Hulen

Hulen — "the cave" in Norwegian — is exactly that: a student-run music venue and bar inside a Second World War bomb shelter carved into the rock. It has been open since 1968 and is the oldest rock club in Scandinavia. The interior is genuinely subterranean, with low ceilings and rough stone walls, and the acoustics are accordingly interesting.

The programming covers rock, punk, metal, and alternative acts — some Norwegian, some international. Drinks are cheap by Bergen standards because it is a student operation. Not the place for a quiet conversation, but for live music in an unusual setting it is hard to beat. Check their website for the programme.

bars and cafes bar music
A story
Hulen opened in 1968 in a World War II German bomb shelter — the tunnel was dug into the hillside during the occupation and converted by students into a venue after the war. It is the oldest existing rock club in Scandinavia, and its programming has always leaned toward the underground. Several Norwegian bands that later became internationally known played their early shows here.