Imagine Dragons to play Norwegian megashow

By Mark Adams

Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 | 5:02 p.m.

Imagine Dragons has packed Downtown bars and opened for Interpol. Next up for the local band: dates in Lindon, Utah; Vegas; Salt Lake City; and … Bergen, Norway? That’s right—the alternative quintet is gearing up for the show of a lifetime, in Scandinavia.

The fast-rising group was chosen from more than 1,000 entries to perform April 29 at the city’s annual Bergenfest—an honor front man Dan Reynolds compares to winning the lottery. Established in 1993, the five-day festival has drawn crowds as large as 42,000 and hosted acts such as Neil Young, Roger Waters (of Pink Floyd) and the Pet Shop Boys.

“All of the bands that play it are huge international bands, many of which we’re big fans of. We just are super excited to take in the country, as well as the culture and music,” Reynolds said.

The band—whose next local engagement is March 3 at Vamp’d Rock Bar—has released two EPs and recorded a third. According to Reynolds, the band is still weighing when to time the next release.

“We’re looking at a few different options … whether it’s a self-release or through someone else,” the vocalist said. “It definitely will be something that takes place very soon.”

Aside from an EP release party, the band is looking forward to two other events on the horizon: the weddings of Reynolds and guitarist Wayne Sermon.

And those aren’t the only relationships solidifying, apparently. Reynolds took the opportunity to shoot down rumors that the band has been on the rocks:

“The band is in full throttle … definitely, to clear up those rumors, nobody is moving anywhere and we all are kind of–just getting married.”