Shetland Arts is delighted to welcome Danish folk band, Himmerland, to Mareel on Thursday 8 November as part of Mareel’s Official Opening Season. Support will be provided by local group, Mirka, comprised of Danny Garrick, Karis Garrick, and Lois MacDonald.
Himmerland is a group of five traveling musicians, each carrying very different life stories and traditions in their rucksacks. They come from three regions of Denmark - Bornholm (an island in the Baltic Sea), Copenhagen, and Northern Jutland - and from Poland and Ghana, in West Africa.
They compose original music and infuse it with all the different traditions of their heritage. They have played across Europe, Russia, Canada, South America, Australia and New Zealand, representing a Denmark where people from around the world can meet, live together and all contribute to a sweetly simmering cultural melting pot.
Shetland Arts Marketing Officer Lisa Ward said: “We are very much looking forward to welcoming Himmerland to Mareel. They are an incredibly unique and dynamic band that I’m sure will be very much appreciated by Shetland audiences and folk-fans. We’re also very pleased to have Mirka supporting Himmerland for this event, showcasing local talent alongside a visiting artist in Mareel.”
The concert begins at 7.30pm and tickets cost £12 (£10 concessions). Tickets are available from Shetland Box Office in Mareel/Islesburgh, over the phone on 01595 745 555, or online here.
Ditte Fromseier (violin & vocals) is from the small Danish island of Bornholm. She is a remarkable violinist, singer and composer, and she is involved in a wide variety of bands and projects in Denmark and internationally. Ditte is also an associated professor at the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts Southern Denmark. She has been touring around the world, with her duo Fromseier & Hockings, and with great Danish bands like Habbadám and Fiolministeriet.
Andrzej Krejniuk (electric bass-guitar) is from Poland but has lived in Denmark most of his life. He is an extraordinary musician as well as composer, and a outstanding solo player on the electric bass. Andrzej has wide experience from the jazz and world music scenes, performing and recording with international names like "Lelo Nika", "Afenginn" and "Bjonko & Copenhagen Chalgija - not to mention his own jazz fusion band, "Abstract Virtuality".
Ayi Solomon (percussion) is from Ghana, but has been living in Copenhagen for many years. Solomon has been recognized a fantastic percussionist and dancer wherever he has appeared during the last 20 years. He performs and tours all over the world with a large number of top professional bands and projects. Further more Solomon has released two albums with new music in his own name. He is also known from his touring with people like Pierre Dørge & The New Jungle Orchestra, Moussa Diallo Trio and Palle Mikkelborg.
Morten Alfred Høirup (guitars & vocals) is from Copenhagen. Morten has been traveling the world during his more than 25 years as a professional musician, working with world leading folk musicians. He is the front journalist at Danish folk and roots media, and a member of the board in The Danish Society for Jazz, Rock and Folk Composers. Morten has won several Danish Music Awards (Danish "Grammy"), including "Folk Composer of the Year 2004". He is known for his work with the Danish duo Haugaard & Høirup and the Danish-Finnish-American trio American Café Orchestra.
Eskil Romme (soprano sax) is from the Danish island of Funen. Eskil has been mixing traditional Danish music, jazz and related genres during his 30 years of playing. While traveling Scandinavia and the British Isles, he developed his own "North Sea" mix of styles. In 2009 he released the album "Himmerlandsmelodier", which has been the starting point for this project. Eskil is also the artistic director of the small but exclusive folk and world music venue "Halkær Kro", as well "Halkær Festival. Eskil is known from his touring with the bands Færd and Kryss.
