Move over, Vikings—the Cocktail Slippers are the Overlords of Oslo’s music Scene
The oil-rich city of Oslo, located on the southern coast of Norway, draws international visitors for so many reasons: the Viking Ship Museum, the National Gallery, the Akershus Fortress that has stood guard over the capital since the 1300s. These historic and cultural landmarks are nestled amid streets now crowded with hip, lighted galleries that keep the art accessible 24 hours a day. This tolerant and vibrant town also offers a rich and engaging music and bar scene, as one might expect of a former Viking stronghold.
On my visit, one such watering hole, Gamla Beat Bar and Bakhage, hosted one of their noted multi-band rock fests. Oslo’s National Theatre, long famous for debuts by playwrights including Henrik Ibsen, was closed for the day. So I decided to give the local music scene a try.
To my surprise, this event was not advertised by some rough and tumble Viking tribe or any masculine marketing. Instead, five women dressed in outlandish outfits that said ‘power’ and ‘confidence’ were on the bill printed out by the friendly attendant at the front desk at Oslo’s National Theatre. When I asked him what he thought about the concert, he looked at me, smiled and said, “I think you can handle it. You should go.” I did, and I still can’t thank him enough.
The Cocktail Slippers, Oslo natives, were third on the card, and as they prepped to take the stage, they noticed me waving. They smiled warmly and invited me over. When I told them that I thought they’d be good role models for this project, they stopped what they were doing and smiled for this picture, noting they were happy to help.
So, here they are. Founded in 2001 and standing strong, loud, and proud over their lyrics and beats about love gone wrong, these women are who they are. They apologize for nothing, and they show audiences that a heart femme is not to be trifled with. They embody the tradition of Blondie and The Gogos in helping Chicas cope with heartache. The voice of a generation, The Cocktail Slippers show the world that Oslo’s more than oil rigs and masculine marauders. These ladies are Clever Chicas kicking it with the best and redefining the world of hard-driving rock and roll in the process.