Fribo (Meaning “Open House”) is a unique collaboration between Norwegian singer Anne Sofie Linge Valdal, Scottish fiddler Sarah-Jane Summers and English born Ewan MacPherson on guitar. Described by Celtic Connections Festival as “…one of the freshest and most inventive acts on the emerging 'Nu-Nordic' scene, exploring and creating links between British and Scandinavian traditions, with a deft peppering of wider contemporary influences.”
After first playing around an old Edinburgh kitchen table in 2003, these three musicians found so much in common, that they decided to explore the old musical links; finding subtle ways of exchanging traditions with respect whilst expressing them anew; with an exuberant feel for contemporary sounds and rhythms.
Today after honing their musical explorations through three years’ touring experience and a very well received debut album, Fribo is rapidly gaining recognition and acclaim. The graceful blending of Voices, Willow Flute, Fiddle, Jews Harp and Guitar has become a “...zestful, vibrant, multi-national North Sea sound.” Womad
To further widen the band’s sound-scape Fribo now work with percussionists, regularly joining them on stage is Paul Jennings (Fred Morrison Band, Croft No 5) who brings his raw, virtuosic, percussion skills to the mix. Or Signy Jacobsdottir (Haftor Medboe, Capercaillie, Scottish Ballet, Gamalan Pacifica) who’s global influenced, melodic playing adds strong rhythm with suprising melodic additions.
To date Fribo have toured in the UK, America, Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, Wales and Ireland. Performing at large-scale events such as: Womad, Celtic Connections, APAP, Telemark Festival, Gosport & Fareham, Oxford Folk Festival, Nordlys and Blàs.
The band has been featured artist and can be heard regularly on many radio stations including: BBC Radio Scotland and Radio 3, ABC Australia, Radio Nan Gaidheal and the World Sevice.
Fribo are now represented by two leading music agencies:
Frusion( for bookings in England / Wales)
Stoneyport Associates (for bookings in Scotland / Outside UK)
"If ever there was a soundtrack to my life, this is what I would want it to be...this band are, for lack of a better word, awesome." ThreeWeeks eDaily 24
"Above all it’s an album that’s brilliantly produced, fun, moving, engaging, adventurous and a sheer delight from start to finish..." Songlines (Fiona Talkington) ****
'...Infectious rythms stand next to haunting beauty.'Fiddle On Magazine
"They are FABULOUS!!! " Genevieve Tudor - BBC Radio Shropshire
“…What immediately strikes you is the freshness and zest emanating from the trio."Rock n’ Reel ****
"FRIBO IS FOR ME ONE OF THE DISCOVERIES OF THE YEAR"Marius Roeting, New Folk Sounds - NL
"Anne Sofie Linge Valdal's native nous and Summers' enthusiasm for the Norwegian tradition and able embracing of the hardanger fiddle have given Fribo one of the most distinctive sounds on the Scottish folk scene." The Herald (Rob Adams)
"...Fribo's debut is full of masterly, intoxicating impressionism, a seriously rewarding and intensely original album which may well end up on my years-best list come November."Netrhythms (David Kidman)
"...music with a refreshing tang and a keen edge." Living Tradition
“New band Fribo showed they will be a force to be reckoned with in years to come”. Oxford Times
"There are a growing number of groups covering the sort of material which Fribo perform. But I’ve yet to hear anyone with the variety and finesse of this young trio..."Songlines ****
Releasekonsert för nya skivan "Soot" 13e maj kl 20.00 på Studio Lederman, Gästrikegatan 13, T-st:Eriksplan Varmt välkommen att fira med oss!!!! H / Boot
Un placer encontraros aqui y disfrutar de vuestro magnifico trabajo. Un fuerte abrazo desde Extremadura, España, de vuestros amigos de Aulaga Folk. Juan Carlos
Alright there, if any of you's are in Glasgow next Friday, hope you can get down to my gig in the V Club - 375 Sauchiehall St. - thats the 3rd of April!
This years festival is headlined by Billy Bragg (Friday), Seth Lakeman (Sunday) and Peatbog Faeries (Saturday) with many more top artists also performing incl the award winning The Demon Barbers.
Was that the same distil that David McGuiness did too? It sounded great. Would be lovely to meet, hear and/or play sometime in the not too distant future. Really love your tracks here. "Nu-nordic"? I like it... All best wishes Clare
Så nærmer vi os udgivelse af min debutplade, og i den forbindelse er der masser af koncerter med mig i det ganske land. Torsdag d. 2. april er der pladereception på Blågårds Apotek på Nørrebro i København, og du er mere end velkommen.
Pladen udkommer d. 3. april, og kan købes i alle pladebutikker landet over (de kan ihvertfald bestille den hjem til dig). Alternativt på songcrafter. dk/webshop. Eller ved en af mine koncerter.
For første gang gæster jeg Odense med mine sange - det sker d. 1. april på Dexter.
Ligeledes kommer jeg til Århus for første gang, da jeg er blevet udvalgt til SPOT 2009 - eksakt dato og tidspunkt følger.
Jeg håber, at se dig til en af de mange datoer, og at du vil glæde dig til at få fingrene i min plade "Debut".
Bedste hilsner Butzback
Datoer: 13. marts, kl. 20 // Café Guggenheim, Nørrebro. 01. april, kl. 20 // Dexter, Odense C. 02. april, kl. 20 // Pladereception, Blågårds Apotek, Kbh. N. 03. april, kl. 20 // Christianshavns Beboerhus, Kbh. K 04. april, kl. 14 // Sondruphuset, Odder 16. april, kl. 20 // Løves Bogcafé, Vesterbro, Kbh. 24. april, kl. 20 // Templet, Lyngby 29. april, kl. 20 // Møstings Hus, Frederiksberg 22./23. maj, SPOT Festival, Århus (Tidspunkt følger)
Thanks for the add! Caught your performance at the Celtic Connections after-show party on Friday. Had to be some of the most spine-tinglingly beautiful music i've heard in years. Absolutely loved it.