LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Revel in the eclectic mix of entertainment, featuring traditional dances and lively music that capture the spirit of Nordic culture across the Pacific Northwest. Friday evening sets the stage for music and dancing near a blazing bonfire, while Saturday showcases the traditional Midsummer pole raising.
SOUTH STAGE
11:00
11:45
12:30
1:15
2:00
2:45
3:30
Nye Algen "The New Moose"
Soittorasia "Music Box"
Martha & Maren
Nordic Folk Dress Showcase
Traditional Midsummer Pole Raising Parade & Ceremony
Dan Schlesinger
Granstrom & Rogers
Accordion and fiddle on Swedish folk tunes
A trio of Finnish musicians
Norwegian Hardanger fiddles
See/learn about Nordic traditional clothing
Raising of the Swedish midsummer pole. Parade Dances led by Christine Smith, music by Liam Barnes (accordionist) and friends
Nordic folk music on euphonium with accompaniment
Catarina New Martin
Duo performing Swedish songs
Folk to Classical to Jazz music
4:15
NORTH STAGE
11:00
11:45
12:30
2:00
2:45
3:30
Vasa Youth Group
Süssefüsse International Folk Dance Troupe
Tulehoidjad "Torch Bearers"
Traditional Maypole Raising - SOUTH STAGE
Allspel
Vänta Bara "Just Wait"
Amy Hakanson
Swedish folk dance youth group
International folk dance youth troupe
Estonian traditional dance/music
Community musicians with social dancing
4:15
End of Show
6:00
Cello, fiddle and friends
Traditional Swedish musical instruments
Nye Algen "The New Moose"
At the core, Nye Älgen is Dave Weisel on accordion and Kim Majors on fiddle. They have been playing Nordic folk dance music for decades and dancing longer. Dave and Kim decided to collaborate musically, they have friends join them frequently and you can catch them playing regularly for the Nordic social folk dance group, Norske Rundansere, most Monday nights at the Nordic Northwest Nordia House.
Soittorasia "Music Box"
Soittorasia brings the sounds and spirit of Traditional Nordic music alive on Finnish kanteles, jouhikko, violin, harp, woodwinds and percussion. They are a Vancouver/Portland Finnish-American Trio comprised of Valerie Blessley on kanteles and woodwinds, Elisa Boynton on violin, kantele and jouhikko, and Jennifer Pratt-Walter on harp, kantele, percussion and woodwinds. The trio enjoys playing Finnish, Nordic, light Classical and original music in a variety of instrument combinations. For more info: https://www.facebook.com/TrioMusicbox
Martha & Maren
M & M: Twin Norwegian Fiddles : Maren and Martha first met in 2016, when Maren was looking for a violin teacher. The two hit it off, and now play both regular fiddle and the Norwegian hardanger fiddle together. Martha is a Northwest based fiddler who teaches and performs on both the regular fiddle and the hardanger fiddle. She has studied extensively in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, and she directs the Seattle Lilla Spelmanslag. Together, Maren and Martha focus on great styling for dance, strong rhythm, beautiful harmonies and having a darn good time!
Dan Schlesinger
Nordic Northwest is pleased to present Dan Schlesinger this year to showcase a contemporary approach to the traditional music. Dan will be performing Scandinavian folk tunes on euphonium with accompaniment. He plays a variety of styles of music, including jazz and classical, on euphonium & trombone. When the onset of the pandemic prevented musicians from performing alongside one another, Dan developed a "one man band" approach where he performs live as a single solo brass musician accompanied by backing tracks that creates a sound like an ensemble of instruments. For more info: https://www.gigsalad.com/dan_schlesinger_portland
Granstrom & Rogers
"Contemporary music from Sweden and Oregon”
Granstrom & Rogers is a duo consisting of Jimmy Granstrom and Brent Rogers. Jimmy is a songwriter who has had his songs performed and recorded in Sweden, Germany and London's West End. Together with Thomas Karlsson, he’s also part of the duo “Project Earthbridge”. Their song “2019 Again” has been in rotation on radio stations in Portland and Sweden for more than a year since its release in March 2021. Brent is a professional musician, producer, audio engineer and songwriter who has recorded and released songs with the likes of Tim Gorman from "The Who". Jimmy will provide spoken introductions and lyrical excerpts while Brent will sing a variety of original songs they have co-written, including Jimmy’s English translations of Swedish songs by both million-selling songwriters as well as up and coming artists.
For more info:
https://www.facebook.com/Granstrom-Rogers-107722554029294
Catarina New Martin
"How Swede it is", Born and raised in Sweden, multi instrumentalist Catarina New Martin and her husband/percussionist Al Martin is presenting a variety of Folk to Classical to Jazz music, well known to the Swedish traditional music library.
