Duluth-stämman: Nordic Music & Dance Festival

06/12/2026

The stämma is upon us! These two maps will help you find our events tomorrow, which are all taking place on UMD Campus at the Chester Park Building. The address is:

31 W Clover St, Duluth, MN 55812

A schedule of events can be found at the following webpage:
https://nordiccenterduluth.org/duluth-stamman/

Tickets can still be purchased for all events, workshops, and merch at the following link:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/duluth-stamman-2026-nordic-music-and-dance-festival

06/10/2026

Fun to see Paul Dahlin pictured in the New York Times this past week. You can check him out at the stämma this Friday and Saturday:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/02/travel/sweden-midsummer-celebrations.html?campaign_id=346&emc=edit_wor_20260604&instance_id=176641&nl=the-world%C2%AEi_id=126144402&segment_id=220927&user_id=53c3e68cd9d6842904b91ceeb5bd7311

Tickets available here:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/duluth-stamman-2026-nordic-music-and-dance-festival

Duluth-stämman 2026 brings Nordic music, song, and dance to the shores of Lake Superior. Building off the success of Nisswa-stämman’s 20 years of celebrating Nordic music and dance in the Brainerd area, the Nordic Center of Duluth is excited to continue this festival tradition in the Twin Ports ...

06/09/2026

Another spotlight on an international guest who is returning to Duluth-stämman: Nordic Music & Dance Festival for the second time! Don't miss his workshops (and Emma's) this Friday and Saturday:

Sebastian Bloch is one of the most distinctive voices on the thriving Danish folk music scene, known for his fresh and rhythmically driven approach to the guitar. He began his professional career at the age of 17, playing electric guitar in rock bands, and has since developed a unique musical language that bridges Nordic folk traditions with influences from rock, jazz, and classical music.

Raised by a sailmaker and a jeweller, Sebastian developed an early appreciation for craftsmanship and detail – an influence that continues to shape his approach to acoustic music. This led him to
study at Skurups Folkhögskola in Sweden and the Danish National Academy of Music, where he immersed himself in Nordic folk traditions.

As an internationally touring and recording artist, Sebastian performs with Mads Hansens Kapel, breathing new life into the Danish instrumental tradition; The Good Tune, a project through which he shares live-recorded folk music with a global audience; and Helene Blum & Harald Haugaard Band, where he contributes his distinctive rhythmic playfulness. Drawing from his eclectic musical influences, Sebastian Bloch creates music that is both rooted in tradition and vibrantly alive in the present day.

Sebastians’s musical path has recently intertwined with that of violinist Emma Kragh-Elmøe, forming a duo he is especially thrilled to bring to the stage at Duluth-stämman 2026.

Tickets Available Here:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/duluth-stamman-2026-nordic-music-and-dance-festival

Sebastian's Websites:
www.sebastianbbloch.dk
www.madshansenskapel.dk
www.thegoodtune.com

06/06/2026

Take a moment to learn more about one of our special international guests:

Emma Kragh-Elmøe’s energetic playing and poetic compositions are highly distinctive. She is one of Denmark’s young female pioneers on the folk scene and the youngest ever nominee in the “Artist of the Year” category at the Danish Music Awards Folk/Roots.
With a background in classical music from an early age, Emma has developed a strong affinity for everything from Baroque to contemporary classical. She entered the folk music scene by a fortunate coincidence in 2014 and has been deeply engaged in it ever since. In 2021, she completed her studies in folk music at the Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg, Sweden, and in Esbjerg, Denmark.

As a violinist and violist, Emma is the frontwoman of the trio Stundom, which compose and perform contemporary Nordic folk music. The trio tour frequently across Northern Europe and will
embark on their first U.S. tour in October 2026. Emma’s latest musical adventure is her duo with Sebastian Bloch – a collaboration she is particularly excited to bring to the stage this year.

Website: www.stundommusic.com

Tickets for Duluth-stämman: Nordic Music & Dance Festival can be purchased here:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/duluth-stamman-2026-nordic-music-and-dance-festival

05/27/2026

Drum Roll....

It is time to reveal this year's t-shirt design. This year, our shirt is home to a pair of authentic Minnesotan dancin' loons.

Artwork by Crysten Nesseth and design/layout work done by Scott Beard!

You can buy the shirt when you buy tickets at the following link:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/duluth-stamman-2026-nordic-music-and-dance-festival

05/20/2026

REMINDER:

Starting this upcoming Tuesday!

