BALTIC CROSSING is the first folk music band to be part of ECHO's "Rising Stars program"!,,
Rising Stars want to promote young European musicians every season. Every year maximum 6 Rising Stars are selected. Non-calssical musicstyles stay an excemption. It was accepted that jazz or other styles can occasionally be proposed. But the artistic comty suggests that it will stay an excemption and that a formula might be 5+1 or 6+1.
BALTIC CROSSING's ECHO tour:
December 15th, Athens Concert Hall,
Greece January 12th, Cité de la musique, Paris, France
January 13th, Philharmonie / Salle de Musique de chambre, Luxembourg
February 3rd, L'Auditori Chamber Music Hall, Barcelona, Spain
March 13th, Bozar Salle Henry Le Boeuf, Brussells, Belgium
March 16th Concertgebouw, Kleine Zaal, Amsterdam, Netherlands
April 1st, Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden
April 30th, Laeiszhalle / Musikhalle, Hamburg, Germany
May 2nd, Wiener Konzerthaus, Vienna, Austria
May 19th, Birmingham Town Hall, UK
May 22nd, The Sage Gateshead, UK
The Rising Stars Programme exists since 1997. It was for all these years the most successful and continued initiative of ECHO (European Concert Hall Organisation) . The programme tries to give an answer to the complex problems for younger artists to access the highest standard Concert Halls in Europe and to find an attentive audience: Many local artists have the qualitative potential to aim for a larger audience but are not detected by foreign concert halls and do not achieve the interest of an international programmer.
On the new CD "Firetour", The 5 musicians in Baltic Crossing, Esko Järvelä, Antti Järvelä, Andy May, Ian Stephenson and Kristian Bugge, plays a collection of folk music from the Danish Islands, Lolland and Falster. There is music from 18th century manuscripts of Bast, Ålholm and Reventlow and music from various 19th century collections like those of the Adrian family (Hillestrup, Falster), Niels Christian Andreasen (Sandby, Western Lolland), and Hans Hansen (Toreby, Eastern Lolland). And last but not least, the CD includes a new composition, a polska tune by Frede Nielsen from Flintinge, Lolland.
Like the band's first CD, "Firetour" is released by GO Danish Folk Music (www.gofolk.dk) and is avaliable online via www.folkshop.dk, Itunes ect…
Baltic Crossing offers an exciting blend of music from Denmark, Finland and the UK performed by musicians with a wild musical joy. The first Baltic Crossing CD was released by GO' Danish Folk Music in March 2008 and has been well received by the press.
Dirty Linen writes:
It's not an easy task to combine all these different styles, but the group
pulls it off with flair and imagination. The band members switch smoothly from style to style, with the arrangements making use of a wide range of instruments. Mixed in with the twin violins, pipes and guitar are banjo, mandolin, melodeon, and piano, allowing each musician to display his or her
musical strengths. This is enjoyable on so many different levels, and any fan of English or Nordic music will find much to like here. (JLe)
Baltic Crossing is are featured on the promotion CD Folk & Roots Music From Denmark released by The Danish Folk Council.
Furthermore the band play as backing group on Norwegian singer, Helene Bøksle's new CD which was released in January 2009 by Universal Music Norway.
Baltic Crossing invite the listeners to come along on an exciting journey through the Scandinavian and Celtic countries and musical traditions. Enjoy!
Baltic Crossing is:
Kristian Bugge (DK, fiddle) In 2004 he was given the "Radium Award" of The Danish National Radio plus a CD contract for his debut album, released in 2005. In 2006 Kristian recieved the "Daniish Grammys" Folk debut of the year and Folk instrumentalist of the year at the Danish Music Awards – Folk Tønder. He also plays in the Danish folk band, HABADEKUK amung others
Ian Stephenson (UK, guitar, accordion), graduated from Folk and Traditional Music Degree Course at the Newcastle University where now he is a teacher. Besides Baltic Crossing he is known from playing in 422, Kathryn Tickell Band and other bands. A local starter of many initiatives, among that he's one of the organizers behind the Windy Bottom Folk Festival.
Andy May (UK, northumbrian pipes, uillean pipes, piano), widely respected player and carrier of the tradition on the northumbrian pipes. He won his first piping competition at the age of 10. Andy is also teaching and building pipes and actively playing and touring with Jez Lowe and his own Andy May Band.
Antti Järvelä (FI, double bass, mandolin) Grew up in the famous folkmusic village Kaustinen. He plays in some of the most well-known Finnish folkmusic bands, such as JPP, Troka and not the least Frigg which he started and is now running successfully. He is studying folkmusic at the Sibelius Academy of Music.
Esko Järvelä [FI] (FI, fiddle, viola, harmonium): Antti's cousin, also from Kaustinen, where his father, Mauno Järvelä, is one of the most honered musicians and important promoter of the local musical tradition. Esko also plays in Frigg, as well as Tsuumi Sound System, Töttersön, his own Band, Es&Co and other groups. Just like Antti, he is also studying folkmusic at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.
Esko, Antti and Kristian also play together in the trio Kings of Polka
Baltic Crossing Contact: Kristian Bugge (+45) 3028 1519 kristian@kristianbugge.com