Vasa Youth Group
The Vasa Rosebuds: Currently under the direction of Christine Smith. Vasa Rosebuds have routinely performed and led majstång dancing at Midsummer celebrations in Portland and Astoria. Within the past 5 years, they’ve traveled internationally to dance and participate in Midsummer celebrations in Sweden and Canada. In December they were featured at NNW ScanFair in Portland with a dance performance and a Lucia pageant. Additionally, they have performed many times at the Junction City Scandinavian Festival, participated yearly in the Junior Rose Festival Parade, and danced at many other local multicultural celebrations. They also performed at the Grand Opening of IKEA in Portland.
Süssefüsse International Folk Dance Troupe
Süssefüsse International Folk Dance Troupe was founded in 1985 by folk dance enthusiast Heidi Vorst who currently directs the classes and performances. Dancers wear international costumes to represent the many global cultures of our world and the dances they learn, as well as to connect to some of their own heritages. Süssefüsse has performed for farm workers, students, retired seniors, kings and queens, and has travelled and performed in both Japan and Hungary. We often perform locally in the Pacific Northwest for Scanfair and Midsommar, the Japanese Obon Festival, Portland's Polish Festival and Folklife in Seattle. Watch for them on June 25th at Salem's World Beat Festival in Riverfront Park.
Tulehoidjad "Torch Bearers"
Tulehoidjad "Torch Bearers" is the Estonian folk dance group of Portland, Oregon. Formed in 1950, Tulehoidjad has taught Estonian folk dances to the four generations of Estonian immigrants and many American friends. Keeping Estonian traditions alive and teaching Americans about Estonian folk dance are the primary aims of Tulehoidjad folk dancers.
Allspel
Allspel "means everyone plays" is a usual tradition in Sweden especially on midsommar eve. Our community of Nordic folk musicians are gatheringing to provide this tradition and hope to entice our community of social folk dancers and maybe some midsommar attendees to join in the folk dances following the raising of the midsommar pole.
Vänta Bara "Just Wait"
Currently a duo of Maralyn Belgique on cello and Kim Majors on fiddle. They are likely to draw on a friend or two to join them for midsommar. Maralyn plays a variety of classical and folk music, she finds her home in Swedish folk dance music with Kim. They frequently play for Nordic folk dancers at Nordia House on Monday nights.
Amy Hakanson
Amy Hakanson was introduced to Swedish folk music and the nyckelharpa in 2008, In 2014 she purchased a nyckelharpa, later that same year, Amy was accepted to the Eric Sahlström Institute in Tobo, Sweden. There she studied traditional Swedish nyckelharpa with various tradition bearers, most notably mentored by Olov Johansson, the nyckelharpa player of the band Väsen. Amy is trained in classical violin but also grew up immersed in American roots music, playing bluegrass fiddle with her family band. She also plays a wide variety of traditional instruments including Norwegian Hardanger fiddle, guitar, and banjo. She now has a bachelor’s degree in ethnomusicology from Portland State University. She is interested in exploring ways to incorporate her varied musical background, education, and interests with traditional Scandinavian folk music. Amy performs regularly with her Nordic fusion band Varelse in addition to playing solo for Scandinavian events, teaching workshops, writing and performing string arrangements for studio recordings, and gigging with local bands in Portland. You can reach Amy at: amyhakansonmusic@gmail.com and www.amyhakanson.com
Liam Barnes
Leading music for the midsommar procession, pole raising and ringdances is Liam Barnes on accordion and will be joined by friends from our Nordic music community.
Liam has been playing accordion for fifteen years, and has loved Scandinavian music from a young age. He has traveled extensively by land and sea as a musician. After finally finding others who share a love of Swedish folk music, he is excited to be playing for the Nordic community. Liam connected with local musicians here and was about to join in playing for our regular Monday night Nordic social dance group when the pandemic hit. He was able to provide music for the League of Swedish Societies in 2021 along with Amy Hakanson. Liam is Icelandic on his Amma's side and loves the old sagas and rune songs.
Nordic Dress Showcase
Nordic Folk Dress Showcase: Led by Kim Majors and Sue Ebers, they have been enthusiasts, performing in, collecting, studying, making Nordic folk clothing for over three decades. Come learn something about many of the beautiful traditional clothing worn by the entertainers, friends and attendees to the Oregon Midsummer Festival. If you will be wearing traditional folk clothing to midsommar this year, consider modeling at the showcase, contact: Kim at kimberk01@gmail.com
