Members: Ayi Solomon, Andrzej Krejniuk, Morten Alfred Høirup, Eskil Romme, Ditte Fromseier

This Danish band is one of the most travelled
outfits on Denmark's roots and folk music scene.
Right now it is the drummer that has all the audience's attention. Bathed in
coloured light from the spots, he sings and dances around behind his drum- kit,
while his hands flash over the skins so fast that the eye can hardly keep up with
them.
Then the rest of the band join in on saxophone, violin, guitar and electric bass,
and the marquee throbs with new roots and world music and happy listeners. It
is as though everybody in the place has drunk of the same magic, intoxicating
potion.
Himmerland and the international festival community
Himmerland tours in large parts of the world these years, performing new music
rooted in the very different styles, cultures and traditions of five outstanding and
very experienced composers and musicians.
Where ever the band play, they bewitch and spread warmth and happiness
amongst people, performing their unique blend of old Danish ballads, whirling
fiddle tunes, equilibristic improvisations, and new fascinating music composed
and arranged by the band members.
Eskil Romme (sax), Ditte Fromseier (violin, vocal), Sigurd Hockings
(guitar), Andrzej Krejniuk (electric bass) og Ayi Solomon (percussion) got
together in 2010, played their first concerts at festivals and venues at the Faroe
Islands, and in Hungary and Bulgaria n 2011, and released their first album,
"New Roots Music from Denmark", in august 2012.
The band did celebrate the album by planning a busy "CD release week",
featuring concerts at the Danish Tønder Festival, at Alkantara Fest in Sicily,
Koktebel Jazz Festival in Ukraine, and finally at the Harvest World Music
Festival in Moscow. The album had very good reviews, and in 2013 it was
nominated for a Danish Music Award (Danish "Grammy") as Folk Album of the
Year.
Since 2010 Himmerland has toured intensively in Denmark, Sweden, Finland,
Germany, Belgium, Italy, Greece, England, Scotland, Hungary, Bulgaria,
Ukraine, Russia, Canada, South America, Australia, and New Zealand, and in
2015 the band is going back to Australia to perform at Blue Mountains Music
Festival and Port Fairy Folk Festival, amongst others.
During the last couple of years, Himmerland has been featured on festivals like:
The National Folk Festival (Canberra, Australia), Fairbridge Festival (Fairbridge,
Australia), Goiikoorts Int. Volksmuziekfestival (Belgium), Festival Touscouleurs
(Bodighera, Italy), Kaustinen Folk Festival (Finland), Summartónar (The Faroe
Islands), La grand Recontre (Montreal, Québec, Canada), Mission Folk Festival
(BC, Canada), The Bath Folk Festival (England), Urkult Festival (Näsåker,
Sweden), Nordic Folk Festival (Tappernøje, denmark), Tønder Festival
(Denmark), Alkantara Fest, (Catania, Sicily, Italy), Koktebel Jazz Festival
(Ukraine), World Stage (Copenhagen, Denmark), Festival International de
Musica Immigrante de Valpariso (Chile), Musicport Festival (Whitby, England),
G!Festival (Gøte, The Faroe Island), The Carrying Stream Festival (Edinburg,
Scotland), The Harvest World Music Festival (Moscow, Russia) and so on...
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Himmerland is:
ESKIL ROMME (Soprano Saxophone) is from Funen, but has lived in
Himmerlands in Northern Jutland, most of his life. During the 30 years Eskil
has played, he has mixed traditional Danish music with jazz and other related
genres. On his many travels in Scandinavia and the UK, he has developed his
very own "North Sea blend" of sounds and styles. In 2009 he released the album
" Himmerlandsmelodier", which also was the beginning of the band
Himmerland. Eskil is the artistic director of the small but well-reputed Halkær
Festival, and he is known for its many international tours with bands like "Færd"
and "Kryss".
DITTE FROMSEIER (violin, vocals) comes from the small Danish island of
Bornholm. Ditte is a highly profiled violinist and singer on the Danish folk music
scene, she is involved in a variety of bands, and has toured in Denmark and
around the world. She is known from Danish TV (Marie Haven), and for her
work in bands like "Habbadám", "Fiolministeriet" and the violin and guitar duo
"Fromseier/Hockings".
SIGURD HOCKINGS (Guitar)
Sigurd is known from bands like Habbadám and Fromseier Hockings. He is one of
the most skilful and versatile folk guitarists in Denmark. Inspiration for his very
individual and accomplished playing style has come from both Scandinavian and
Celtic music traditions. Sigurd developed he’s guitar skills while studying guitar by
Chris Newmann during he’s years at The Music Academy in Odense, Denmark
ANDRZEJ KREJNIUK (Electric bass guitar, vocals) was born in Poland but has
lived in Denmark most of his life. Andrzej is a respected musician and composer,
and an excellent soloist on the electric bass guitar. He has extensive experience
from the Danish and international jazz and world music scene, and he plays in
bands like "Momento", "Sound of Polarity", "Lelo Nika", and of course with his
own jazz fusion band, "Abstract Reality".
AYI SOLOMON (percussion, vocals) is from Ghana but has lived in Copenhagen
for more than 30 years. Solomon enjoys great respect wherever he has played
the last several years, both in Denmark and internationally. He has released two
albums in his own name, and he has performed and toured with a wide range of
top professional bands and projects in genres like world music, rock, pop and
jazz. Among the best known are "Pierre Dørge & The New Jungle Orchestra",
"Moussa Diallo Band" and "Palle Mikkelborg".