If you like Bluegrass and traditional music in general, and you’re not already listening to Scandinavian or Nordic tunes, you should be. You’re missing out on some great music and arguably a fundamental building block of both Celtic and American Bluegrass genres.
First a quick word about the Vikings. Everywhere. They were everywhere, spreading their genes, culture, language, music and traditions. Did you know that a Viking king ruled what is now England for hundreds of years? That the Scottish islands were variously settled over multiple Viking forays. That Ireland also had its many encounters with the Viking hoards. And Vikings often stayed, intermarried, and preceded with cultural integration at pace. Like they did when they sailed up the Seine River in France and over a few generations BECAME the Normans of Normandy.
Understandably they brought lots of traditions and customs along with them, including their music - which then became intertwined with the local musical traditions, adding depth and new character to regional musical evolution.
So for newbies to the traditional genre, I’d recommend several bands and solo artists.
First: Vasen - a well-known traditional folk group that has decades of touring experience and a wide repertoire of well-loved regulars. Hard not to love this group. The lead guy often plays a Nickelharpa (image), which is so cool.
Dreamer’s Circus - a more modern take on Nordic trad folk, this trio has a great sound and appealing tunes. Band members hail from diverse Scandinavian regions, including the Faroe Islands. Here’s a song for you.
Ranarim - Another popolar touring group with female singers and a full repertoire of traditional favorites and new fare. Here’s a song for you.
Scandinavian traditional music features some interesting and unique instruments, notably the Nykelharpa, the Hurdy Gurdy (when playing medieval music), and my personal favorite: the Hardanger Fiddle.
Annbjorg Lien is the mistress of the Norwegian Fiddle. Simply the best. Her tunes range from soul-touching winter dirges, to slow waltzes, to energetic polkas and jigs. She often plays with her Celtic women fiddler counterparts on ‘string sisters’ recordings. Here’s a song for you.
When it comes to solo artists, there are a couple of women of the north I’d suggest. But first a word about the Sami people and experience: indigenous. Reindeer herders who live on the Artic fringes, the Sami are to Scandinavia what Native American tribes are to the USA. And their music reflects that. I’ve written about the Sami people and traditions before, here.
Sofia Jannok is one of the best known young Swedish Sami soloists and indigenous activists, speaking out for her people/tribe - in song snd in public forums.
Eivior Palsdottir is an example of a young, modern Faroese artist playing ancient ‘witch of the north’ tunes. Very powerful stuff, this. Calls to nature in the strongest of female voices, primitive… not for the weak of heart. Here’s a taste of her power.
Like the music of their Celtic neighbors in Appalachia, the Scots and Irish, settlers from Nordic countries like Sweden, Norway, Demark and Iceland played similar instruments and came from similar European musical traditions. Google’s AI labs says: “Scandinavian traditional music influenced the development of bluegrass through the musical traditions of early settlers in Appalachia. Many of these settlers came from Nordic countries and brought their musical traditions with them.”
It is more likely a lot of Swedes, Danes and Norwegians ended up in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota - but from there they contributed their licks to the evolution of American “old time music”, which comprises Bluegrass. Truth is, immigrants of all kinds ended up chasing the American dream and all brought their musical customers and traditions with them, expanding the scope, depth and quality of what is now deemed ‘traditional American
