Eight acts selected for Folk Spot Denmark @ Tønder Festival

Presentations of the eight acts chosen for the Folk Spot Denmark event, August 23. – 24. at Tønder Festival.

FROMSEIER HOCKINGS (DK)

Since Ditte Fromseier (fiddle, viola and vocals) and Sigurd Hockings (guitar and vocals) met in 2003, the two of them have been on an extended journey – both artistically and as musicians on tour. From the beginning they were attracted to each other’s strong drive and intense musical energy, which they have managed to convert to innovative folk music. Fromseier Hockings play traditional tunes and songs from Bornholm and mix it with impressions from everyday life at home on Funen and from abroad where they have toured a lot. Together they have excited audiences in Australia, New Zealand, Norway and Germany, and here in Denmark Ditte Fromseier received the award at Danish Music Awards – Folk in 2015 for “Best Musician/ Singer”.  The same year the duo received The Danish Musicians’ Association’s prestigious award as “Live Act of the Year”.

MADS HANSENS KAPEL (DK)

Traditional folk music has always been vibrant and dynamic. The five young men in Mads Hansens Kapel are living proof of that. Living by the maxim ”have fun first, ask questions later”, they interpret the old melodies with ferocity, authority and a lot of heart. In 2017 the group released the EP “På Den Forkerte Side”, and in May this year they are going to release their debut album / released their debut album in May this year. Mads Hansens Kapel both strike up a dance and play concerts, and audiences all across our own little kingdom as well as in Germany the UK, Sweden, Estonia, Finland and Switzerland have had the pleasure of the group and their playful approach to the folk music traditions. Mads Hansens Kapel consists of Jonas Lærke Clausen (fiddle), Martin Strange Lorenzen (clarinet), Sebastian Boesgaard Bloch Larsen (guitar), Julian Michael Svejgaard Jørgensen (piano) and  Emil Ringtved Nielsen (bass). On their own they also play in other folk music constellations such as Mynsterland and Elmøe & Hoffman.

ODDE & NILSSEN (NO)

At Folk SPOT 2016 Bjørn Kåre Odde played with Sivert Holmen. This year he will return – this time with the accordionist Ole Nissen. In Norway there are long and proud traditions of duos on fiddle and accordion, and the light, playful and dynamic interaction between Odde and Nissen appeals to both dancers and concert audiences. Yet with their youthful fearlessness the duo redefine the strong Norwegian folk music traditions, but still with plenty of integrity and respect. Last year Odde & Nissen released the album “Edge”, which includes compositions by pianist Wolfgang Plagge, whom the duo have also performed with, but the repertoire also features traditional Rhinelander polkas, polskas and hallings. Both Odde and Nissen have received prestigious  awards in their home country. In 2015 Odde was awarded “Young Folk Musician of the Year”, and in 2018 Nissen received the same honour. In 2017 they won the silver medals at national old-time dance music championships at “Landsfestivalen”. (Photo: Runhild Heggem, FolkOrg)

PHØNIX vs. EMBLA (DK)

In a tremendous show Phønix vs.Embla recreate the link between the Nordic music and dance traditions. For more than 25 years Embla have been among the defining orchestras on the Danish folk music scene, and they were among the first Danish folk bands to tour abroad. Their repertoire includes contemporary folk music and traditional ballads on which the characteristic bass clarinet provides a crisp base. Phønix have played concerts all over the world, and a stopover in China led to a close friendship and musical collaboration with the guzheng player SangKa. The dance troupe Embla was formed in 2007 and consists of ten women who reinterpret the Nordic dancing traditions. The troupe’s ambition is to give people a memorable experience with Danish/ Nordic folk dance at the centre, and they take their audience into a world where the many possibilities of dancing are explored and tested in a mix of grace and rocking rhythms.

RANNOK (DK)

A concert with Rannok may include everything from fabulously swinging polkas to atmospheric ballads and warm-blooded waltzes. Michael Graubæk (violin) and Theis Langelands (piano) present some really unique ensemble play and an intense drive that appeals to both hearts and feet. They play traditional and contemporary Danish folk music with inspiration from the old fiddler’s tunes, but they also borrow a bit a from Scottish traditions. Rannok have received a number of awards and recognitions for their work. In 2014 Michael Graubæk was appointed ‘National Fiddler’, and Theis Langelands has received severals Danish Music Awards – Folk, some of which as part of Habadekuk. Since the debut in 2010, Rannok have released an additional two albums. The latest one “Gammelt, Nyt, Lånt og Blåt” is from 2017, and between the releases they have played countless gigs in Denmark and abroad.

TRIO SVIN (DK)

You never really know what to expect when Trio Svin go on stage with filthy folk music from the darkest corners of Jutland. The melancholy Nordic melodies are subjected to mucky metal grooves and are occasionally replaced by swinging polkas. Trio Svin are Magnus Heebøll Jacobsen on percussion, Søren Vinther Røgen on the guitar and Thyge

Søndertoft Van Dassen on the fiddle, and their declared goal is to make the world uglier one concert at a time. They have already made Denmark, Finland and Sweden a little uglier, and being part of the line-up for the folk music cruise “Folklandia” between Sweden and Finland, Trio Svin have also caused havoc in international waters. In 2015 Trio Svin were awarded “Talent of the Year” at Danish Music Awards – Folk, and the trio still get people on the dancefloor with their surprising performances, which are characterized by great musicality and a tremendous twinkle in the eye.

VESSELIL (DK)

The three young musicians from Vesselil value personal expression highly, and they leave a unique stamp on the Nordic folk music traditions. Vesselil consists of Clara Tesch (fiddle, viola and song), Elisabeth Dichmann (fiddle and song), and Maja Aarøe Freese (five-stringed cello and song), and together they present a versatile and elegant repertoire consisting of old Nordic ballads and dance melodies weaved together with their own compositions and improvisational elements. Last year Vesselil released their debut album, on which you can hear their ingenious mix of old and new moving in the borderland of joy and melancholy. Vesselil have previously played in Germany – including at Tanz & Folk Festival Berlin, and this summer they have been booked to play Buskers Bern Street Music Festival in Switzerland and Kaustinen Folk Music Festival in Finland.

VÍÍK (DK, NO, SE)

Víík combine hypnotic melodies from the Nordic song traditions with the wry aesthetic of jazz and the catchy grooves of rock. At the front of Víík is the Norwegian folk singer and composer Elisabeth Vik, who lures the audience into an enchanting universe of mysterious medieval ballads and fairytales. In addition to Elisabeth Vik, Víík consists of  Annelene Toft (violin), Villads Hoffmann (cittern), Morten Alkjær Lassen (accordion), Jakob Kragesand (double bass) and Mårten Hillbom (percussion). Last year Víík released their first two singles, the traditional ballads “Margit Hjukse” and “Grisilla og Kong Ridder”, both of which were well received by the Nordic folk music audience. Now the Nordix sixtet are ready to take the next step out into the world with their gory tales of horrifying fates and soaring euphoria.