ABOUT US
Nordic trio Folk’Avant was formed in 2014 out of curiosity and love for the traditional instruments and music of Swedish and Finnish folk. After playing around with old tunes and the endless possibilities of the instruments, the trio brought new material to life, music that was inspired from the long lines of Swedish and Finnish tradition. From those traditional roots, they’ve found their own voice in the Nordic landscape where vocal harmonies, grooves and delicate melodies blend together. Music that is as warm as it is dark, as sad as it is hopeful. A mix of grand expressions, delicate melodies and an unstoppable energy!
In 2017 the debut album “Gryningsland” was released on the German label Nordic Notes and the album was embraced by both audiences and critics alike. Since the release Folk’Avant has been touring their home countries and abroad. The album has generated scholarships, the award nomination “Album of the year” at the German Critic’s Choice Awards (2017), a showcase at Nordic Folk Alliance (2019) and was included on World Music Chart Europe’s list “Albums of the year 2017”. They were also honored with The Royal Swedish Academy of Music’s “Ensemble Scholarship” in 2018. In 2019 the trio was asked to write music for Star Stable, a computer game set in the Nordic landscape and the music continues to reach new audiences. The long awaited second album is in the making and is expected in 2020.
“For a debut album it’s astonishingly complete. Every move is assured, every note just right, and the silence speaks as loudly as any instrument.”
Chris Nickson, fRoots Magazine September 2017
Folk’Avant comprises of Anna Wikenius on vocals, Maija Pokela on kantele and vocals and Anna Rubinsztein on violin and vocals. Having graduated from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm (SE) and the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (FI) the members are part of several well known constellations such as Kongero, ENKEL, Kardemimmit and string quartet KVARTS. Folk’Avant have played festivals such as Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, Korrö Folk Music Festival, Stockholm Kulturfestival, Kista World Music Festival, toured in Spain and performed both at European Broadcasting Union Folk Festival in Moscow, and Nordic Folk Alliance in Gothenburg.
Nordic trio Folk’Avant was formed in 2014 out of curiosity and love for the traditional instruments and music of Swedish and Finnish folk. After playing around with old tunes and the endless possibilities of the instruments, the trio brought new material to life, music that was inspired from the long lines of Swedish and Finnish tradition. From those traditional roots, they’ve found their own voice in the Nordic landscape where vocal harmonies, grooves and delicate melodies blend together. Music that is as warm as it is dark, as sad as it is hopeful. A mix of grand expressions, delicate melodies and an unstoppable energy!
In 2017 the debut album “Gryningsland” was released on the German label Nordic Notes and the album was embraced by both audiences and critics alike. Since the release Folk’Avant has been touring their home countries and abroad. The album has generated scholarships, the award nomination “Album of the year” at the German Critic’s Choice Awards (2017), a showcase at Nordic Folk Alliance (2019) and was included on World Music Chart Europe’s list “Albums of the year 2017”. They were also honored with The Royal Swedish Academy of Music’s “Ensemble Scholarship” in 2018. In 2019 the trio was asked to write music for Star Stable, a computer game set in the Nordic landscape and the music continues to reach new audiences. The long awaited second album is in the making and is expected in 2020.
“For a debut album it’s astonishingly complete. Every move is assured, every note just right, and the silence speaks as loudly as any instrument.”
Chris Nickson, fRoots Magazine September 2017
Folk’Avant comprises of Anna Wikenius on vocals, Maija Pokela on kantele and vocals and Anna Rubinsztein on violin and vocals. Having graduated from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm (SE) and the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (FI) the members are part of several well known constellations such as Kongero, ENKEL, Kardemimmit and string quartet KVARTS. Folk’Avant have played festivals such as Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, Korrö Folk Music Festival, Stockholm Kulturfestival, Kista World Music Festival, toured in Spain and performed both at European Broadcasting Union Folk Festival in Moscow, and Nordic Folk Alliance in Gothenburg.
Anna Wikenius
Vocals
Anna Wikenius is a singer rooted in the Swedish folk music tradition. She also sings in folk’appella quartet Kongero and composes and arranges music for her different ensembles. Anna is vocal teacher and choir leader and also works at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. She is based in Stockholm but grew up in a little village outside of Sandviken in Gästrikland. Anna holds a Bachelor in Swedish folk music from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and a Bachelor in vocal pedagogy from the University of Music in Piteå.
Maija Pokela
Kantele, Vocals
Maija Pokela is a kantele player and singer from Finland, who has been touring all over the world with her bands -besides Folk’avant she’s most busy with Finnish bands ENKEL and Kardemimmit. She likes to explore folk music grooves on different sized kanteles and has a deep love to singing in harmonies. She has a Master of Music degree after studies in the Folk Music Department of the Sibelius Academy, where she works as a part-time teacher nowadays.
Anna Rubinsztein
Violin, Vocals
Anna Rubinsztein is a fiddler from Uppsala, Sweden. She has a deep love for playing polskas and is fascinated by the way we relate to tradition and to all instruments that comprises strings and bows. Apart from playing with Folk’Avant Anna plays in the fiddle duo Rubinsztein/Karlsson. She is also an active freelancer in the world of classical music where she enjoys playing chamber music and in different orchestras around Sweden
Anna Wikenius
Vocals
Anna Wikenius is a singer rooted in the Swedish folk music tradition. She also sings in folk’appella quartet Kongero and composes and arranges music for her different ensembles. Anna is vocal teacher and choir leader and also works at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. She is based in Stockholm but grew up in a little village outside of Sandviken in Gästrikland. Anna holds a Bachelor in Swedish folk music from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and a Bachelor in vocal pedagogy from the University of Music in Piteå.
Maija Pokela
Kantele, Vocals
Maija Pokela is a kantele player and singer from Finland, who has been touring all over the world with her bands – besides Folk’Avant she’s most busy with Finnish bands ENKEL and Kardemimmit. She likes to explore folk music grooves on different sized kanteles and has a deep love to singing in harmonies. She has a Master of Music degree after studies in the Folk Music Department of the Sibelius Academy, where she works as a part-time teacher nowadays.
Anna Rubinsztein
Violin, Vocals
Anna Rubinsztein is a fiddler from Uppsala, Sweden. She has a deep love for playing polskas and is fascinated by the way we relate to tradition and to all instruments that comprises strings and bows. Apart from playing with Folk’Avant Anna plays in the fiddle duo Rubinsztein/Karlsson and string quartet KVARTS. She is also an active freelancer in the world of classical music where she enjoys playing chamber music and in different orchestras around Sweden
