Born from a thunderstorm, FRÄNDER emerged like lightning — a fusion of Nordic roots and modern attitude became HEAVY FOLK. From the deep forest of Sweden & Estonia, with energy and a warm presence they deliver heavy grooves and seductive harmonies that weave a mesmerizing soundscape. FRÄNDER is one of Sweden’s biggest folk music exports. In 2024 alone, they completed three U.S. tours and they have surpassed 100 concerts only in Canada. They continue building cultural bridges beyond the stage through their festivals in Uppsala, Sweden and Nordic Nights Festival at Lincoln Center in New York City — bringing the power of modern Nordic tradition to audiences around the world.
Masters of Hawaiian Music features three of the most popular musicians from Maui’s renowned “Slack Key Show”, all from celebrated Hawaiian cultural lineages. 4-time Grammy winner, slack key guitar master George Kahumoku Jr, National Heritage Fellow Led Kaapana, whose picking style in slack key guitar is unrivaled, and award-winner Sonny Lim, on lap steel (invented in Hawai‘i), slack key guitar and vocals. Together they share Hawai‘i’s unique guitar styles and songs that trace their roots to the paniolos (Hawaiian cowboys), along with captivating stories of Hawai‘i and their lives in music.
The year 2025 marks the 65th anniversary of Joseph Shabalala forming Ladysmith Black Mambazo. His group would not only conquer all of South Africa, but would become a worldwide phenomenon, winning more GRAMMY Awards (Five), and receiving more GRAMMY Award nominations (Nineteen), than any World Music group in the history of recorded music.
The award winning and highly acclaimed band Le Vent du Nord are a leading force in Québec’s exciting and progressive Francophone folk movement. The group’s vast repertoire draws from both traditional sources and original compositions, while their highly rhythmic and soulful music, rooted in the Celtic diaspora, is enhanced with a broad range of global influences.
