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Sweden
Dec 30, 2007 13:19:55 GMT
Post by john on Dec 30, 2007 13:19:55 GMT
Hi there, try checking out Sweden. The have some very very fine musicians in the old time and Bluegrass field. They rock!!
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Sweden
Jan 6, 2008 7:33:38 GMT
Post by Ptarmigan on Jan 6, 2008 7:33:38 GMT
Yes I'd love to hear more from some of the heroes of Old Time Music in Sweden!
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Sweden
Jan 6, 2008 16:20:24 GMT
Post by Susi on Jan 6, 2008 16:20:24 GMT
There are some truly fine oldtime musicians in Sweden but not so many bands. I think the most well-known band is Rockridge brothers, I'm not very fond of them actually, I think they're mostly a punk-rock band with oldtimey touch (ok, Rockridge if you're here, excuse me and read the rest), but they sure are great musicians. The banjo player is wonderful at backing ballads and the singer has a great voice but they don't do much of that quieter style, which is a pity.
I think there are some more Stockholm bands but I don't know any names (I think Bengt Ericson would know, because he's organizing the bluegrass & oldtime festival at Ätran in July). .
For bluegrass, Sweden sure have some good bands. A.P & his country gals, Blue Mountain boys and High on Grass are my favourites. Many good bands have disappeared over the years, I think the top period was around 2002-2003.
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Sweden
Jan 6, 2008 16:50:03 GMT
Post by john on Jan 6, 2008 16:50:03 GMT
Hi there, first, the Rockridge brothers are not a punk rock band with old timey touch. What they are playing is the west virginian style. You should have heard them at the Fredericia Bluegrass Festival. Ballads, country songs, break downs and great singing. In Stockholm you have had The Steamboat Entertainers with the great great fiddler Magnus Norrman. And a whole lot of pickers and fiddlers. And in the southern parts a huge group of musicians playing bluegrass and old time. A funny thing is that The Rockridge Brothers won the bluegrass championship in Sweden last year!!!! The top period has not ended yet. I have been playing with those fellars since middle of the 70th and up till now. And when they play they blow up a storm!!!!!!!!!! greatings from Denmark John ps. you can hear them by entering the danish site www.oldtime.dk
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Sweden
Jan 6, 2008 17:08:17 GMT
Post by deleuran on Jan 6, 2008 17:08:17 GMT
Earlier on I have mentioned the swedish old time group Sandy Boys. I think they can be found in the post MySpace Old Time Friends from Europe. Hey, John, I don't think that we can hear Rockridge Brothers any longer on the Oldtime web site, since it has been renewed. And by the way, did you know, that otfiddler, also known as Susi is from Sweden, and was in Kattinge this past september together with her husband and Bengt Ericson? Just a bit of gossip
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Sweden
Jan 6, 2008 17:19:26 GMT
Post by john on Jan 6, 2008 17:19:26 GMT
and another thing is that is well known here in Denmark that the best musicians in the county field rockabilly are located in Sweden. In Sweden you have a rockabilly belt like in US you have the bible belt. And you should be proud of that! But ok, the southern part of Sweden wants to come back to Denmark because they feel neclected by the northern parts. And they are welcome. Joke aside, you have a huge following in Sweden when it comes to folk music. And it goes for American root music too. Good luck in Ireland, cheers John
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Sweden
Jan 6, 2008 17:24:08 GMT
Post by john on Jan 6, 2008 17:24:08 GMT
Hi Jesper, yes I know that. They had a cold and did not play that much. I had a talk with them the day we left Kattinge. I have the complete concert with the Rockridge on DVD from Kattinge 07. If you want a copy let me know. cheers to a great great little band John
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Sweden
Jan 6, 2008 17:27:41 GMT
Post by john on Jan 6, 2008 17:27:41 GMT
oh gosh thats is right, The Sandy Boys they are a great band and very close in harmonies and arrangements jOHN
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Sweden
Jan 6, 2008 18:25:41 GMT
Post by deleuran on Jan 6, 2008 18:25:41 GMT
Hi John! I would sure love to see a DVD with the Rockridge Brothers !!! How do I get it? Jesper
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Sweden
Jan 6, 2008 19:06:09 GMT
Post by Ptarmigan on Jan 6, 2008 19:06:09 GMT
I thought I'd just butt in for a moment to ask which, if any, of the bands on this Swedish page, would play Old Time Music? www.amff.se/links.htm& is this the only festival which has a strong element of Old Time Music? www.lonesomepine.nu/Cheers Dick
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Sweden
Jan 6, 2008 19:06:51 GMT
Post by john on Jan 6, 2008 19:06:51 GMT
Hi Jesper, I will contact you later on. jOHN
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Sweden
Jan 7, 2008 8:14:55 GMT
Post by john on Jan 7, 2008 8:14:55 GMT
Hi Dick, New Mountain and 3 other bands in Stockholm plays old time plus 3-4 more located in the southern parts af Sveden .Goeteborg area. john ps. for more info please kontact The Rockridge Brothers
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Sweden
Jan 7, 2008 9:27:34 GMT
Post by tobias on Jan 7, 2008 9:27:34 GMT
Hi there, first, the Rockridge brothers are not a punk rock band with old timey touch. What they are playing is the west virginian style. I dont know if you mean western Virginia style or West Virginia style. If you are saying that they play West Virginia style, then I have to 100% disagree. I can hear absolutely no West Virginia sound in their playing. WV is know for its odd modal and crooked fiddletunes. A really lonesome ancient sound. Just listen to players like Edden Hammons, Melvin Wine, French Carpenter and some of the great West Virginian players. As far as I know, the only WV tune I have heard the Rockridge Brothers play, is Big Scioty. If you were calling their style west Virginian ( as in Galax ) then I would be more willing to agree. That driving sound is definately there. I have heard Kristian Herner (banjo in RB ) talking on some forums about the modern Oldtime scene of upstate New York. Around the Ithaca area. Bands like the Highwoods Stringband, and Bubba George Stringband (with Richie Stearns on banjo). Bubba George, I am sure is a big influence on the Rockridge Bros. Thay also have alot in common with The Red Hots as well. I have to somewhat agree with otfiddler and say that there is some punk energy in the RB's playing. I wouldnt call them a punk band playing oldtime. More of and Oldtime band with punk energy. /Tobias
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Sweden
Jan 7, 2008 10:21:21 GMT
Post by Susi on Jan 7, 2008 10:21:21 GMT
That's interesting, thanks for letting me know. I guess I just simply don't like them then , but they sure are some very very nice people!! Steamboat Entertainers are great, they were at the Gränna festival last year. I knew I'd heard some oldtime band from Stockholm, just couldn't think of a name. Sandy boys are coming to the festival at Ätran I think, but I'm not sure. I mostly know of musicians, not of band names... I've met some at Gränna and some at Kattinge. There's a very good fiddle player from Göteborg named Fred, but I don't know if he plays in a band. He sometimes shows up at the bluegrass jam. I was actually the only one having a cold at Kattinge, I played some, my husband played some more and Bengt played more or less all the time ;D. We're planning to go back this year.
