A group of six string players from Minneapolis, MN will bring their authentic folk music to the Festival. All are members of the American Swedish Institute Spelmanslag. The group offers a full dynamic sound that is typical of our Swedish heritage. The group is coordinated by Paul Dahlin.

Smörgåsbandet from New York City under the leadership of Jeanne Eriksson Widman Andersen is always an enthusiastic crowd pleaser. (Jeanne is the daughter of the famous Swedish accordion player Walter Erikson.) It has been three years since this group has performed in Jamestown and we welcome them back. Their program includes traditional gammeldans music, humor, story telling and sometimes a sing-a-long. Smorgasbandet is playing at the Grand Lodge convention of the Vasa Order of America.

Bosse is an accomplished nyckelharpa player from Örebro, Sweden. He is involved in a number of groups in the Örebro area so is quite busy sharing his music. Bosse has been a guest announcer on Jamestown's Swedish Hour broadcast on WRFA-LP. The nyckelharpa is a uniquely Swedish instrument and Bosse is ready to explain and demonstrate how it works. He is a teacher for all of us regarding the "feel" of Swedish music.

Besides Ben's presentation about Raoul Wallenburg in the lecture area, he will be performing in the main stage. Ben is an accomplished musician and song writer from Gothenburg, Sweden and will be performing some of his compositions.

The Viking Chorus is one of Jamestown's unique Swedish groups. Under the direction of Mary Grace Brustrom, the Viking Chorus has been singing for many years. They are members of the American Union of Swedish Singers. Their performance includes selections of both Swedish and English standards.

Svenska Spelmän will be returning to the Festival with their unique sound of gammeldans music. Their performance focuses on the traditional waltz, polka, schottis, hambo, snoa and ganglot. The group consists of Kathy and Hanah Petersen on the fiddle/nyckelharpa/vocal, Tim Cudney on the bass, Tom Gestwicki on the mandolin/guitar/banjo/vocal and Don Sandy on the accordion. All members are from Chautauqua County.
This group has been selected to perform at the Swedish Embassy in Washington, DC on July 3, 2010 for the Grand Lodge Convention of the Vasa Order of America.

Nordanvind is a group from all over upstate New York. Five accordion players offer gammeldans music including the polka, schottis, hambo, and waltz. They were inspired by the Scandinavian Accordion Club from New York City who performed at the first Scandinavian Folk Festival. Members include Deanne Hardy - Ionia, Irv Bentsen - Geneva, Mary Havens - West Seneca, Mary Julius - Greece, and Don Sandy - Jamestown.
There are not many accordion bands around these days so this is a rare opportunity to hear Scandinavian favorites on the accordion.

The adult and children folk dance teams from the Thule Lodge, Vasa Order of America, have been a popular performing group in the Jamestown area for many years. They have played a major role in preserving Scandinavian Folk dancing as they pass the traditions on from one generation to another. One of their special performances is the Ox Dance, a mock fight between two gentlemen over the love of a girl. The fun they have in performing their dances is demonstrated in their style.