Blå is Oslo's best live music venue — a riverside club in an old factory building on the Akerselva, running since 1998. The programming covers jazz, electronic, hip-hop, and experimental music, with a genuine commitment to booking interesting artists rather than crowd-pleasers. The outdoor terrace on the river fills up in summer; the indoor space has good acoustics and a proper dance floor.
Blå is the anchor of the Grünerløkka music scene and the venue most associated with Norway's contemporary jazz and electronic scenes. Affordable by Oslo standards. Open Wednesday to Sunday; check the programme on the website. The walk along the Akerselva from Mathallen to Blå is pleasant in itself.