Spælimenninir

Spælimenninir (“the folk musicians”) is a lively group of six musicians that play traditional and contemporary folk music from Scandinavia on fiddle, recorder, piano, guitar, mandolin, acoustic bass and vocals. The group’s home base is the Faroes, but Spælimenninir is not strictly a Faroese band, neither in personnel nor music. Having played together for over 40 years, the current line-up includes one native Faroese, two Americans and three Danes. This international collaboration has resulted in a varied repertoire, which reflects each member’s heritage and illustrates the links between the music traditions of the Scandinavian countries and the United States.

Spælimenninir’s wide range of material, skilled musicianship and jovial stage presence always combine to create an entertaining and informative evening. Spælimenninir has toured widely in the Nordic Countries; Scotland, Orkney and Shetland; continental Europe and the United States playing at folk festivals, dances, clubs, and concerts and conducting educational programs in schools and universities.

Kristian Blak is widely regarded as one of the most prominent and important figures of Faroese music history, playing a central role in the musical life and culture of the islands.

Kristian’s diverse musical background is reflected in the wide array of music he composes, uniting ethnic music with new compositional techniques. He has composed solo instrumental works, chamber music, jazz suites, choral works as well as symphonic music.

Having made numerous recordings as a performer, Kristian has also toured the globe widely with his own jazz and folk music ensembles.

In addition to this, Kristian works as manager and CEO of the Tutl Records label and is artistic director of the popular Summartónar festival.

Born in the Danish peninsula of Jutland in 1947, Kristian relocated to the Faroe Islands in ’74, where he’s lived ever since, and where he’s written the majority of his works.

Kristian Blak (piano)
Sharon Weiss (recorder)
Ívar Bærentsen (guitar, mandolin)
Erling Olsen (fiddle)
Jan Danielsson (fiddle)
Charlie Pilzer (bass)