The weather gods wouldn't sign a contract with Førdefestivalen this year. Nevertheless, Saturday was to be one of the hottest days of the summer.

Accompanied by fantastic brass music from the Austrian Federspiel, it was an impeccable start to day four. Tasty and flavorful, that's how we can sum up the festival breakfast .

Photo: Heidi Hattestein

The festival parade was a true beacon of energy. Førde center. Balloons, circus juggling, waltzing and wodo dancing – there was no shortage of anything here! Along the road there were thick crowds of people who didn't seem to care much about the increasingly dark clouds over the mountains.

Geir Birkeland FestivalparadeDSC_2603.jpg

Geir Birkeland FestivalparadeDSC_2625.jpg

Geir Birkeland FestivalparadeDSC_2612.jpg

Photo: Arvid Anthun and Geir Birkeland

When the music arrived downtown , it started to get very wet. That didn't deter the audience from free concerts with Gjermund Larsen Trio & Nordic, Noency Mosquera and Huun-Huur-Tu.

Silje Onstad Hålien made her mark on the festival audience last year with the performance Villniss. This year she was back in Førde with a new project; " 101 hats to kick before I die ". She had Anders Löfberg with her on the load.

"We have an important task in preserving and showcasing Syrian culture. So do they. This is our common heritage!" Broukar had a clear message on Meet the Artist . They talked about how they manage to come together to tour, and why it is so important to preserve culture in the brutal situation the country is in. The entire interview was streamed live on Facebook. You can visit Førdefestivalen on Facebook to watch the video .

706 meters above the ground, it was so foggy that it might have been difficult to see the artist singing and dancing on top of Hafstadfjellet . Chouk Bwa Libéte from Haiti was certainly not deterred by the weather.

Video: Knut Utler

People were completely overwhelmed with excitement for the commissioned work Nattsongar by Erlend Apneseth . The concert was a delicious fusion of Norwegian and international traditional music, interspersed with a bit of jazz and bluegrass. According to the young composer, "Nattsongar" is supposed to represent his own perception of the sound of Førdefestivalen .

It was going to be crowded in the Theatre Hall when it was finally ready for the Syrian Broukar . Clearly, many wanted more of the trance-like Sufi music and dervish dance that was presented at the opening concert. The small, dark hall set the stage for an extra special experience. The songs were probably new to most, but not all. In a corner of the hall sat an elderly lady with a shawl on her head, crying quietly and singing faintly along to the prayers that came from the stage.

Master fiddlers Håkon Høgemo & Tom Karlsrud had an album release at yesterday's concert, and there was no shortage of atmosphere!

The glorious Federspiel brought the festival square to life with their fabulous brass music. The young guys from Austria sparkled with spontaneity and creativity, so despite the drizzle and wind, the audience couldn't help but love it!

Kari Malmanger made the audience reflect on the phenomenon of lullabies at Møt artisten . Lullabies are something safe, something very personal that is often only shared by the closest family. As a little teaser for the performance "Sulla meg litt du mamma mi" Malmanger sang for the audience. Suddenly they realized what they had been longing to be lulled to.

This probably won't come as a shock to anyone, but when Jesus plays the violin, it's great. And when he brings five of his disciples up on stage, you just have to sit down and fold your hands. Gjermund Larsen Trio & Nordic have shown us the light. Amen!

The phenomenon Huun-Huur-Tu delivered to gold. There is a solid primal power in these guys that saved us, and at the same time the music is so rhythmic and lively that you almost feel like you are sitting on a horse galloping across the plains of Tuva. What a concert!

After a week of rehearsals, Talent 2016 was finally ready to perform. The young adults from Norway, Kenya and Malawi had put together a cool and rhythmic performance, full of surprises and suggestive beats.

People turned up in droves for this year's festival gala . Hosts Camilla Granlien and Geir Lystrup created a great atmosphere with beautiful songs, good jokes and a sing-along! The artists were no worse. There was a wide range of different genres; SambaSunda (Indonesia), Trio Madeira Brasil (Brazil), Spring du fela (Norway), Dreamers' Circus (Denmark), La Boutine Souriante (Canada), Huun-Huur-Tu (Russia), Talent 2016 (Norway/Kenya/Malawi) and Chouk Bwa Libéte (Haiti).

It was swinging as usual when the dance took place in the Festival Hall .

Photo: Geir Birkeland

Columbi Egg was as packed as ever. Yesterday, Gabriel Fileflet was visited by Nordic, La Boutine Souriante and three from this year's talent project; Ingeborg Ulberg Somme, Torfinn Hofstad and Helga Myhr.

Photo: Arve Ullebø

The festival night had a varied program. In Barthold Bar there was Nordic sound from the stage. First up was the Swedish quartet, Navarra. Next was the Danish Dreamers Circus on stage. On the floor above, all the music had its roots in Africa; Noency Mosquera & el Bongo de Boyjayá (Colombia), Chouk Bwa Libéte (Haiti) and Faytinga (Eritrea).