Tag Archives: Nordic music

Dag Gården’s frå folk te’ folk 

Judith Gennett penned this review. Located north of Oslo and south of Tondheim, The Gudbrandsdalen is known as Norway’s “valley of valleys.” It is, along with its western extension the Ottadalen, also known as a hotbed of “normal” fiddling, using the … Continue reading

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Mikko Joensuu’s Amen 1

Mikko Joensuu is a Finnish musician, singer and songwriter who’s known in his home country for his work in an indie-psychedelic-shoegaze band called Joensuu 1685. His solo debut Amen 1 is the first release in a planned trilogy of Americana-tinged … Continue reading

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Childsplay at the State Street Church

Imagine anywhere from 21 to 28 fiddler/violin players on one stage with a rhythm section, throw in a random banjo or wooden flute … sound like a party? Well, that’s how Childsplay got its start: in Bob Childs’ house at … Continue reading

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Gjallarhorn’s Grimborg

What is it about Nordic folk music that draws you? Is it the wailing fiddles, the slight dissonance that seems to tap into something very basic? Is it the melodies, the lilt to the tunes? And Gjallarhorn’s magic? Was it … Continue reading

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Alban & Josue’s Polska pa Pan

Mike Stiles wrote this review. At first glance at a bi-cultural collaboration like Polska pa Pan, I’ve come to expect one of two possibilities. The collaboration can be an exchange of traditions or it can be slanted towards that of one of … Continue reading

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Plommon’s Sah

Big Earl Sellar wrote this review. It’s interesting how the current interest in reviving older traditions has been embraced by younger people throughout the world. Plommon is a group of five young women from Sweden playing traditional songs within a neotraditional … Continue reading

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Tron Steffen Westberg’s Bortover all vei…

If you’ve ever asked the question “What IS Norwegian fiddling anyway?” this recording is your answer. Tron Steffen Westberg’s Bortover all vei… is just the fiddle, thank you. He is a masterful spellemann and if you listen straight through the recording without stopping you … Continue reading

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Värttinä’s iki 

The twenty year history of the Finnish band Värttinä has been one of perpetual flux and evolution. From the group of 21(!) teenagers from the village of Rääkkylä that promoted Karelian traditional music during the 80’s, to the nine-piece outfit … Continue reading

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Väsen’s Trio 

Väsen is Olov Johansson on 3-row chromatic nyckelharpa and kontrabasharpa, Mikael Marin on viola, 5-string viola, and pomposa, and Roger Tallroth on 12-string guitar and bosoki. Having had the opportunity over the last few years to immerse myself in many … Continue reading

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Gjallarhorn’s Sjofn 

There’s something great about a world where the didgeridoo, butt-kicking percussion, and some Indian-influenced vocals seems seem right at home on an album of Finnish-Swedish folk music. Actually there’s just something great about Sjofn, Gjallarhorn’s second offering. It’s got lush vocals, … Continue reading

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