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Ellika Frisell & Rafael Sida
Ellika Frisell is a well-established figure on the Swedish folk and world music scene. Her musicianship is rooted in the influence of mentors Thore Härdelin, Päkkos Gustaf, and Nils Agenmark, as well as studies with Indian violinist K. Shivakuma. These are experiences that have led to several exciting collaborations, most notably a groundbreaking duo with kora master Solo Cissokho. Rafael Sida grew up in Mexico alongside eight musical brothers and began his career as a drummer in the Mexican rock and fusion scene during the 1960s. He eventually established himself on the Swedish music scene, performing with the Ale Möller Band and the Bohuslän Big Band. Later, he formed a trio with Ellika Frisell and Solo Cissokho.

In their duo, violin and percussion meet in an intimate, masterful exchange centered on the *polska* dance rhythm, triple meter, and a shared love of dance. The music reveals the kinship between Scandinavian folk music and African-American rhythmic traditions, showcasing a vibrant interplay between distinct musical languages. With a blend of attentiveness and playfulness, they challenge one another to create a truly unique sound. Their album *Färg och Tid* was released in 2023 in collaboration with Supertraditional and was nominated for a Manifest Award in 2024. Commenting on the nomination on the radio program *P1 Kultur*, Esmeralda Moberg remarked: “Here we have Ellika Frisell and Rafael Sida, two of the heavyweights of Swedish folk music, delivering the biggest surprises of the year.”

Ellika Frisell – violin
Rafael Sida – percussion

Elise Boeur & Adam Iredale-Gray
A Canadian duo featuring Hardanger fiddle, guitar, and violin

Elise Boeur and Adam Iredale-Gray move in close harmony through tunes drawn from Nordic, Irish, and French traditions. Boeur plays the violin and Hardanger fiddle, while Iredale-Gray is a guitarist and violinist with deep roots in Irish music. Both have toured for years with various projects, including the neo-folk quintet Aerialists. Over the years, they have gathered tunes from jam sessions, dances, and late-night after-parties—settings where the music lives on long after the official concert has ended.

When performing as a duo, they invite the audience into a musical experience that captures that very spirit of social connection. Their repertoire includes *gangars* from Telemark, Irish jigs, French *bourrées*, and melodies that emerge through the interplay of Hardanger fiddle, guitar, and violin, music they have discovered through years of travel and listening and music they have come to love and now perform with openness and infectious enthusiasm. As *Fatea* writes: “There is an almost telepathic level of communication between the players,” while *Folkworld* describes the music as “gripping and visceral.” Furthermore, *Songlines Magazine* named their album one of “The 10 Best New Albums from Around the World.”

Elise Boeur – violin, Hardanger fiddle
Adam Iredale-Gray – guitar, violin

Sabbath Hela Veckan
Sabbath Hela Veckan features members with roots in Sweden, the USA, and Finland. Formed in Stockholm in 1989, the band has played a key role in popularizing klezmer music in Sweden. One of their early concerts was named “Concert of the Year” by *Nöjesguiden*. They have toured with their wild, beautiful, and melancholic klezmer music across Sweden, Germany, Poland, Finland, and Norway, performing in everything from intimate venues and theater stages to major festivals, as well as on radio and television. Mats Klockljung of *Lira* wrote about the concert when the group celebrated its 30th anniversary: ​​“Sweden would definitely not have been the same without this Stockholm sextet… The members of Sabbath are, of course, brilliantly skilled instrumentalists who contrast with one another in exciting ways…”

Lauri Antila – double bass
Peter Bothén – clarinet & saxophone
James Friedman – violin & vocals
Andreas Hedwall – trombone & vocals
Nils Personne – saxophone & piano
Jerry (Adbo) Zakriberg – accordion