People arrive at a Gabriels Novgorod concert wearing hopeful smiles and neatly styled hair. Afterwards, they waltz home with aching smile muscles and hair standing straight up. It is astonishing what Finnish minor-key melancholy and bubbling, high-energy tunes from our eastern neighbours can do.
You will hear original interpretations of hard-swinging Finnish humppa, Yiddish tango and longing waltzes, northern Swedish swing (with Cossack steps), as well as enlightening songs in German by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill. All delivered with intensity, temperament and powerful four-part vocals. In countless languages. Ethnic popular music from the Baltic Sea region, spanning the 1930s, 40s, 50s and 60s.
Gabriels Novgorod consists of Gabriel Fliflet (accordion, vocals), David Chelsom Vogt (violin, vocals), Kristoffer Chelsom Vogt (double bass, vocals) and Jørgen Sandvik (guitar, vocals). They have performed at, among others, the Bergen International Festival, Oslo World, the Førde Traditional and World Music Festival, and Vossa Jazz.