Day two: Wild, beautiful and quite wet
The second day of the festival had a wide range of performances from juggling madness to Jewish angel singing.
PHOTO: Arvid Anthun
Photo: Heidi Hattestein
On Thursday we also started with the little ones, at Nærleiken kindergarten. Once again, the duo Djønne and Børsheim served up a good start to the day with songs from Hardanger.
For the adults, there was a gathering at Sunnfjord Hotel, where the Førdekonferasen discussed “the power of culture in a changing society”. Eight presenters set the framework for a creative debate with the approximately one hundred registered participants. Ole Hamre, one of the main figures behind the cultural phenomenon Fargespill, talked about why art should be reintroduced as an important subject in schools. Hamzeh Alsheikho talked about his experience as a refugee from Syria, and what it took for him to cope so well and now work as a research assistant at the Department of Sociology at UiB. The councilor of Flora explained what makes his municipality earn money from immigration. After an intense workshop, it was finally the turn of Minister Himanshu Gulati from the Ministry of Culture to speak. He also received many good tips to take back home.
Photo: Heidi Hattestein
While the debate was going on, music was at the center, where we got a taste of the concert by Spanish Vigüela and Hungarian Romengo, among other things.
Photo: Arvid Anthun
Photo: Arvid Anthun
Photo: Arvid Anthun
Photo: Arvid Anthun
For those who braved the rain, the highlight of the day was probably Circus Raj. This crazy gang danced on nails, juggled with knives and worse. Be careful if you want to secure a place on the circus course for children before today's performance!
Photo: Knut Utler
Viguela had her second concert this week, in the Festsalen at Førdehuset .
Photo: Geir Birkeland
PHOTO: Arvid Anthun
The opening concert was a full house. The concert numbers came like pearls on a string, and among others, Mor Karbassi, Romengo and Nishtiman made a big impression. The Sufi group Broukar from Syria impressed with trance rhythms and dance, and the charming Noency Mosquera created a summer atmosphere in the hall. Faytinga from Eritrea struck a chord with the audience with her intense expression and voice. Also on stage were the three young people Jawana Thayaseelan, Mira Thiruchelvam and Gutu Abera, who met with great enthusiasm and thunderous applause when they were deservedly awarded the Sparebanken Vest music prize. The entire performance was tied together by the elegant emcee Laveen Kaur.
Photo: Arve Ullebø
The dance will feature traditional Norwegian old-time dance with Sindre & Co, before Café Aman Istanbul sensualized the scene with Greek-Turkish rhythms.
Photo: Geir Birkeland
Photo: Geir Birkeland
While it was pouring outside, shoulders hunched inside as the evening drew to a close. With genuine sarcastic Scottish humor, the delightful duo Mairearad & Anna (Jigs, reels and beers), brought out the smiles in the people who had found their way to Restaurant Hugleik at Scandic Sunnfjord hotel. Read Sunniva Brynnel's review here.
Photo: David Bowen
For the night owls, it was a magical and foggy summer night on Jøster. Within the walls of the beautiful houses in the yard of the Jølstra Museum, there were many artists who played up to a party and a great atmosphere; Trio Värttina from Finland, Vigüela from Spain, Radik Tyulyush from Huun-Huur-Tu (Russia) and Gunnar Stubseid & Ale møller (Norway/Sweden). In addition, we were able to get the first performance of this year's talents from Norway, Malawi and Kenya. Food was a must! And on the menu was a juicy deer burger. The evening went by far too quickly!
Photo: David Bowen
Photo: David Bowen
Text: Kamilla Mygland Storaker