Artister 2011
Looptroop Rockers
Sweden's biggest hip-hop export, Looptroop Rockers were formed two decades ago and. Since they started their own record label in 1998, they have been living the dream. The band's lyrics, on issues such as the environment, globalization and independence are a welcome change to the otherwise banal lyrics that often accompany today's hip-hop.
Rising Appalachia
Rising Appalachia are a genre-bending "force of sound" who use vocal harmony, lyrical prowess and diverse artistic collaborations to defy cultural clichés and ignite a musical revolution using bass and tambourines! The sisters Leah and Chloe's musical influences reach from the blues and gospel to underground-hip-hop and spoken word. Together they travel the world searching for inspiration with the ambition to start a cultural revolution. The group's total concept involves workshops and street performances with juggling and fire.
http://www.risingappalachia.com/
http://www.myspace.com/risingappalachia
Carlou D
An outspoken voice from Senegal's hip-hop generation, Carlou D and his band bring spiritual roots music and electric performances straight from Dakar's ripe music scene. Born in one of Dakar's suburbs in 1979, Ibrahima Loucard grew up under the musical eye of his father, who initiated him into the vast and varied styles of music of that time. Immediately hooked on the sounds, Carlou D, as he and his band are known, left school at sixteen and started performing on local stages set up around his neighbourhood. But purity, simplicity and above all, respect for others, are the cornerstone of Carlou D's concept. Taking the essence of the "baifal" philosophy, the outspoken qualities of hip- hop, and musical elements of jazz, soul, rap and acoustic roots, Carlou D is an illuminating presence on stage. An exceptional guitarist with a pure voice and infectious sense of rhythm, Carlou D's second solo album will definitely make him one of Senegal's next great musical exports.
http://motherland-music.com/carlou-d/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb3OOUC5KAE
Syster Fritz
A colourful quartet with influences from the Balkans, North Africa, Latin America, Jamaica and Sweden. Mixed together and accompanied with beautiful harmonies, their lyrics cover a wide spectrum from doing the washing up, dreams, chaos and love. All four members play a variety of instruments, flutes of bamboo, silver, rosewood and plastic, violins in a variety of sizes, djembe and darbuka, glockenspiel and cello – everything has its place in this quartet. And it's the same with the genre: a great mix of jazz, blues, Balkan, progressive and not the least , Swedish folk music.
http://www.facebook.com/systerfritz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbpkWCC0KYw
Shukar Collective
Romany bear taming-techno. An encounter between the esoteric Romany culture and the new generation's electronic music resulted in the birth of Shukar Collective. Two renown Rumanian DJ's came into contact with the musical compilation Shukar and an exciting new group came into being. Shukars music has its' origins in the Ursari, a bear taming culture with Tartar and Mongol roots, which with rhythms from sticks, stones and barrels could get the bears dancing. Powerful, aggressive music with spiritual dimensions.
Foto: Cornel Lazia
Junip
It took Junip 12 years from their formation in 1999 to release their first full length studio album. Families and education came first and, not the least , José González's acclaimed solo project, which resulted in an enormous international demand for the Argentinian-Swedish vocalist. Junip guest this year's Urkult with a soft and tentative sound which is surprising and pleasurable in its entirety.
Foto: Jon Bergmann
Jon Cleary
In spite of his English background, Jon Cleary is regarded as one of the best down to earth New Orleans musicians of today. Starting on guitar, he graduated to the piano which with his raw striped –down sound is an important ingredient in the New Orleans rhythm ́n blues tradition. Jon Cleary's concert offers masterful keyboards, cool sounds and lyrics which take you to the Bayou. A world's artist, in the true meaning of the word, at this year's festival!
George Kilby Jr
Alabama born George Kilby Jr moves freely within the great expansions of blues and alternative country. He has shared the same stage as Etta James and James Brown and has for decades toured together with Pinetop Perkins. George has made a name for himself on the international, New York centered roots scene, guesting Näsåker with 25 years of touring and albums in his baggage.
Anna von Hausswolff
Anna von Hausswolff silenced the critics with her debut album, "Singing From The Grave" when it was released last year. The 23 year old has already been compared to great female vocalists such as PJ Harvey, Joanna Newsom and Kate Bush. Her voice is that of total expression, sometimes a caress, sometimes creating a storm; but it always finds a very special place in your heart. Her voice perfectly combines the wild and natural with reality and romance.
