Ida Maria

Ida Maria, Glasvegas The Loft August 4, 2009 Better than: taking a group of foreign exchange students to the mall. It took 20 minutes for it to happen, but, finally, here it was: some palpable, legitimate energy about the room at The Loft during Glasvegas' set. It was all coming together--the band's performan

But when she’s up on stage, and you’re at a safe distance away in the crowd, this Norweigan rock goddess shines like an absolute star.

NME Awards gigs are usually more about observing the posing specimens in the crowd than whoever is on stage but then these shows rarely feature performers as utterly fascinating as Ida Maria.

They were reasonable opening-act fare, but I’m not sure cranking the volume up to distortion levels will have improved their sound.

Fusion and Foundry University, Sheffield, UK

It’s a shimmering oasis of musical quality that lets you settle into your seat and make you feel like the artist you are watching is performing just for you.

The 23 year-old Norwiegan frontwoman took to the stage on day one of the Great Escape in a pink dress and black leather jacket ready to impart her own brand of indie rebel rousing sounds.