The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 1978 in Norwegian music.
Events
March
17 – The 5th Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway (17–19 March).
May
24
The 26th Bergen International Festival started in Bergen, Norway (24 May – 7 June). The 6th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (24 May – 7 June).
August
27 – The 10th Kalvøyafestivalen started at Kalvøya near by Oslo.
Albums released
Unknown date
A
Arild Andersen
Green Shading into Blue (ECM Records)
G
Jan Garbarek
My Song (ECM Records), with Keith Jarrett, Palle Danielsson, and Jon Christensen
Places (ECM Records)
N
Teddy Nelson
Point Of Departure (Sonet Records), with Flying Norwegians
P
Popol Ace
Curly Sounds (Polydor Records)
R
Terje Rypdal
Waves (ECM Records)
T
Jahn Teigen
This Year's Loser (Polydor Records)
Deaths
February
13 – Aslak Brekke, traditional folk singer (born 1901).
May
20 – Bjarne Brustad, composer, violinist and violist (born 1895).
Births
January
30 – Jan Thore Grefstad, rock singer and songwriter.
February
23 – Ingrid Andsnes, classical pianist.
April
21 – Amund Svensson, black metal guitarist, keyboardist and composer. 23 – Lorentz Aspen, heavy metal pianist and keyboardist.
May
5 – Ola Gjeilo, classical composer and pianist. 7 – Stian Hinderson, black metal guitarist, bassist, drummer, keyboardist and vocalist.
June
17 – Esben Selvig, rapper and singer. 24 – Nikolai Eilertsen, rock bass guitarist.
July
26 – Silvia Moi, operatic singer.
August
17 – Vibeke Stene, operatic soprano. 31 – Morten Qvenild, jazz pianist, band leader, and music producer.
September
3 – Terje Bakken, black metal lead singer known as "Valfar", Windir, (died 2004). 6 – Karin Park, singer, songwriter, and model. 16 Ane Carmen Roggen, soprano singer, conductor, music arranger, and journalist. Ida Roggen, jazz singer, information officer and literary scholar. 26 – Ingfrid Breie Nyhus, classical pianist. 29 – Kurt Nilsen, pop singer.
October
5 – Steinar Nickelsen, jazz organist and pianist. 12 – Børge-Are Halvorsen, jazz saxophonist. 20 – Venke Knutson, pop singer. 26 – Tarjei Strøm, rock drummer and program host. 30 – Tore Bruvoll, traditional folk guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and music arranger.
November
3 – Jonas Howden Sjøvaag, jazz drummer, Eple Trio. 5 – Marita Røstad, singer-songwriter and jazz vocalist. 9 – Even Ormestad, jazz bass guitarist and music producer, Jaga Jazzist.
December
12 – Lage Lund, jazz guitarist. 30 Daniel Heløy Davidsen, jazz guitarist. Julie Dahle Aagård, jazz vocalist, composer, and band leader.
Unknown date
Trond Frønes, prog rock bass guitarist. Sven Garas, pop artist, songwriter, and music producer.