Groupa

Combining innovative instrumentation and an ever-curious sense of improvisation with a deep love for traditional Nordic music, Groupa plays some of the most exciting folk music of our time. Using instruments such as mouth harp, overtone flutes, viola d'amore, bells, stones, wood, and melodeon, they draw fresh colors and explore new musical dimensions. In the sounds of Groupa, you will find a composed picture of the traditions of yesterday, the whims of today, and the possibilities of tomorrow. The original band was founded as a five-piece in 1980. Through intense gigging and the releases of their first albums – Av bara farten (1983), Vildhonung (1985) and Utan sans (1988), Groupa became a vanguard of the progressive folk music scene in Sweden, along with other groups like Filarfolket. Since then, many highly acclaimed musicians have taken part in the journey that is Groupa’s career: Leif Stinnerbom, Inger Stinnerbom, Bill McChesney, Thomas Gabrielsson, Hållbus Totte Mattson, Gustav Hylén, Rickard Åström, Tina Quartey, Helge Norbakken, Sofia Karlsson. Over the years the band has collaborated with Ale Möller, Alag M’bye, Lena Willemark, the chamber orchestra Musica Vitae, Ingfrid Breie Nyhus, Guro Kvifte Nesheim, Sara Parkman and Samantha Ohlanders amongst others. The band currently consists of Mats Edén (fiddle, viola d’amore, hardanger fiddle, accordion) along with Jonas Simonson (flutes, bass clarinet), and Terje Isungset (drums, percussion, mouth harp).