Sponsored by the American Scandinavian Heritage Foundation
- TENTH ANNUAL -
July 15, 16, 17, 2011
Gerry Rodeo Grounds, Gerry NY
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The Entertainers
Click here to download the 2011 Entertainment Schedule

The Rockridge Brothers
In 2002 four musicians got together in Stockholm, Sweden, to make a bluegrass soundtrack for an animated movie. Right away they felt the need to make something more out of this newly formed combo. Pooling their different musical experiences, ranging from country to punk, they found common ground in old time string music, feeding their own high-energy interpretations right back into that tradition. The Rockridge Brothers draw from the vast tradition of genuine American folk music, take it to a contempary scene and make it grow. Folk culture is not there to be put on display at museums, it's there to be lived.
Since that time, the Rockridge Brothers have been touring Europe and the USA, bringing the very best of hillbilly style mountain music to everybody and anybody they meet.
The Rockridge Brothers have just released their third CD entitled "No Sleep till Rockridge."
The Rockridge Brothers are:
Ralf Fredblad - fiddle
Peter Frövik - Guitar
Kristian Herner - Banjo
Pontus Juth - Upright Bass

Listen to the Rockridge Brothers:
Big Scioty.mp3
Let Me Fall.mp3

You can find the Rockridge Brothers on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/rockridgebrothers

Some reviews:
"Four young Swedes playing bluegrass, and if you didn’t know they were Swedish, you’d swear they’d emerged from the heart of bluegrass country.....They attack everything with energy and enthusiasm, and accents that don’t seem to bear a trace of their Northern homeland. For anyone who likes bluegrass, this is well worth a listen."
- Chris Nickson - "Sing Out - The Folk Song Magazine"

"Stockholm, Sweden is one of those cool and clean northern European cities that devote themselves to being cosmopolitan yet steeped in history. The Rockridge Brothers—Pontus, Peter, Ralf and Kristian—absolutely have got to be bluegrassiest band in all of Stockholm, and maybe even all of Sweden. The fact that these young fellers have glommed on to a fairly regionalized, American musical form is as admirable as it is abstract."
- Jeff Monk - "Stylus Magazine"


Peter Puma Hedlund
Peter Puma Hedlund, Swedish Fiddler of the Realm; Champion Nyckelharpa Player
Peter "Puma" will be returning to the Festival this year.

Peter Puma playing the nyckelharpa in the home of Karen Larsson at Sundborn, Sweden

This past year, Peter Puma received the highest honor available in Sweden, the Zorn mark in Gold. This award has only been presented to 113 people since 1933. It signifies that one is a master musician as well as one who is performing to keep the traditions alive. A world champion nyckelharpa player, Peter Puma Hedlund, at the tenth annual Scandinavian Folk Festival.


Toronto Swedish Folkdancers and Singers

We welcome our friends from Toronto, Canada as they join us for our tenth year celebration. The Toronto Swedish Folkdancers were formed in 1982 and have performed at many major events in Canada as well as in Finland in 2009. They have had the privilege of performing for King Carl Gustaf XVI and Queen Sylvia of Sweden. This outstanding dance group has developed a repertoire of authentic folk dances that is sure to please people of all ages. Many of the dancers are part of the Singers group where they present many of our favorite Scandinavian vocal tunes.


Classical Trio from Finland

This year's Festival will include "light" classical music. Selections will include both old as well as new compositions. Performers include Maija Arvaja on the fiddle, pianist Janna Kauppi and Ilkka Kauppi with his cello.


Viking Chorus
The Viking Chorus is one of Jamestown's unique Swedish groups. Under the direction of Mary Grace Brustrom, the Viking Chorus has been singing for many years. They are members of the American Union of Swedish Singers. Their performance includes selections of both Swedish and English standards.


Svenska Spelmän
 
  Performing at the Swedish Embassy in Washington, NY
Svenska Spelmän will be returning to the Festival with their unique sound of gammeldans music. Their performance focuses on the traditional waltz, polka, schottis, hambo, snoa and ganglot. The group consists of Kathy Petersen on the fiddle and nyckelharpa, Tim Cudney on the bass, Tom Gestwicki on the mandolin/guitar/banjo/vocal and Don Sandy on the accordion. All members are from Chautauqua County.


Nordanvind

Nordanvind is a group from all over upstate New York. Five accordion players offer gammeldans music including the polka, schottis, hambo, and waltz. They were inspired by the Scandinavian Accordion Club from New York City who performed at the first Scandinavian Folk Festival. Members include Deanne Hardy - Ionia, Irv Bentsen - Geneva, Mary Havens - West Seneca, Mary Julius - Greece, and Don Sandy - Jamestown.
There are not many accordion bands around these days so this is a rare opportunity to hear Scandinavian favorites on the accordion.



The Thule Lodge Swedish Folk Dancers
The adult and children folk dance teams from the Thule Lodge, Vasa Order of America,
have been a popular performing group in the Jamestown area for many years.
They have played a major role in preserving Scandinavian Folk dancing as they
pass the traditions on from one generation to another.

One of their special performances is the Ox Dance, a mock fight between two gentlemen over the love of a girl. The fun they have in performing their dances is demonstrated in their style.
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