THE NORDIC FIDDLERS BLOC
The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc is Olav Luksengård Mjelva, Anders Hall and Kevin Henderson who come from Norway, Sweden and the Shetland Islands respectively.
They are three of the finest young fiddlers currently working in the folk music scene and are in great demand playing in various musical constellations throughout the world. The project is the brainchild of Anders Hall who felt that combining the three unique distinctive fiddle styles together would create a special sound. Anders hunch proved to be correct after first exchanging musical thoughts with each other in Voss in May 2009.
From the first note that was played they realized this was a collaboration that had to continue such was the feeling of excitement and respect for each other’s playing and traditions.
Norway, Sweden and Shetland has three of the richest fiddling traditions in the world as well as many well documented historical links going back hundreds of years. It is refreshing to see these links being rectified in the musical collaboration that is The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc.
They have blended three individual styles from these three Nordic regions but still allow their three distinct flavours to come through in a sound that is unique, meaningful, intense and invigorating.
Anders Hall – Sweden
Anders Hall comes from Arbrå, Hälsingland in Sweden. He plays fiddle, viola and also the Hardanger fiddle, an instrument he studied at the Ole Bull Academy in Voss from 2006-2008. As a result he now has a unique knowledge of both, Norwegian traditional music as well as his native Swedish.
He has established himself as a creative and gifted musician on the Nordic folk music scene working with the likes of SVER and Taus with Sigrid Moldestad. He has an ability to reach the listener, fitting together old traditions with innovative ideas and expressions.
Olav Luksengård Mjelva – Norway
Olav Luksengård Mjelva comes from Røros in the Sør-Trøndelag region of Norway. He began playing the fiddle at age seven and some years later started playing the Hardanger fiddle.
He is now a familiar face in the Nordic folk music scene and can be found playing in a number of well-known Norwegian groups such as SVER, The Unni Boksasp Ensemble and the Copper City Ramblers to name but a few. He is also in great demand as an instructor, studio-musician and dance-musician.
In March 2010 Olav won the prestigious Spellemannprisen, the Norwegian equivalent of A Grammy Award.
Kevin Henderson – Shetland
Kevin Henderson comes from the Shetland Islands, an island with one of the richest fiddle traditions in the world. He is in hot demand as he performs around the globe with five high-profile musical groups.
He is a founding member of award winning Shetland group, Fiddlers’ Bid, formed in 1991, has been a member of folk music legends, Boys of the Lough, since 2002, a member of Scottish super group, Session A9, since 2004, recently helped to co-found, The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc and is also part of Shetland/Norwegian trio Aamos.
He has appeared on television and radio programmes worldwide, including the BBC and Garrison Keillor’s American radio program, “A Prairie Home Companion."