Foto: Cora Hillebrand
Eta Carinae
The group are from Pernambuco, Brazil and mix rock, reggae, electro beats with brasilian rhythms such as baião, forró and samba. They keep the faith with the basics of Manguebeat but with the goal of creating universal music from the traditional to reach a new generation. Eta Carinae has toured Europe several times and performs Urkult for the second time. Their name is taken from one of the Milky Way's largest stars, which emits as much light in six seconds as our sun radiates in an entire year.
Hoven Droven
Hoven Droven are proof that folk and rock are a fantastic combination with heavy riffs and beautiful violin loops. The band from Jämtland where formed at Birka Folk High School in 1989 and since then they have toured much of Europe and North America, as well as numerous TV and radio appearances.
Foto: Eva Aspling
Väärt
Umeå-based group Väärt come to Urkult to play and tell tales of the inland areas of Norrland. They lovingly reflect upon the way of life up here in the North: the iron ore mines and life in the sparsely populated countryside with its sometimes harsh climate. Their delicate melodies express a longing and a sadness well in tune with the northern romantic folk traditions and following in the wake of Euskefeurat and others. Frida Johansson we know from the vocal group Kraja. The debut album is called "Summer Bird" which is the name of someone who works down the mines in the summer months.
Netnakisum
Expect to be surprised when you hear the three Austrian women in Netnasikum that mixes classical with traditional Austrian folk music in their own innovative style. The music from their bows will bring a smile to your face.
Kvartet Traktor
Since its' formation in Uppsala a decade ago, the Traktor has played on a number of Swedish folk and world music scenes. The band's unromantic interpretations of Eastern European folk music has given them a reputation as a strong live band . They are joined on stage by one of Sweden's best percussionists, Peter Berndalen, who makes the band swing better than ever before.
Nordic
A folk music trio with the unusual combination of cello, keyed fiddle and mandolin received the prize for "Best Group" at the Folk & World Music Awards in Gothenburg. "Harmonic strings coupled with curiosity that does not shy away from the unusual and unexpected," being the jury's motivation. Nordic have an energy and charm which has led to this band being one of the most popular live folk bands in Sweden today who are guaranteed to captivate their audience at this year's festival.
Foto: Mattias Lundblad
Airijoki & Laservågen
Johan Airijoki will be on stage twice at this year's Urkult; once, as the frontman of Vaart and secondly, as part of the Umeå-based Airijoki and Laservågen. They return with a style of music that they, themselves describe as being, "built up with cosy rugs around vocalist, Johan Airijoki," whilst others describe their music as, "folk- pop, with a touch of electronics."
Eastwick
Eastwick is a Jämtland constellation of four, very accomplished, musicians, who are not afraid to mix country, americana, folk and hard rock. They perform their own music, as well as covers, with a massive enthusiasm. Lead vocalist, Jens Ganman, composes with a Foto: Mattias Lundblad sharp edge with lyrics that are often critical of politics and society today. The band's other members include Catherine Åhlén, cello, Kjell-Erik Eriksson, violin and Bo Lindberg, guitar and accordion, who combine to give the band their own unique sound.
Iti Malo & Suranjana Ghosh
From West Bengal in India we welcome sitar player Iti Malo. With eight years of study and a master's degree from Shantiniketan University under her belt, Malo has students in both Sweden and India, dividing her time between the two countries. It is unusual to find a female tabla master, but that's just what we have in Suranjana Ghosh. At age four Ghosh had her first lessons on the tabla, and now plays in the traditions of Lucknow Gharana. Together they take the audience on a musical journey to the East.
P-Danjelsa
P-Danjelisa mixes Swedish lyrics with a touch of Jamska (Jämtland) to Röttrans heavy reggae and dancehall rhythms. A touch of ska, old time and other dance music compliment the Jämtländsk-Jamaican marriage. His album "Goff" was released in 2009
Beatrice Aurore and the Make-Believe Mimers
From Sollefteå we welcome, Beatrice Lindholm and her group, The Make-Believe Mimers. Winners of "Music Direct," 2010. Beatrice writes and arranges her music with the aim of bringing joy to her audiences. Combining theater, costumes and make-up, as an integral part of the show with inspirations from mime and French carnival costumes, that provide a memorable stage show.
