces the festival as part of its cultural identity. This creates a unique atmosphere where musicians, volunteers, organizers, and audiences all share the same enthusiasm and appreciation for blues music. I also had the opportunity to attend performances by internationally acclaimed artists whom I had never seen live before. Watching these musicians up close expanded my musical perspective and provided fresh artistic inspiration.
A Milestone in My Musical Journey
This experience represents one of the most significant milestones of my musical career so far. Performing outside Italy, collaborating with international musicians, building new friendships, and spending an entire week immersed in blues music helped me grow both as a musician and as a person. I returned home from Notodden with new skills, valuable international connections, and even greater motivation to continue developing my artistic path. I sincerely hope that more young Italian musicians will have the opportunity to participate in programs like this in the future. Experiences such as Little Steven’s Blues School offer far more than musical education—they create lasting cultural exchange, lifelong friendships, and personal growth that cannot easily be replicated elsewhere.
A Heartfelt Thank You
Finally, I would like to once again express my deepest gratitude to Davide Grandi, Roberto Formignani, the Italian Blues Union, the European Blues Union, Little Steven’s Blues School, and the entire Notodden Blues Festival organization for making this unforgettable experience possible. It is an experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
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