Julie Christmas @ Øyafestivalen 2024

Friday, August 9

When American musician Julie Christmas took the stage at Oyafestivalen on Friday afternoon, a storm was forecast, but she is a force of nature herself and a crowd quickly gathered to witness her performance. She was accompanied by a band consisting of guitarists Johannes Persson (Cult of Luna) and John LaMacchia (Candiria), bassist Andrew Schneider (Kenmode, Unsane), keyboardist Tom Tierney and drummer Chris Enriquez (Spotlights).

Christmas, so named because she was born on Christmas Day, took the stage wearing a mesmerizing Björk-like headpiece with lights that changed color and similar lights over her dress. The light helmet provided visual performance art at this point, with Christmas speaking in a childlike but disturbing manner, but soon the post-metal noise rock sound kicked in and Christmas' ghostly screams filled the Sirkus hall as “Bones in the Water” was played. This is a song by one of her previous bands, the post-metal supergroup Battle of Mice. Persson, wearing bands in the colors of the Swedish flag tied over his biceps, delivered powerful guitar riffs, often from the amplifiers he had climbed.

Christmas may be small in stature, but her powerful voice makes her a giant on stage. (Watch her recent performance at Hellfest to see for yourself.) An early highlight was the opening track “Not Enough,” from their new album, Ridiculous And Full Of Blood, out in June 2024, which strikes the perfect balance between chaotic and controlled, between wild and sophisticated. Other highlights included “The Lighthouse,” which saw Persson provide growling backing vocals that Cult of Luna fans would love, and the hypnotic and melodic “July 31st,” from their debut album, The Bad Wife.

At the end of the concert, Christmas jumped off the stage into the photo pit and took the time to hug every single member of the front row. Judging by the look on their joyful faces, it was as if Christmas had truly arrived and their stunning concert was a gift they would never forget. A contender for the best set of Øyafestivalen 2024. 5/6

Text and photography: Anne-Marie Forker