Arctic Pulse continued its collaboration with Gränslös Folkmusik in Kukkolaforsen, a meeting place for folk and world music located right by the border between Sweden and Finland.
During three days, musicians, instructors, course participants and audiences came together through workshops, sessions, concerts and informal musical meetings. The collaboration highlights traditional folk music and minority music traditions from the northern regions, and creates space for music to be shared, developed and passed on across borders.
For Arctic Pulse, the collaboration with Gränslös Folkmusik is an important part of the project’s work to strengthen cross-border cooperation between northern Sweden, Finland and Norway. It also reflects one of the project’s key ambitions: to support folk and minority music not only as something to preserve, but as living traditions that continue to develop, be performed and meet new audiences.
This year’s programme included workshops and musical sessions where participants had the opportunity to learn directly from experienced musicians and instructors. Through playing together, sharing tunes and meeting across different traditions, the participants became part of a wider musical exchange rooted in the northern parts of Sweden, Finland and Norway.
Arctic Pulse also contributed to two public concerts during the weekend.
Bengan Janson performed together with culture school students from Kalix and Luleå, in an outdoor concert at Kukkolaforsen. The concert brought together traditional folk music and musicians from different generations in a warm and lively setting.
Later the same evening, Gränslös Folkmusik presented an evening concert with Desirée Saarela, Bbterbotten Band, I Fäälan and Bengan Janson. The concert brought together artists and musical traditions from Sweden and Finland in a programme filled with rhythm, storytelling, energy and musical encounters across borders.
During the weekend, Arctic Pulse also gathered musicians and representatives from the network to discuss how formats like Gränslös Folkmusik can continue to develop in the future. The conversation focused on how folk and minority music activities can grow across borders, and how children and young people can be more involved in future formats.
The collaboration with Gränslös Folkmusik shows how Arctic Pulse works in practice: by creating meeting places where musicians, organisers, instructors and audiences can connect across borders, share knowledge and build new possibilities for the future.
A warm thank you to everyone who took part, performed, taught, listened, organised and helped make the weekend possible.
The Arctic Pulse collaboration with Gränslös folk- och världsmusik was carried out within the framework of Arctic Pulse, together with Norrbottensmusiken, Norrlandsoperan, Novia University of Applied Sciences, Nordnorsk Jazzsenter, Musikk i Nordland, Scene Nord and BD-Kultur, with support from Interreg Aurora, Nordland fylkeskommune, Troms fylkeskommune, Luleå kommun, Region Norrbotten, Umeå kommun, Region Västerbotten and Lapin liitto / The Regional Council of Lapland.
About Arctic Pulse
Arctic Pulse is the shared external brand of Arctic Music Circles, an Interreg Aurora project supporting cross-border music collaboration in northern Sweden, Finland and Norway.
The project works to strengthen the music scene in the Arctic region by creating new connections, increasing visibility and building long-term collaboration across borders.