The traditional Swedish dance music group Boot consists of Totte Mattson and Björn Tollin from Heningarna and Ola Backstrom from Swap, all of whom record for the Nordic music label Northside. Boot debuted their mix of polskas, waltzes and dances on their 1999 album Virvla, which also came out on Northside. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide

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Incorporating modern instrumentation and imaginative improvisation, Groupa has taken a contemporary-minded approach to the folk music of Sweden. Led by drone fiddle, viola and accordion player Mats Eden, the group has been at the forefront of the Swedish folk revival for more than two decades. While Rock'N'Reel magazine claims that Groupa "will... [+] Read More

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The Nordic group Hedningarna was formed in Sweden by multi-instrumentalists Anders Stake, Björn Tollin and Hållbus Totte Mattsson; although the group's self-titled 1989 debut LP was an instrumental effort, by the release of 1992's Kaksi!, Finnish vocalists Sanna Kurki-Suonio and Anita Lehtola had joined the lineup. Trä followed in 1994, and two... [+] Read More

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Regarded as one the leading fiddle groups of Finland, JPP combines traditional pelimani (folk music) with more innovative forms. The core of the group are the uncle and nephew fiddle partnership, Mauno and Arto Jarvela, along with harmonium player Timo Alakotila, an acoustic bassist, and up to 30 additional violinists. A representative... [+] Read More

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One of the most internationally successful acts to emerge from the contemporary Finland music scene, Värttinä revitalized the nation's folk traditions with an aggressive and ultra-modern style that eschewed not only the costumes of their ancestors but also the long-accepted cultural notion that women should sing unaccompanied. A product of the... [+] Read More

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An acknowledged master of the Finnish Sami yoik -- a traditional chanting cut from the same cloth as Native American music -- Wimme Saari debuted in 1997 with a self-titled effort issued on the NorthSide label; Gierran followed two years later and Cugu was issued in fall 2000. He returned three years later with Barru. The NorthSide release... [+] Read More

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