One of Oslo’s best venues has been ordered to shut its doors after having its licence revoked by authorities.
Blå, which opened nearly 20 years ago near the centre of Norway’s capital city, will no longer be able to serve alcohol from this Friday (July 1). The club says it will not be able to stay open without an alcohol licence.
“Part of the reasoning we were given by the city authorities is that police have used increased resources on us and that we are an contributing to nuisance in the area,” said Blå boss Kristine Petterson. “We don’t know anything about this. It is something we have worked on a lot and had a dialogue with the police about. Public disorder will not disappear if we disappear.”
A spokesperson from the city council told Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten that the decision was not final, but the club will not be able to sell alcohol until the complaint has been processed.
Pettersen confirmed that the club’s employees will likely be laid off from Friday, and warned that the club will fight hard against the decision. “We are shocked by this decision. We will do everything we can to open the doors again,” she said.
Under Norway’s tough licensing laws, venues can be handed a week-long ban if inspectors observe two people in the venue deemed too drunk. Speaking to FACT during Øya festival in 2014, Blå DJ and promoter Ola Smith-Simonsen said: “The licensing here has been completely off the hook, they’re running around like little detectives trying to find people who are a little bit over the limit.”
Blå has been a springboard for local DJ heroes like Prins Thomas and Pål Strangefruit and a regular pit-stop for international house and techno DJs at the long-running Sunkissed night. More recently the monthly Ball ‘Em Up party, headed by producers Slick Shoota and Drippin, has been a vital outpost for grime, footwork and ballroom. Sun Ra Arkestra and Lightning Bolt were both due to play the venue next week.
Update, June 29: Aftenposten reports that Oslo authorities have granted Blå a temporary licence extension.
The venue will be able to serve alcohol until September 30 while club bosses attempt to come to an agreement with the city council.
“We will need to have it in black and white on paper before we can breathe out completely, but this is of course super,” said club boss Kristine Pettersen.
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