He's the guy who wanders around the festival grounds, grabs the microphone every now and then and sometimes gets a little high on himself!
Jaran Pedersen has taken a well-deserved Easter break when we meet him at one of the city's cafes. Or the Easter holiday, you might not be able to say, he still visits the mailbox, social media and other things to check matters and things to do with the festival. Jaran is the festival's booking manager in addition to leading the team working with marketing and communication, which takes care of most of what is published in social media, newsletters, website, marketing, contact with supporters and the press.
The 55-year-old from Gjøvik is the one who works most with the festival on a daily basis, but at the same time the one who can enjoy himself the most when the festival is in progress. - During the festival, it is the others who have to run off their feet and solve small and large problems that arise. My role during the festival itself is to be an inspector (Google it) and program manager, says Jaran, who this year will also lead the Supporters Dinner at the Grand hotel
A rich program
This year's festival can offer a richer program than before and it is natural to ask what can be expected this year? - We have seen that more and more people are bringing children to the festival, so this year we are creating a separate child-friendly area where they can have fun, with competitions, activities, games and fun. Another news is that we are testing whether the festival participants are ready for an English breakfast down by the water's edge at Mjøsa. If you're at the Liverpool festival, you have to eat eggs and bacon, seasoned with live music.
Besides the meet and greet and interviews with the legends, you have also invited The Anfield Wrap . - Yes, we have actually tried to book them ever since we started planning the first festival in 2021. When we finally succeeded, I must say that I was well above average happy. These are Scouses who both know football and who are thoroughly nice people. I think people are going to love the show they're about to embark on. In addition, I must also highlight James Pearce , who is now back for the 3rd year in a row. He is an important guy for us and one who will take care of most of the interviews with the legends.
During the festival, it is the others who have to run off their feet and solve small and large problems that arise
The music has also become an important part of the Liverpool festival. What would you like to highlight as your favorites this year? - It's hard to get past The Ragamuffins . When we booked them last year, few of the supporters had heard of them. They almost knocked people out and it was almost a requirement that they had to come back this year. I must also mention that I am looking forward to the conclusion on Thursday evening when Mr. Smith's Friends take the stage. They are a local band that pays tribute to Joachim "Jokke" Nielsen's music. I dare say the atmosphere on Thursday night will be epic.
The Legends and Pondus
Perhaps the most important thing for many is which legends are coming? - You might think so, but the most important thing is actually that we manage to create and facilitate a community. The participants have told us this through several surveys that we have carried out. But of course it is important that we manage to come up with good names. The previous years have shown that we can fix it, and we shouldn't be any worse this year. We are very pleased to have got a Scandinavian team in place, with Jan Mølby, Vegard Heggem and Glenn Hysèn. In addition, we are hunting one or two more legends, whose names we hope to reveal very soon.
And Pondus is coming, you were able to reveal quite a short time ago. - We are quite happy with that. There is a close relationship between Pondus and Liverpool supporters in Norway. Now it is not exactly Pondus that is coming, but Strand forlag, which publishes Frode Øverli's lines. They move into one of our exhibitor tents, and bring a bit of everything with them in their luggage, which we think the supporters will like.
We are supporters who create a festival for supporters.
- There will also be other exciting exhibitors at the festival, such as Forza Second Hand. A shop in Hamar that sells second-hand suits, scarves and lots of other things. They are creating a Pop-Up shop on the festival grounds and we can promise that whoever stops by there may stumble upon some treasures. In addition, of course, there will be chocolate and gelato from Gjøvik Sjokolade, plus both the supporters' club and several others will be in place this year.
What are you most looking forward to? - Oh, there are actually many things. I think perhaps the moment when the first motorhomes arrive and when we open up the festival grounds is what will be the strongest. It goes without saying that I am a little moved when I see that people actually come to this festival that we have created. And then I would also like to mention the wonderful team that I work with. I would say that we have become quite good at organizing festivals over time. This is a group that complements each other very well and I learn something every time we meet to work on the festival. We are supporters who create a festival for supporters. I also have to admit that I am looking forward to the Supporters Dinner on Thursday a little extra . Then there will be topics that are a little more serious than football!
- And I'm looking forward to hanging out with other supporters. I have gotten to know so many people through what I have worked with in recent years and I am looking forward to getting to know new ones. Liverpool supporters are very pleasant. Should also mention that the nachspielet at PT's every evening is also great. Then I'm just an ordinary supporter and don't have to think about anything but hanging out with other supporters!
There is plenty of space in the festival area and we wonder if you will be able to fill it all up this year with supporters from all over Scandinavia? - Fortunately, we can adjust the size and rigging so that it feels just the right size, or small, regardless of the number that arrives. At the same time, we have not experienced as much interest in the past as we have experienced before this year's festival. We have sold almost 50% more festival passes this year than at the same time previously. It is also nice to register that both Swedes and Danes are coming, while it has been announced that there will also be supporters from other countries. It's pretty cool that the RV park is actually full already. We are simply overbooked but have found a solution that allows us to have space for a few more cars and caravans! Both the hotels and the festival camp at Hovdetun also report great interest
In conclusion, we should come to what is implied at the beginning of the article. Is Jaran high on himself? - Heh heh, I guess I would say that I can come across as a little high on myself, but that's not really who I am. I just get so incredibly proud of the things we achieve with this festival and then I tell it. But I know, and everyone else knows, that I am far from alone in creating a festival. What we do, we do together!
About the Liverpool Festival
The Liverpool festival is made by local supporters from the Gjøvik and Toten area through the company Aldri Alene AS. There are 10 owners and the common denominator is that they are all Liverpool supporters. The purpose is to establish and develop the Liverpool Festival into an annual event that will gather supporters from all over Scandinavia, in Gjøvik.
Pr/Info/press: Jaran Pedersen jaran@liverpoolgjovik.no
Comments