Bjärv

On fiddle is the charismatic, 28 year-old Olof Göthlin. A protégé of renowned fiddler Mats Eden, Olof became a "Riksspelman" (Fiddler of the realm) in 2006, and also performs in the headlining folk-fusion group, "Alla Fagra." 33 year-old Mikael Grafström provides both hypnotic rhythm and artistic nuance with his beautifully fluid guitar playing. A recent graduate of the folk music department at the Malmö music conservatory, Mikael has studied with the likes of Mats Eden, Jens Ulvsand, as well as Roger Tallroth from the Swedish band “Väsen.” The youngest member at 26, on the traditional Swedish nyckelharpa, is Benjamin Teitelbaum. After being awarded Sweden's Eric Sahlström nyckelharpa scholarship for 2000, Ben studied at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS becoming the first American to earn a degree in nyckelharpa performance.

The trio has been touring the United States
and Scandinavia since the release of their self-
titled CD in 2002. Appearances in the U.S.
include: World Fest, Grass Valley, CA;
Festival of Cultures, Sioux Falls, SD;
Hjemkomstfestival, Fargo, ND; Svenskarnas
Dag, Minneapolis, MN; Sawdust Festival,
Laguna Beach, CA; Summer Series, Salt Lake
City, UT; and Mid-summer festival, Estes
Park, CO, as well as radio performances
on ”Folkscene” KPFK, 90,7 FM; and KPIG,
94,9 FM.

Bjärv begins their first tour of the eastern United States in late-July, 2010 promoting their CD, “The Red Album.”