Spindel

They play with such rawness that you are left stare open-mouthed” ( Knut Utler, Aftenposten) Spindel, is co-led by Sigrid Moldestad and Liv Merete Kroken, two gifted fiddlers from the western part of Norway, Nordfjord. Carefully paying their respect to the old tradition, the musicians in Spindel perform a variety of traditional and contemporary folk music. The music is based on the Norwegian national instrument, the hardangerfiddle. Spindel are looking for different ways of presenting their music, both the traditional and the music composed by members of the group. In the bottom line there is always the force and history of Norwegian music from early ages and on to their own style, expression and stories” Norway’s unforgiving topography of jagged fjords, mountain passes and deep valleys has preserved a rich local tapestry. Spindel draw freely from this trove, especially its dance forms such as rudl, springar and halling, all characterized by the rhythmic ambiguity that has often inspired Norway’s equally potent jazz tradition. Steeped in tradition as they are, Moldestad and Kroken typify the revival in Nordic traditional music, acknowledging their debt to past masters and mentors, yet purposefully striding into new terrain. Spindel band has three outstanding Bergen players in guitarist Olav Tveitane, pianist Dagfinn Andersen and percussionist Ivar Kolve. Collectively, they’re charismatic ambassadors for the Norwegian folkmusic. Discography: Spindel ( 2001) Aminje (2005). Both from Heilo Label www.grappa.no Spindel has played at many festivals and concerts in Norway. They have been two times in Spain with the whole band. The two fiddlers have played at lots of concert places and festivals: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, South Africa, France and Palestine plus more. In September 2006 they are touring Ireland as part of “Facing North 06”. Spindel duo ( Moldestad/Kroken) played fiddle at the Eurosong-final in Athens in 2006 together with the Norwegian artist Christine Gulbrandsen`s “Alvedansen”. Spindel Band: Liv Merete Kroken: Hardangerfiddle, fiddle Sigrid Moldestad: Hardangerfiddle, fiddle and vocal. Olav Tveitane: Cister, doublebass, guitar and vocal. Dagfinn Andersen: Piano, harmonium and vocal. Ivar Kolve: Percussion and marimba.