DREAMS is the theme for Førdefestivalen 2023
We are super proud to finally be able to present Leyla McCalla in Førde !
“ “We must let the dream of goodness guide our actions – our choices. And we must create new dreams! “Just a dream”, says the common sense. Then it has forgotten that dreams create reality.” ”
-This year we want to play a little. Fantasize, dream and find joy in the music, says festival director Sølvi Lien . July 5-9, 2023, the newly appointed director invites you to the 33rd Førdefestivalen , and the theme for this year's festival is Dreams . -Music is made for dreams, she says, and promises concerts with circus, acrobatics, magic, mysticism, surrealism and superstition. The festival will celebrate the joy and diversity of music, but as usual will have seriousness, because what happens the day events such as war and extremism put a stop to dreams?
Kader Tarhanine brings modern Tuareg music from Mali.
The dream of freedom
Førdefestivalen wants to create understanding across cultures, religions and traditions, says director Sølvi Lien . - Through music you can dream away, and in music you can be free. The dream of freedom is an important driving force for many of the artists you will hear. Førdefestivalen this summer. In the project Breaking the Thermometer to hide the fever , Haitian-American Leyla McCalla (Carolina Chocolate Drops) brings to light the powerful story of the radio station, Radio Haiti, which became the voice of the people in the fight against the tyranny of the autocratic president, and what they sacrificed for the dream of freedom.
Kader Tarhanine is the new pearl of modern Tuareg music. In his homeland, Mali, all dreams of music and culture have been shattered by political and ethnic conflicts that have raged in the country since 2012. Our colleagues at the Festival in the Desert festival have not been able to organize a festival since then. With support from the Norwegian embassy in Mali, among others, they are organizing international tours instead. This year's tour is "Festival in Exile Caravan" with the artist Kader Tarhanine, and goes through Europe and North America. A non-violent protest against intolerance and what extremists are doing to the culture in Mali and other countries. - It will be a pleasure to welcome Tarhanine in Førde , and help make the dream of releasing music a reality.
Daniel Lazar composes the work Phantasmagoria, which will premiere at Førdefestivalen .
The talent from Serbia
Daniel Lazar is from Serbia. He first came to Norway 10 years ago to participate in Førdefestivalen his international talent project. After studying at the Norwegian Academy of Music, Daniel Lazar is now fully into a solid international career, and this year he has been commissioned to create the commissioned work for the festival in Førde . The work has been titled Phantasmagoria , and refers to the dreams and experiences Lazar has had on his journey from the Balkans to Scandinavia . -I see the work as a combination of traditional and modern folk music, with elements of improvisation and electronics, he says. Phantasmagoria will of course reflect the fact that I am influenced by the traditions of both the Balkans and Norway, and I want to include both Norwegian and Balkan musicians.
There will be circus and folk music in the forest, with two musicians and two circus artists in Knekke Greine.
Finnish fireworks and Swedish acrobatics
This year we finally get a visit from Johanna Juhola from Finland. This firework of an accordion player comes with a playful concert she has called Imaginary Friends. Here she plays a duet with some of her friends, who are not on stage, but are present on film. The outdoor show Knekke Greine from Sweden combines circus acrobatics and folk music. Small groups of the audience are taken out into the forest where two circus artists and two musicians give them very special experiences. -The people behind Knekke Greine are very committed to taking care of forests and nature. With the show they want to make us see nature and the forest with new eyes, says Lien.
Dreamy music from Estonia
Duo Ruut is two musicians and one instrument. -Katariina Kivi and Ann-Lisett Rebane are the duo everyone in the industry is talking about at the moment, explains Sølvi Lien . They use the Estonian zither in a completely new way and compose dreamy, youthful and exciting music, with a background in the Estonian folk music tradition. It's a bit genius!
Førdekonferansen Thursday, July 6: Dreams we pray for
The important cultural conference is led by former cultural commentator for NRK, Agnes Moxnes , and this year addresses questions about who has the power to fulfill dreams within cultural life, and what mechanisms are at play in ensuring that some people fulfill their dreams, while others have to let them go. - At the conference you will hear both Norwegian and international voices from the cultural life, research, media and funders, says Lien.
First artist release as of January 19th:
Leyla McCalla – USA, Johanna Juhola – Finland, Kader Tarhanine – Mali, Daniel Lazar – Serbia/Norway, Duo Ruut – Estonia, Knekke greine – Sweden..
and many, many more names to come.
The full festival program will be launched on March 30th.
Registration for Førdekonferansen is open from January 20th.