Ævestaden

The Swedish-Norwegian trio Ævestaden debuted in 2021 with the album Ingen mere gråter on Heilo, Grappa. That same year, they won the Folkelarm Award in the Open Category. Seamlessly blending the traditional and the modern, the group quickly established a foothold in the folk music scene — and has since gained increasing attention.

Ævestaden has performed at festivals and venues including By:Larm, Førdefestivalen, VillVillVest, Bergen International Festival, Arctic Arts Festival, BLÅ, John Dee, and Midgardsblot. Beyond Norway and Sweden, they’ve brought their music to Poland, France, Scotland, England, Germany, Denmark, and Belgium. They’ve also supported Valkyrien, Sara Parkman, and more recently, Ingrid Olava.

“Mirror, mirror on the wall, what’s hottest in Norway of all?” The answer is — surprisingly, perhaps — Norwegian traditional music in a modern guise.” – Dagbladet

With a unique instrumentation that includes the kravik lyre, fiddle, kantele, vocals, jaw harp, and electronics, Ævestaden opens up a sonic landscape where timeless harmonies and minimalist motifs create a spacious and atmospheric world.

Their songs explore themes both conscious and subconscious — the sacred and the secular — life and death. Deep emotions are at the core: from fervent prayers for entry into the kingdom of heaven to the quiet longing of being remembered by someone, someday, in the still of evening.

Line-up:
Kenneth Lien – kravik lyre, jaw harp, vocals
Levina Storåkern – cow horn, fiddle, kantele, vocals, electronics
Eir Vatn Strøm – vocals, kravik lyre, electronics

Istad is an energy company group based in the Romsdal and Nordmøre regions of Norway, and has been in operation since 1918! With a focus on forward-thinking solutions for both private customers and businesses, Istad is also an active supporter of local volunteer organizations and community initiatives in its area.