Hawktail + Väsen

Sweden’s Väsen-Duo, Mikael Marin and Olov Johansson, have, after almost 40 years of interaction and touring, refined their sound and their stage presence to the extent that today they are unique in their kind. With their playful and perfect interplay, they seem to defy the laws of physics in what appears to be a telepathic communication. The music is intense and full of humor. They create their very own musical language which in its appeal is as modern as it is ancient. With the foundation firmly rooted in the traditional music of Uppland, they have always looked curiously at new musical goals. Olov & Micke have played together since 1983 when they met at Oktoberstämman in Uppsala and discovered that they had a large common repertoire and a similar way of playing. They perform on a variety of stringed instruments, including kontrabasharpa, oktavharpa, three-rowed nyckelharpa, violoncello da spalla and a blue electric base-viola. Väsen comes to Michigan with a new album, “Melliken.”

Hawktail (formerly Haas Kowert Tice) brings together musicians you’ve heard in a dozen other places into an exciting new combination! Fiddler Brittany Haas was a member of Crooked Still and is a fixture on Chris Thile’s “Live from Here” radio shows. Bassist Paul Kowert is a longtime member of Punch Brothers and has also been active in classical music. Guitarist Jordan Tice grew up in bluegrass and has played with The Dave Rawlings Music Machine. And mandolinist Dominick Leslie has studied with Thile, Mike Marshall, and David Grisman, and has performed with Noam Pikelny & Friends and other bands. Put it together, and you have a band that can range across genres and recombine them with ease, imagination, and brilliant virtuosity. Hawktail comes to Michigan with a new release, “Place of Growth.”