Edinburgh Tradfest: Lena Jonsson & Brittany Haas

“On just two fiddles, Jonsson and Haas wove complex harmonies and beautiful arrangements, chopping and pizzicato and other technical mastery, into their powerful twin melody lines” – Folk World

Lena Jonsson& Brittany Haas are two of the most exciting instrumentalists and composers on the traditional music scene today. From Northern Sweden and Northern California respectively, Jonsson and Haas play traditional tunes from their own countries as well as original music penned specifically for this collaboration. They met in 2010, and found in each other kindred spirits. They share a love for crazy fiddle tunes and adventure.

Lena Jonsson’s ability to balance a deep knowledge of traditional Swedish folk music with innovative artistic sensibilities, sparkling joy of life, and the charisma of a rockstar have made her one Scandinavia’s most visionary musicians. She has created a unique style inspired by traditional Swedish music as well as rock, pop and American old-time and bluegrass traditions. She has won both a Swedish Grammis and the Manifest prize, as well as Artist of the Year in 2023 at the Folk and World Music Awards.

Brittany Haasis widely regarded as one of the most influential fiddlers of her generation. She released her debut, self-titled solo album produced by Darol Angerat 16. Haas went on to record and perform with Steve Martin, David Rawlings, Punch Brothers, Bela Fleck, Dierks Bentley, Tony Trischka,and more. She was featured in the house band on Chris Thile’s Live From Here, and won Americana Music Association’s 2020 Instrumentalist of the Year. This May she will release Haasher first album with cellist sister Natalie Haas.

Together Jonsson and Haas’s powerful fiddle playing interweaves melody, harmony, and rhythm into a playful conversation. The sum being much greater than its two parts. The combination is both intricate and raucous, heart-rending and buoyant.

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