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Sweden
Jan 7, 2008 10:41:26 GMT
Post by Ptarmigan on Jan 7, 2008 10:41:26 GMT
Thanks John. I've posted a link to New Mountain & also written to them for more info. N.B. I was very interested to see that their Peggy plays Hammered Dulcimer! ;D Cheers Dick
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Sweden
Jan 7, 2008 11:12:32 GMT
Post by Ptarmigan on Jan 7, 2008 11:12:32 GMT
Susi, Unfortunately I can't find a website for your Steamboat Entertainers but thanks for the info anyway. Hopefully, in time, some more of those Swedish Old Timers will make contact with us here. By the way, have you picked up the sing-song Cork accent yet? ;D I spent a summer living in Cork, well to be honest, I more or less lived in the old Phoenix session Pub, down by the river. I really liked their accent, but of course when they heard me speak they thought I was from Ulster & at that stage I'd never even been to Ulster. Well, that was back in '79 & things were rather colourful[/] shall we say, up here, then!
Cheers Dick
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Sweden
Jan 7, 2008 15:43:41 GMT
Post by Susi on Jan 7, 2008 15:43:41 GMT
Hi Dick
Well I probably have some kind of half Irish accent somewhere after my last stay so I'll pick up accents I guess:) I love Irish accents!! Hope to hear yours soon!
I don't know if the Swedish oldtime bands have any websites, at least I haven't seen any, more than Rockridge.. There's an excellet old country band named A.P and the country gals, I think they have a website but I'm not sure. They are very very good anyway.
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Sweden
Jan 7, 2008 15:48:57 GMT
Post by john on Jan 7, 2008 15:48:57 GMT
Hi Tobias, thats what I ment. Richie plays with Horse Flies. The most experimental band of them all. Highwood I know from the 70th. Havent heard their new yet. But I remember them as a hot old time band. And by the way In them good ole days1860 and up the played with punk energi something that we ought to do more often. When we are playing to a square dance. Punk energy is not always fast and angry remember that. Do people know what a punk really is?
Bubba George? Who is he?? Ok, I have been listening to him now. And it is just Richie and others playing Horseflies stuff with the same drive and rhythm .The Correctone String Band kicked this off in the late 70. early 80. with a mix of carribian and WV. The New York area has from the 50th and up been a melting pot for root music. I think that if they did not travel down south and started recording and learning all them tunes and put it out on lp and cassette and published it most of the music would have been forgotten . Seek for your self on the fine sites Jesper and Tobias has found for us. The youngsters do not listen to folk. The listen to what young peoble are listening to today. We had that experience in 86. in US Bluegrass and old time. Thats for old ones. So they are very pleased to se people from EU coming to the states playing and singin Bluegrass and Old Time. The hottest band right now are from Switzerland!!! Due to 2 movies BG and OT are more popular to day. Many rock stars want to have a touch of root on his or her cd right now. Money!! To many of you old time and bluegrass are new and interesting but it will never be a hit in Scandinavia. I play it cause I like it. I dont care if it does not pay off. Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with slow numbers and learning a number you have to play it slow so you can get all the tones right. But playing a breakdown slow with live audience because you cannot play it fast enough? Then dont play it! Please, John ps. I think this piece should be moved to disscussion, Dick
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Sweden
Jan 7, 2008 15:58:42 GMT
Post by Ptarmigan on Jan 7, 2008 15:58:42 GMT
Well John, if the Cap fits, I reckon we've just got to wear it! Now who does that remind you of? Check the Avatars! ;D Sorry T I love a bit of razzamatazz as much as the next bloke, & I must say I'm really enjoying that Mark Graham CD, but when it comes to Old Time, I'd probably have to agree with Susi cause my first choice would be for the Slow & Funky[/i], rather than the Fast & Punky! Cheers Dick
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Sweden
Jan 7, 2008 18:50:20 GMT
Post by john on Jan 7, 2008 18:50:20 GMT
Hi Dick and thanks, I have been in contact with some of the Old timers in Sweden. Told them about this site and asked them to contact you in myspace. Please let me know if you get through to the swedes cheers, john
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