Midwinter Folk Music Festival

Saturday, March 4 & Sunday, March 5

Folk music does not stand still…and neither will you during these musical two days in March.

As an art form primarily passed down through oral tradition and learned by ear, the genre of folk music constantly shifts with the times. With each new generation, folk musicians build upon, innovate, and transform the work of countless past generations of musical masters. In this way, folk music is always both a reflection of the current day, and a timeless preservation of past culture and traditions.

The Midwinter Folk Music Festival is one of Minnesota’s most fun and accessible opportunities to explore Scandinavian folk music. Throughout the weekend, visitors will experience pop-up performances, instrument demonstrations and have the chance to collaborate with other musicians in daily jam sessions. If you’ve ever yearned to learn more about a nyckelharpa or a spelmanslag, this action-packed weekend in March is your chance. It’s also your chance to participate in workshops and performances by some of ASI’s most popular and prolific folk music groups, and to meet and hear music from one of Sweden’s most influential new folk artists.

This year’s special guest is Oskar Stenmark, a talented trumpet, cornet & flugelhorn player, recording artist, composer, arranger and educator. Born and raised in Gothenburg, Sweden, Oskar explores the traditional melodies he inherited from his ancestors in Sweden by fusing them together with the sounds of New York City. He has performed with stars such as David Byrne, Chris Potter and multiple GRAMMY award winner Maria Schneider Orchestra.

For the first time ever, as a hybrid virtual and inperson festival, this year’s Midwinter Folk Music

Special Guest Oskar Stenmark will perform in-person during the Midwinter Folk Music Festival.

Festival will bring musicians from across the U.S. and Sweden together for public concerts, popup performances, and workshops. It will also be the first time ASI members can participate in this event from anywhere in the world.

Music groups including Ross Sutter & Art Bjorngjeld, Beatrice Hole Psalmodikon Group, ASI Spelmanslag, and Nyckelharpalag, Swedish singer Emma Härdelin, and Jeanett and Peter Rousu, will all perform throughout the weekend. Musicians Paul Dahlin and Ross Sutter will host workshops for fiddle and psalmodiken.

Advance registration is required for Midwinter Folk Music Festival. View the festival schedule and register today at asimn.org.

Nordic Elements

Ideas, Learning, and Cultural Connection

The Norse Saga Room

Sun, April 24, noon-5 pm CT Discover the Norse Saga Room during ASI's next Nordic Elements event, featuring talks of the history of the room, how it made its way to ASI, and Gerhard Munthe's spectacular folk-tale tapestries, both in-person and virtual. Coffee, small bites, and museum admission included with inperson registration. Learn more at asimn.org.