Description

Kongero is a Swedish vocal group consisting of the four female folk singers Lotta Andersson, Emma Björling, Sofia Hultqvist Kott and Anna Wikénius. Kongero was formed in 2005 when the original members all attended a Nordic folk music conference. By chance they started singing together and found that their voices and harmonies blended perfectly. Since then they have performed at many of the major folk music scenes and festivals and at several a cappella and chamber music festivals as well as doing tours all over Europe, Asia and The Americas. They also do church concerts, school concerts, tours, perform at business events, and conduct well-received workshops in traditional Swedish vocal music and vocal harmonies.

Kongero?s repertoire consists of traditional and original songs and tunes arranged by the members. Kongero tells tales of life, with moving love songs, dramatic medieval ballads, witty ditties, and spirited dances. Their music is characterized by tight harmonies, inciting rhythms and the clarity of their beautiful voices. With confidence, technical skill, irresistible playfulness, and brilliant arrangements, they create a unique sound that brings the traditional music from the past and into the present. They call their genre Swedish Folk'appella.

Kongero has released 6 full length albums: ?Om Mikaelidagen? (2008), ?Bakvända Världen? (2011), ?no. 3? (2014), ?Kom? (2017), the collaboration project "Vaerla Vaken" (2018) together with instrumental folk band Massivet and the live album "Live in Longueuil" (2021). Their records have received excellent reviews and have reached a broad audience in the Nordic countries, all over Europe, Canada, Brazil, Japan and the USA. In 2020 Kongero celebrated 15 years as a band with lots of planned anniversary events (of course postponed due to Covid-19). Kongero has their own beer made by Jackdaw Breweries (SE) and Brouwerij Alvinne (BE) in collaboration. Kongero has also released three Song Books with their workshop material.

The Members:
Lotta Andersson sang before she could walk and she soon joined the Sundsvall Girls Choir. She started playing the fiddle at music school, and at the age of 13 went to a fiddle camp where she found her true passion for traditional music. She holds degrees in singing, fiddle and traditional dancing after her studies at Malung Folk Music College, Falun Academy of Music and The Royal College of Music in Stockholm. In addition to singing with Kongero, she is the front figure of Swedish folk band Mission Melpa, conducts workshops with both voice and fiddle, and works with some of the foremost Swedish folk musicians.

Emma Björling has been singing in choirs since the age of six, and studying both jazz and classical music before following her heart back to the traditional music that she first heard her grandfather play on the fiddle. She holds university degrees in traditional Swedish music from The Royal College of Music in Stockholm, and voice pedagogy, music theory and ensemble teaching from Ingesund College of Music. Besides singing with Kongero, Emma teaches at a folk music college, is a sought after guest teacher at colleges and universities, conducts workshops in traditional Swedish music (irl and online), writes arrangements for choirs and vocal groups all over the world, and is a member of the groups LYY, Skye Consort, Lagerkvist, and Svensk Folkejul.

Sofia Hultqvist Kott grew up in a house full of music and art located at the end of all roads, by the gorgeous Anaris Mountains close to the Norwegian border. The landscape naturally influences her expression and is an infinite source of inspiration. Sofia found further joy in traditional music through youth folk camps in Norway, and music studies at High school and Framnäs College of Music led Sofia to further education at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. She also sings in various constellations such as folk trio Kalejdoskop and in an ambient electronica folk duo with renowned producer Outby16.

Anna Wikenius grew up in a rural village outside Sandviken, started playing the piano at the age of 10 and continued to sing, play and dance throughout Musical High School. She has studied classical music, jazz, pop/rock, Swedish traditional music and she holds university degrees in traditional Swedish music from The Royal College of Music in Stockholm and voice pedagogy and ensemble teaching from The Department of Music and Media in Piteå. Anna now lives in Stockholm and works at the Royal College of Music as the Director of studies. Besides Kongero, she sings in the Swedish/Finnish folk band Folk'avant. She composes a lot of material for her different bands, conducts workshops, and is also often engaged as a soloist.

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Please note this ticket price DOES include a byo/corkage fee should you want to bring alcohol to the venue.

All additional purchases of drinks and snacks from the cafe counter are always very much appreciated.

Description

9 Nether Edge Road,

Sheffield,

South Yorkshire,

England,

S7 1RU.