The line-up for the festival offers the best musicians of the Scandinavian roots music scene. Artists confirmed to perform are: Väsen (Sweden), Hedningarna (Sweden/Finland), Troka (Finland), JPP (Finland), Wimme (Finnish Samiland), Sanna Kurki-Suonio (Finland), Garmarna (Sweden), Hoven Droven (Sweden), Triakel (Sweden) and Knut Hamre (Norway).

The festival will include the Flying Foot Forum premiere of the much anticipated epic percussive dance drama, Trä, based on Hedningarna’s release of the same name. Trä juxtaposes folksy dance styles with Joe Chvala’s signature hard-driving choreography. Set to the music of Hedningarna, Trä delves into the heart of Nordic antiquity, cutting to a core of animalistic sensuality and psychology. Lush yet unsentimental, Trä possesses shamanistic magic, pagan spirituality, a harsh Nordic soul and a medieval pulse.

All of the performances over this holiday weekend (Good Friday, Passover and Easter) will take place entirely on the West Bank. All music events will be at The Cedar Cultural Centre. The dance drama Trä will be performed at the neighboring Southern Theatre. Appropriately, the West Bank Theatre District of Minneapolis was formerly known as "Snoose Boulevard," "snoose" being Swedish chewing tobacco. For decades it was the heart of the Scandinavian-American community. Festival Headquarters will be at the Holiday Inn Metrodome.

Tickets/Special Offers:

Concert Pass: Admission to all five (*) Cedar Concerts – only $59

Festival Pass: Admission to all Cedar events, Preferred seating at five (*) Cedar concerts, April 1 "Trä" performance admission at the Southern Theatre, both late-night concerts at the 400 Bar, admission to private opening reception April 1 after "Trä" performance – all for $99!

Venues: All festival events will take place at the Cedar Cultural Centre, 400 Bar, and Southern Theatre, all of which are located in the West Bank Theater district of Minneapolis, which is at the crossroads of two major interstates (I-94 and I-35W). The Holiday Inn Metrodome (also located in this neighborhood) will serve as the central point for accommodations and festival organization.

Other Activities:

• Nordic Dance: Friday afternoon, April 2 will be an opportunity to learn some of the basic dance steps of Scandinavian traditional dancing. Instruction will be offered at 1:00 pm, and at 2:30 pm Troka will provide live music for dancers! Cedar Cultural Centre, $8.

• Non-Festival Event: Twin Cities Scandinavian Dance will have its regular bi-weekly dance on Sunday evening, April 4, at Good Templar Hall, 2922 Cedar Avenue in Minneapolis. Festival musicians Olov Johansson, Mikael Marin and Kjell-Erik Eriksson will be special guests, and the public is invited (dancers only please; space is limited). Admission will be $10 and the dancing will start at 5:00 pm. If you are interested in signing up for instruction at 4:00 pm or volunteering for this event please call Dick Rees at (651) 699-0709.

Funding: Corporate Sponsorship from Icelandair, Holiday Inn, AmericDisc, Litho Express, and Smart Set. Foundation support from The American Scandinavian Foundation, Svenska Rikskonserta, Consulate General of Sweden and other arts funders.

Festival Hotel: Holiday Inn Metrodome, 800-448-3663. Specify "Nordic Roots Festival" and receive a special room rate of $69.50/night.

Festival Restaurant: We have endorsed the Emerald Cafe, on the corner of Cedar and Riverside, as the official festival restaurant. You're likely to see festival musicians there, as the Emerald has graciously provided them with meals.

 
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