The Scandinavian Folk Festival will "Yust Go Nuts for Stan." Stan Boreson, the King of Scandinavian Humor, will be featured both Friday and Saturday nights at this year's Festival. Along with his accordion and "Songs his Uncle Torvald taught him", Stan has tickled the funny bone of audiences of all ages for the past 60 years. On a dare, he began doing Scandinavian dialect songs by transforming popular American songs into humorous Norwegian and Swedish renditions. Over the years, his songs proved so successful that he has made numerous recordings and currently has 16 CD's, two videos and three DVD's on the market. His latest album is entitled, "Just Don't Look Good Naked Anymore". However, audiences remember him most for his Christmas songs which are now featured on two CD's, "Stan Boreson Fractures Christmas" and "Yust Go Nuts At Christmas".
Although Stan likes being at home with his family, he still enjoys traveling and performing at festivals and celebrations throughout the United States and Canada. Some of his more memorable appearances have been the Norsk Hostfest in Minot, North Dakota, Scandinavian/American Night in East Meadow, New York, Little Norway Festival in Petersburg, Alaska, Lawrence Walk Show, Prairie Home Companion and for King Olav V of Norway (at his request).
Some of Stan's favorite songs include Yust Yon of Dose Tings, I Enjoy Being A Swede, A Finn could Tell a Lie, Catch a Pickled Herring, Doin' my Homework while watching TV, Torvald for President, Nincompoops Have All the Fun, I Just Go Nuts At Christmas, Lena Got Run Over by a Reindeer, I'm Glad it's Time for Lutefisk Again, Walking in my Winter Underwear, Who hid the Halibut on the Poop Deck, and Just Don't Look Good Naked Anymore. For more information and samples of some of his songs check out his web site www.stanboreson.com

	Örebro Castle

Folkdansgillet Nerkia was founded in 1980. The founders had all been active in other folkdance groups so their knowledge has been great in both traditional and modern folkdance. Today, Folkdansgillet Nerkia has 60 members from 25 – 75 years of age. Folkdansgillet Nerkia is a member of the Swedish Folkdansring, who’s goal it is to encourage the preservation of the folk traditions. These traditions include music, dance and costume as well as verse and handicraft (woodwork, spinning, weaving, sewing and natural dyeing of yarn.) Many of the members have sown their own traditional parish dresses. The group meets once a week.

This will be Folkdansgillet Nerkia's fourth tour of the United States including a previous visit to Jamestown back in the 1990s. In addition they have had tours to England, Germany, Denmark, and Norway.

The Scandinavian Folk Festival is honored to have Folkdansgillet Nerkia as part of this year's Festival. This will be their only performance while in the United States. Immediately after the Festival they will be leaving on an 11 day tour that will include Gettysburg, Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks, the Biltmore Estate - Ashville, NC, Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans.

From Örebro, Sweden, we have Bosse Brewitz and Magnus Börjesson. This duet plays the nyckleharpa, clarinet and other instruments. Besides accompanying the Nerkia Swedish Folk Dance Team they will perform Scandinavian folk tunes as a duet on the main entertainment stage.

Swedish born conductor Magnus Mårtensson is returning to this year's Festival after popular acclaim during his 2006 performances. Mr. Mårtensson is both a classical pianist as well as an acclaimed immitator of Victor Borge. He turned into a comedian/pianist during a concert at Victor Borge Hall in New York City. Mr. Mårtensson has performed his Victor Borgesque act in New York, Long Island and Buffalo, and critics have called his act both "hilarious" and "clever." Mr. Mårtensson is currently Music Director of the Scandinavian Chamber Orchestra of New York, and conducts regularly in Europe and South America. He has premiered over 60 works, and has recorded for the Mode and Mindfeel labels. An active composer, Mr. Mårtensson’s commissions have included orchestral and chamber music, songs, and solo works. His one act opera Before the Law is based on Kafka’s work.
"Writing comedy is very much like writing music, " Mårtensson explains, "You start out with a situation or mortif...You develop it, you work it over,keep some, throw some out. Instead of playing it, you read it out loud...I take something meant to be serious and put the spotlight on the funny aspect of it."
At the Festival, Mr. Mårtensson will be performing his Victor Borge comedy routine.

Listen to Magnus in a recent performance at the United Nations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smmc7DaPyQc

Nine fiddle and nyckelharpa players from Central New York led by Laurie Hart will play traditional Swedish polska and gammaldans music. Fiddle music is very traditional in Scandinavia and we are pleased to have a Spelmanslag for the first time at this year's Festival. Besides their performances, they will be part of the Midsummer procession on Saturday morning and perform at First Lutheran Church at the 11 AM church service on Sunday morning.

Hailing from Nobel-Monitor Vasa Lodge #130 in Cleveland, Ohio this chorus of 26 members will be sharing the songs of Sweden. This year, 2008, is the 100th aniversary of their Vasa Lodge. The ensemble is a member of the American Union of Swedish Singers. In the Cleveland area they sing for their annual Luciafest and spring conert as well as other cultural events in the area. Judith Higbee has been director of Vasa Voices since 2006. She holds her undergradute degree in Music Education/Voice and her master's degree in Choral Conducting from Westminster Choir College of Princeton, NJ.

Kari Sjöstrand and Henrik Christensen are from Undersvik in the area of Hälsingland, Sweden. This duet plays jazz in a Scandinavian style. Kari was at the Folk Festival in 2003 as part of a jazz trio. Henrik is originally from Denmark. They played together for the first time in Norway in 2000. As professional musicians, they bring together several years of different styles and find that their joining together is like "coming home." In 2006 they had a tour in France, Spain and Italy. In 2007 they returned to Italy for a long tour. We are pleased that in 2008 they will be in the United States. For a sample of their music check their web-site www.karismamusik.se

Ehrling is from Flisby, Småland, Sweden. He sings and performs on a variety of instruments including the accordion, piano and guitar. He accompanied a choir from his home that performed at First Lutheran Church a few years ago. Ehrling enjoys coming back to Jamestown because he has extended family connections in the Jamestown area.
On April 30, 2008 Ehrling was awarded the Culture Prize 2008 in his home municipality of Nässjö. This award included a gift of 10,000 kroner (about $1,666). Congratulations!

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 is Chautauqua County's own gammeldans group. They play many of the traditional Scandinavian favorites with a special focus on the waltz, polka, hambo, and schottis. Their instruments include the fiddle, double bass, accordion and now the mandolin. Svenska Spelmän has never missed a Festival and they look forward to returning to this year's Festival.

Nordanvind is a group of six accordion players from across New York State. They were inspired by the Scandinavian Accordion Band at the first Folk Festival. Members include Deanne Hardy from Ionia, Irv Bentsen - Geneva, Mary Havens - West Seneca, Paul Riley - Williamstown, Mary Julius - Greece and Don Sandy - Jamestown. Recent performances include the Swedish Hill Winery and the Augustana Lutheran Church Midsummer Events. They perform traditional Swedish “gammeldans” type music such as waltzes, polkas, and hambos. For those who love Scandinavian accordion music, this is an excellent opportunity to enjoy an outstanding group.

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.