Triakel
Triakel, a trio with violin, harmonium and vocals from Jämtland, with a musical mix of joy, sorrow, eternal love and violent death. Their sound has found followers around the world. Emma Härdelin's beautiful, unique voice, combined with the brittle rub of the violin and the rhythmic accompaniment of the pedal organ enchant us, and let us follow the stories of knights, beautiful girls, maids and farmhands in the forests of Jämtland
Marilyn Mazur
She has toured with Miles Davis and Wayne Shorter. She has won the prestigious Jazzpar-Prize. Critics call her a rhythmic genius. Seven times since the 1980s, she's received the "talent deserving wider recognition" award of the American jazz magazine Down Beat. Now, Marilyn Mazur guests Urkult, not only on the main stage, but even performing her family show at Markusgården, the community center, in the village
Cookies 'N' Beans
Romance, sorrow, joy and happiness, so can you describe the music of Cookies 'N' Beans. This is a mix of ballads and raw country music. The group consists of Frida Öhrn, Linda Power and Charlotte Centervall, three well-known names in the Swedish music industry and together they create magic on stage.
Mustat Silmät
Mustat Silmät or "Black Eye," are an orchestra from Näsåker who mainly interpret the music of the Finnish Romany band, Hortto Kaalos. The texts are carefully translated from Finnish into Swedish with the ambition to reflect the pain and hope that the Romany lyrics convey. The traditional Finnish Romany music's style varies from catchy humppa and the captivating ballads, to the flamenco and the soulful blues.
Zibur
A fun party band with great charisma. Listening and watching Zibur is peppy and fun. The band are the fruit of Lunnevads college where they were formed in autumn 2004. Together they have a musical breadth of both, jazz, folk and classical music. With their warm public contact, they bring love and energy and with Balkan music in your ears you just want to dance.
Miriam Aïda
Miriam Aïda, a jazz and bossa nova singer explores the Swedish genre and interprets among others Olle Adolphson, Georg Riedel and Freddie King. Together with Mats Andersson, classical acoustic guitar, and Ola Bothzén, percussion, she mixes Swedish folk with the Brazilian music giving the dreamy and romantic melodies a new life with lively Brazilian rhythms.
Ketsurat
Finnish Ketsurat are six female vocalists whose lyrics reflect tales and legends interspersed with everyday events in a musical tapestry of rhythms and colours. Finnish folk tradition with beauty and poverty, pain and sadness are the themes that we recognize.
Mittfolk
If you give young saxophonists, cellists, violinists, percussionists, guitarists, bassists, clarinetists and flutists the freedom to interpret folk music as they see fit then Mittfolk may possibly be the final result. Under the artistic leadership of Göran Månsson and Daniel Ek, Mittfolk explore the traditions within Västernörrlands folk music with this young and eclectic orchestra.
Maria Kalaniemi
Maria Kalaniemi is regarded as one of the world's leading accordionists,and her talents and skills are both practically and theoretically based. She earned her PhD in 2009 in folk music and is currently working as a lecturer at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. Although Kalaniemi's music has roots in folk and classical music, her repertoire is much broader than that. Her Swedish heritage has led her to explore both Swedish and Finnish songs, which were compiled and released on the album "Wild Roses" in 2010.
Valeri Dimchev Trio
Bulgarian Valeri Dimchev was eleven when he discovered the tamboura, an asian string instrument. An award winning musician, composer and producer, Dimchev's musical goals are twofold. On the one side, playing the tamboura in the traditional way and secondly dedicating time to a new and creative way which is very evident in his performances on stage.
Saxophone Quartet Next
Four saxophonists are all that's needed. Something that one will realize after hearing this Latvian quartet performing music that would otherwise require a complete orchestra to do it justice. An adventurous encounter with melodies old and new.
Sver & Snakka San
A Norwegian-Swedish Quintet, Sver's sound is creative with a variation in tempo and reflection without losing its traditional base in folk music. Joining Sver is rapper Snakka San, who, with his political and poetic rap offers folk music a new and exciting direction