Chrissy Widmaker from UW-Madison Nordic Folklife Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures is hosting three *FREE* online workshops on Tuesday evenings starting at the end of May. These workshops will also include in-person classes that will be offered on Saturday morning at the stämma before the opening Allspel. This is a fantastic opportunity for musicians and non-musicians who are interested in developing their ethnomusicology and folklorist chops. These are "drop-in" so you don't need to attend each workshop, but please register in advance so we know who to expect. This is a unique opportunity to try on the "folklorist" hat.

Folklore Tools You Can Use - Tuesday, May 26 from 7:00-8:15pm: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/yK2VaFHvQbmh_oRqmXm8Ig
Audio and Field Recording - Tuesday, June 2 from 7:00-8:15pm: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/Bnf6R1BxT_iRh2B0XED6JA
Video Recording to Document and Share - Tuesday, June 9 from 7:00-8:15pm: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/r5b13CzQStq-URRlzI1tTQ

In Person Workshop on Saturday, June 13th:
Pocket Ethnography: Documenting Traditions in the Field

In this workshop, folklorist Chrissy Widmayer will teach a crash-course in doing ethnographic documentation of traditions during live events and performances. She will discuss the basics of using tools you have on hand (like your phone) to record audio or video or take photos of live performances, and how to contextualize the larger tradition through short-form interviewing or discussion. We will consider together the ethics of documenting live events and how to properly attribute materials when sharing them publicly after the event. (90 minutes)

8:45 - 10:15 AM on Saturday 6/13 at the stämma

To register for the free in-person workshop or purchase tickets for the stämma, please click here:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/duluth-stamman-2026-nordic-music-and-dance-festival

Duluth-stämman 2026 brings Nordic music, song, and dance to the shores of Lake Superior. Building off the success of Nisswa-stämman’s 20 years of celebrating Nordic music and dance in the Brainerd area, the Nordic Center of Duluth is excited to continue this festival tradition in the Twin Ports ...

06/13/2025

Sponsor Appreciation Post! Thanks to West Denmark Fiddle School , FinnFest USA , Swedish Culture Society, Hovden Wear , Norway House , and Skal46 for their support of this year's stämma. Check out their many upcoming events and product offerings!

Tickets & Information for the stämma can be found here:
https://nordiccenterduluth.org/duluth-stamman/

06/12/2025

Tonight! Get down to some pre-Duluth-stämman: Nordic Music & Dance Festival vibes. *Free* Dance workshop with the legends of Lauluaika from 6-7 PM and then a jam from 7-9 PM!

Photo from last year's jam.

As always, please click here from tickets and information:
https://nordiccenterduluth.org/duluth-stamman/

06/10/2025

Keep your eyes peeled for one of this year's featured performers for youth:

Rose Arrowsmith grew up as a perpetual wreath-girl at Midsommar celebrations and is proud to be an all-around Scandi-nerd. She has been telling "deliciously imaginative" folktales, often from Sweden and Norway, since 2001. Rose founded, and for four years sang with, SVEA, an a ca****la Swedish folk quartet, blending poetry and song. In her workshops, she draws on her experience as a camp counselor at Sjölunden, and language teacher at the American Swedish Institute.

Tickets available here:
https://nordiccenterduluth.org/duluth-stamman/

06/08/2025

Today's featured flautist 'trill amaze you:

Considered a Master Folk Artist (Minnesota State Arts Board), Laura MacKenzie has learned from many tradition-bearers on both sides of the Atlantic. Of Scottish heritage (through Rankins and MacKenzies), her people came to the United States by way of Nova Scotia and Northern Ireland. In Saint Paul, Minnesota, Laura learned to play traditional music at ceilis (dances or social gatherings) within the local Irish-American community and soon became immersed in both the music and dance. Along with the formal study of anthropology and music, her best education has been with her comrades and favorite “teachers”—the players and singers of traditional music—in kitchens, folk schools and dance halls across Ireland, Scotland and the United States.

Tickets available here:
https://nordiccenterduluth.org/duluth-stamman/

Laura and her colleagues played a major role in the revival of Irish music and dance in the Upper Midwest as the Northern Star Ceili Band. During this time, she was also a founding member of a dance performance ensemble, the Mooncoin Ceili Dancers, and studied Irish step dancing. Laura has received numerous honors and performing arts awards for her participation and dedication in this realm of music, including being selected for the original Cherish The Ladies series, featuring noted women in Irish music in America. Laura was also awarded a Bush Foundation Fellowship in Traditional and Ethnic Performing Arts, as well as a McKnight Foundation Artists Fellowship.

June 13th & 14th - Tickets available here:
https://nordiccenterduluth.org/duluth-stamman/