Norway's Gangar brings a fresh take on Nordic roots music.
The young, five-piece ensemble digs deep into Norway's extensive folk music archives to come up with rare traditional tunes. -- and give them new, modern arrangements influenced by rock, folk-metal, and jazz improvisation. Inspired by such artists as Hoven Droven, Meshuggah, and AC/DC, Gangar's sound is driven by the unique sound of Norway's Hardanger fiddle. Once vilified as "the devil's instrument" in folktales and banned in churches, the harbinger is now celebrated as the country's national instrument, and gives Gangar its distinctive skin.
The band's mission is to bring traditional Norwegian melodies a wider audience.
Since their first concert in 2021, Oslo-based Gangar have established themselves as one of Norway’s most in-demand musical exports; with a fresh, original take on traditional Norwegian folk and roots music.
Gangar’s five members,
Mattias Truell Thedens (Hardanger fiddle),
Oskar Goedvriend Lindberget (saxophone),
Richard Max (guitar),
Jonas Thrana Jensen (bass),
and
Henrik Dullum (drums),
bring an array of musical styles and expertise to bear on their music, creating a unique, hybrid approach to traditional folk music.
Gangar are known as a formidable live band that consistently delivers shows filled with energy, audience interaction, dancing, and top-shelf musicianship. This combination makes it hard for any audience to keep their feet off of the dance floor. They’ve forged a deep bond with audiences at home and abroad, playing shows all over Europe, including Finland’s Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, Germany’s Rudolstadt Festival, Estonia’s Viljandi Folk Music Festival, and the Groningen Performing Arts Festival in the Netherlands.
In 2022 Gangar was one of four Norwegian artists invited to play a showcase at the Nordic Folk Alliance in Gothenburg, Sweden; they also were chosen to participate in the prestigious Global Music Match program that same year. In 2023 the group played an official showcase at Folk Alliance International in Kansas City, USA, Gangar is scheduled to tour concerts and festivals in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Italy, Hungary, and Australia throughout 2023 and 2024.