Star DJ Kygo filled New York’s Madison Square Garden

TV2 meets Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll, better known as Kygo, backstage a few hours before taking the stage at Madison Square Garden.

The arena, located in the heart of Manhattan, has a maximum capacity of 20,000 spectators and is far from the largest the Norwegian artist has ever played in. But it’s the story behind that Kygo has always dreamed of playing here.

– There’s something about Madison Square Garden. It actually seems a little more important. It looks very, very big, Kygo tells TV 2.

Madison Square Garden is often referred to as “the most famous arena in the world”.

It was here that Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier clashed in what was dubbed the “fight of the century” in 1971, Wayne Gretzky played his last NHL game in 1999, and Kobe Bryant received a standing ovation from the home crowd after scoring 61. points for the Los Angeles Lakers against the New York Knicks in 2009.

Both the Democratic and Republican parties used it for their national meetings in 1992 and 2004 respectively. Two popes held functions here.

During rehearsals, Kygo sees a giant banner high up under the ceiling with the name of Billy Joel and the number 129. It is the record for the most concerts in the arena.

– I don’t think I’m here yet, but it’s great to be one of the artists who can play here, says Kygo.

The homeland of Zuccarello

For most Norwegians, Madison Square Garden is perhaps best known as Mats Zuccarello’s old home ground from his time in the New York Rangers between 2010 and 2019.

It was also the occasion for Kygo’s only visit to Madison Square Garden before his sold out concert.

– Actually I’ve only been here once before and then I’ve seen Rangers, aka Zuccarello, play. So then he invited me to fight, Kygo says.

Didn’t you get any advice from him on how to play big at Madison Square Garden?

– No, I may not have it. Maybe I should text him and see if he has any advice.

Postponed due to pandemic

However, this isn’t Kygo’s first time playing in New York. He gave several concerts in the big city before the pandemic, including in the other great hall in the city, the Barclays Center.

– Always tends to be good. People love to go to concerts here. It’s something that happens every day in New York, but it’s nice that people want to come to my concert too, says Kygo.

He waited a long time to play Madison Square Garden. A concert had already been scheduled in May 2020, but was canceled due to the pandemic.

– There was a year and a half when I was simply “stuck” at home in Bergen. In a way, it was nice to be able to take a little break, but I felt I missed being able to go back and play concerts, she says.