Ethno Sweden in concert at Skansen, Stockholm
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What is an Ethno?
An Ethno is a gathering of young musicians from around the world for workshops, concerts and recordings.
It all began in 1990 in Sweden, at the Falun Folk Festival. The festival attracted many international acts, and the festival wanted to experiment to see what would happen if folk musicians from around the world jammed together for a week.
The idea for Ethno is widely credited to Swedish fiddler Magnus Bäckström, who was one of the organisers. It was a roaring success from the word go. Swedish fiddler and singer Susanne Lind was there at the very first Ethno, and is now one of the Artistic Leaders for Ethno Sweden.
Most participants rate Ethno as an unforgettable experience. But what actually happens during an Ethno?
Musicians live together at camp and teach each other tunes during workshops they conduct themselves, assisted by experienced Artistic Leaders. Everyone gets an opportunity to learn new music, and typically around 12-18 tunes and songs will be taught. The camp lasts from about a week to ten days and culminates in a series of concerts, which may be stand-alone or connected to a larger festival.
The energy of the Ethno orchestra during concerts is palpable, and attracts large audiences who come to listen to not just artistic virtuosity, but also superb arrangements and the tremendous positivity one feels when Ethno takes the stage.
At the end of the Ethno, not everyone leaves for home. Some go on to the next Ethno. Some stay back to discover the country and culture. Many participants become friends for life, and often form new bands and projects with the people they meet during the camp—Ethno is known to change people’s lives in incredible ways!
It all began in 1990 in Sweden, at the Falun Folk Festival. The festival attracted many international acts, and the festival wanted to experiment to see what would happen if folk musicians from around the world jammed together for a week.
The idea for Ethno is widely credited to Swedish fiddler Magnus Bäckström, who was one of the organisers. It was a roaring success from the word go. Swedish fiddler and singer Susanne Lind was there at the very first Ethno, and is now one of the Artistic Leaders for Ethno Sweden.
Most participants rate Ethno as an unforgettable experience. But what actually happens during an Ethno?
Musicians live together at camp and teach each other tunes during workshops they conduct themselves, assisted by experienced Artistic Leaders. Everyone gets an opportunity to learn new music, and typically around 12-18 tunes and songs will be taught. The camp lasts from about a week to ten days and culminates in a series of concerts, which may be stand-alone or connected to a larger festival.
The energy of the Ethno orchestra during concerts is palpable, and attracts large audiences who come to listen to not just artistic virtuosity, but also superb arrangements and the tremendous positivity one feels when Ethno takes the stage.
At the end of the Ethno, not everyone leaves for home. Some go on to the next Ethno. Some stay back to discover the country and culture. Many participants become friends for life, and often form new bands and projects with the people they meet during the camp—Ethno is known to change people’s lives in incredible ways!
