On the third day of the festival, we were to be reminded of the seriousness behind this year's festival theme, and experience unforgettable concerts with some of the biggest stars on the program.

As usual, the day started with Djønne and Børsheim and Morgonstund har gull i munn . This time they played in the Vieåsen kindergarten.

For those who had time off from kindergarten, music was the focus .

In the exhibition hall at Førdehuset we met four of this year's artists . Faytinga (Eritrea), Mor Karbasi (Israel/Spain), Nishtiman (Kurdish Iran/Iraq/Turkey) and Noency Mosquera (Colombia). The artists were asked about the background of the music they make, and some played a few songs in addition. One of the interviews that made the biggest impression was with Faytinga. With a very strong speech to the audience, she became a living symbol of what this year's festival theme is actually about. Read more about the meeting with Faytinga HERE.

Margit Myhr demonstrated her talent for communication at Teaterscena with the performance “Stilt trør kvinner i sõgerdans”. It was about three women who have had to break away from everything they were used to and face the world alone. With a box as their only prop in addition to instruments and a crystal clear voice, Myhr took us far beyond the festival framework and into stories where dreams and reality are far apart.

Then there was a live concert with Noency Mosquera . You'd be hard-pressed to find a more energetic person than her. This is a woman who lives to spread joy, primarily to restore morale in a local community that has been greatly affected by the brutal guerrilla war in her home country, Colombia. As a spectator, it was easy to absorb the enormous energy of this colorful woman. The food was good too!

The Swedish-Norwegian duo Gunnar Stubseid & Ale Møller created a great atmosphere at Førde Cultural school. They brought out both new and old repertoire, and showed what it means to be called legendary.

Värttinä played on Førdehuset in the afternoon. In red, traditional costumes, the three lovely girls from Finland charmed the audience with their polyphonic song. We heard about thunderbirds and other good stories, and were reminded of how incredibly happy we actually are in the soft-hard Finnish language.

SambaSunda had the honor of hosting the intimate scene in the Teatersalen Førdehuset Here they presented urban Indonesian music at its best, lightly mixed with, among other things, Brazilian fusion acts.

At Festplassen, festivalgoers had another chance to laugh their hearts out when Circus Raj had their last show. The lively and crazy Indians once again impressed with their clever tricks and sparkling costumes.

Those who made it to Terje Isungset's concert Arctic Ice Music were treated to an experience completely out of the ordinary. Using external ice instruments, Isungset met musicians representing indigenous peoples from Canada, Tuva and Sami. The audience sat spellbound and listened to the fascinating, mysterious soundscape. This production was created for and in collaboration with Førdefestivalen and ended up being a completely magical concert.

In collaboration with Jølstraholmen and Jølster reception center , the festival invited to a concert with Faytinga , the musician and freedom fighter from Eritrea.

With music, song and pantomime , Raymond Sereba told rhythmic tales about entanglements and how to solve them. A festival Friday evening is not complete without a proper children's concert with a joint dance on stage at the end.

Then there was the Kurdish Nishtiman . This fantastic ensemble delivered without a doubt one of the best concerts of the year. A similar sense of rhythm and musical perfection on all levels will be hard to find. The audience erupted when the musicians came down from the stage and set fire to an already glowing dance floor.

Many had been looking forward to seeing the concert with the headliner of this year's festival; Mother Karbasi . Those who got to see her in the Sports Hall can swear that they got what they paid for. Karbasi took us by storm. With her wild hair, elegant hand gestures and beautiful dress, she appeared like Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Her voice was so beautiful that it hurts to think that it may have already departed from Førde . Ask if she just has to come back next year.

The dance was a success as always!

At Columbi Egg, the atmosphere was, as usual, a little over the top.

Photo: David Bowen

IN Førde church we took a deep dive into the diverse religious music from Syria. The concert “Syrian Prayers” is the result of a collaborative project with Kirkelig Kulturverksted, and will also be released on record.

The gypsy party couldn't be boring. Mahala Rai Banda , who started the evening, set the standard and went full force from the first song. The result was immediate psychedelic freestyle dancing in front of the stage. The next band to perform was Romengo , who did their part to test the endurance of the rhythm muscles of the attendees. Kudos to all the sweaty dance lions who created the energetic Friday night we were looking for!