Madison Scandi Band
Links
Scandi Band member resources (access restricted)
The Madison (Wisconsin) Scandi Band, like spelmanslags in Scandinavian communities, is a group of fiddlers (and occasionally other musicians) who meet regularly in members' homes to play traditional music. We learn the music by ear—from each other, from musicians at Folklore Village and other workshops, and from recordings.
What we play
Our music is for dancing:
- Polskas from Rättvik, Bingsjö, Boda, and other Swedish locations
- Gånglåts (walking tunes) and Snoas
- Hambos
- Polses, springars, and springleiks from Norway
- Waltzes
- Danish Sonderhoning and Femspring
- Polkas
- Mixers and other dances from various European and near eastern countries
Where we've played
Since we began in April 2008, we have played for Saturday night dances and Scandinavian music and dance workshops at Folklore Village near Dodgeville, a Scandinavian midsummer party in Middleton, a wedding dance in Madison, the Fall Heritage Festival in Mount Horeb, Old World Wisconsin near Eagle, and Make Music Madison. We've accompanied the Folklore Village International Dancers at the Triangle Ethnic Fest in Madison, Old Time Celebration in Beaver Dam, Heritage Days at Wisconsin Concrete Park in Phillips, and other performances.
Jamming with the pros at Nisswastämmen festival in Minnesota
Where we will play next
We wish we knew! Because of the coronavirus, no dances or performances are scheduled. We're learning new tunes and practicing via Zoom so we'll be ready whenever opportunities occur.