Band of the week 11/2026
Origin: Norway/Denmark
Genre: Folk
Hier geht’s zur deutschen Version.
The band about itself:
Songleikr is rooted in a deep love of Nordic folk music, weaving traditional stories with new musical creations in celebration of live music, people, and connection.
Born from singing traditional songs together at historical reenactment festivals worldwide, Maria Franz (NO, Heilung) and Ingrid Galadriel (NO) first shaped the spirit of Songleikr — meaning “song-play.” Their debut album Godtfolk (2015), created with producer Christopher Juul (DK), gained international acclaim for its honest portrayal of Scandinavian musical traditions.
Today, Songleikr is driven creatively by Maria, Ingrid, and Kasia Sikora-Black (UK). Live, the five-piece ensemble — joined by Petter Østby Sagen (NO) and Espen Wensaas (NO) — blends gliding Nordic harmonies, playful progressive rhythms, acoustic richness, raw emotion, and moments of musical mischief.
Touring with their new album Fuglefolk, Songleikr presents a live set blending new material with beloved songs from Godtfolk, reimagined through the lens of the current band. These songs come alive on stage — breathing, playful, and shared with everyone in the room.
Editorial commentary:
Sometimes you stumble across a band and find them immediately exciting. That’s how it was for me with Songleikr. I was actually just absentmindedly clicking through the Colos-Saal program, looking for something that appealed to me, as the current concert scene looked pretty dull for my taste. A quick glance at the name, a quick listen—and I was curious enough to keep searching and want to check them out.
And I was surprised. Songleikr have one of those rare stage presences that don’t need to be loud to have an immediate impact. Their sound combines Nordic folk elements with a warm, earthy intensity that comes across very differently live compared to the recordings. What particularly appealed to me was this mixture of technical precision and a palpable joy in storytelling – both musically and atmospherically. Nothing seems artificial, nothing tries too hard to be epic; instead, a flow emerges that carries you away.
What particularly appealed to me was the way they tell stories through music. The pieces seem like little fragments of legends: sometimes playful, sometimes dark, sometimes with an almost dance-like lightness reminiscent of campfires, forest paths, and my first encounters with Nordic myths. It was precisely this fascination that Garmarna awakened in me back then. And even though the two bands cannot be compared in many respects, I love everything about the way they present these sometimes cruel Nordic children’s stories with a bittersweet smile, as if they were cake recipes.
The band at Dark-Art:
- Konzertbericht: Songleikr – Release Tour, Colos‑Saal Aschaffenburg, 24.02.2026
- Ankündigung: Songleikr – Release Tour 2026
Live impressions:
Music recommendation:
Upcoming live dates:
17. April 2026 – Cadillac, Oldenburg, DE
18. April 2026 – Kulturwerk, Herford, DE
19. April 2026 – UT Connewitz, Leipzig, DE
4.–7. Juni 2026 – Birka Historical Tattoo Fest, SE
17. Juli 2026 – Festung Königstein Open Air, DE
12. August 2026 – Midgardsblot, NO
12. September 2026 – Festival Mediaval, DE
Links:
Bandcamp
Facebook
Instagram
Spotify
YouTube
Band of the week is our weekly posting about a band we recommend and is posted every Tuesday at 8pm (CET). These are bands that are just at the beginning of their career and that we think should receive more attention.
You can also find all the bands we’ve featured this year in our playlist on Spotify!
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