Det Var en Lørdagsafen

Saturday night's alright for, well, in this case, singing! Firo's new release translates as ‘Once on a Saturday Night’ and is a collection of fun songs that the band have found in the archive of their home region of Gubrandsdal, a real melting pot of Norwegian folk tradition.

This Norwegian quartet made quite an impact with their first album Arv og Slarv in 2017, including a nomination for the Norwegian Folk Music Awards. They have a passion for traditional music, and a determination that their audiences can enjoy the songs they've found in the archives without adding gimmicks or diluting the essence of the style. Mari Midtli sings with clarity and energy and it's obvious that the group have thought deeply about the way the textures of fiddles, guitar and accordion support and elaborate the various texts. Their beautiful sound remains true to the earthiness of tradition while appealing to contemporary audiences. It's with real skill that the ballad of ‘Alfred og Alvilda’ unfolds to reveal the drama, and contrasts with the toe-tapping ‘Visa Um Fyll og Lauslivnad’ – a part story with a moral! There are no English texts, but maybe that spares the blushes in some of the more racy tales!