Spælimennir
The folk group Spælimennir, from the Faroes, have just celebrated their 50th anniversary and are touring in 2025 with a date at the Traverse Theatre on Monday 29th September!
About Spælimennir
| 29th September 2025 | |
| 8pm | |
|
Traverse Theatre 10 Cambridge Street, Edinburgh West EH1 2ED |
|
| £16 / Concession £13 | |
| Visit the event website here | |
The folk group Spælimennir from the Faroes has just celebrated its 50th anniversary with concerts in Denmark, USA, Italy and on the Faroes. The band continues touring this year in Shetland, Scotland and Denmark.
In August, 1974, music teacher Kristian Blak started a folk band in the secondary school in Hoydalar, just north of Tórshavn. Soon dubbed “Spælimenninir í Hoydølum” (Eng: “the folk musicians from Hoydalar”), the band included teachers and students from the school, as well as other interested musicians in the area.
During the first few years, Spælimenninir í Hoydølum played at weekend dances in towns and villages all over the Faroe Islands.
In January, 1977, the group made its first recording, Spælimenninir í Hoydølum (SHD 1), and played abroad for the first time in the summer of 1977. “The Great Faroese Road Show”, including Spælimenninir í Hoydølum and a group of traditional Faroese dancers, performed in Caithness, Orkney and Shetland.
In 1978, four members of the band - Janne Danielsson, Sharon Weiss, Ívar Bærentsen and Kristian Blak – continued touring abroad as a quartet: Spælimenninir. This smaller band toured regularly for years in all the Nordic countries and neighboring Scotland, Shetland and Orkney, as well as USA and Canada.
Soon, Spælimenninir had become a sextet, including fiddler Erling Olsen and American bass player Charlie Pilzer. These 6 musicians – Janne, Erling, Sharon, Ívar, Kristian and Charlie - were the regular line-up of Spælimenninir for many years. A highlight of the group’s USA tours were several appearances on the live radio show “A Prairie Home Companion”, which was broadcast from St. Paul, Minnesota, with millions of listeners world-wide.
Since 2014, Janne has been unable to travel away from his home in Sweden, and Danish fiddler Lars Kristensen has played with Spælimenninir on tours in Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Italy and the USA.
Over the years, Spælimenninir’s repertoire has grown from the strictly traditional Scandinavian, British and North American tunes played in the 1970’s to include tunes composed by active Faroese folk musicians. Now, in 2025, there is a specifically Faroese instrumental repertoire of folk music tunes for listening and dancing.
Spælimenniinir is part of the Traverse's £1 Ticket Project.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!Sponsored Links
Other Events at Traverse Theatre
She’s Behind You
Join us at the Traverse Theatre for this stunning, multi-faceted journey through the history of the Scottish panto dame as brought hilariously and poignantly to life by Johnny McKnight!
READ MORE
Soundhouse: Paul Harrison’s Trio Mágico & Guests: Encontros
This concert will celebrate the release of jazz pianist Paul Harrison’s long awaited new album Encontros – which brings a Scottish twist to the warmth and spark of Brazilian music.
READ MORE
A Play, A Pie and A Pint
A popular feature of the Traverse programme, A Play, A Pie and A Pint, Òran Mór returns this Autumn!
READ MORE
Cauld Blast Orchestra
The legendary Cauld Blast Orchestra, dormant for 20 years, is reborn with a new expanded line-up and comes to the Traverse Theatre on Saturday 13th September!
READ MORE
Man’s Best Friend
Man's Best Friend is Douglas Maxwell's hilariously heart-warming story about the give-and-take of companionship, don't miss it at the Traverse Theatre in September!
READ MORE
Night Waking
A darkly funny and deeply unsettling one-woman play is coming to the Traverse Theatre. Night Waking is an urgent, razor-sharp meditation on motherhood, colonialism, and the things we leave behind.
READ MORE
Black Hole Sign
Black Hole Sign takes a razor-sharp scalpel to the absurdities, tragedies and hilarity within of one of our most beloved but besieged institutions... the NHS.
READ MORE
Soundhouse: Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening
Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening explore the connecting threads of music, landscape and people over a period of almost 2000 years.
READ MORE
Babatunde Aléshé: High Expectations
Join multi-award-winning comedian Babatunde Aléshé as he this time guides us through family life, his new found fame and the joys of Costco in this hilarious new stand up show!
READ MORE
Soundhouse: Erik Palmberg Quartet
The Erik Palmberg Quartet has gained a lot international attention recent years and the group is one of the most interesting Scandinavian jazz acts today.
READ MORE
Ryan Young
Ryan Young is a multi award winning fiddle player injecting fresh and innovative ideas into the realm of traditional Scottish music.
READ MORE
Through The Mud
Against a stunning live soundtrack of gospel and blues, Through The Mud explores what it takes to become a revolutionary.
READ MORE
Andy Irvine
Andy Irvine is one of the great Irish singers, don't miss him live at the Traverse Theatre on Monday 17th November!
READ MORESponsored Links
Similar events you might like...
Burly Ceilidh Club
We’re famous for the Ceilidhs in our stunning Auditorium at the Ghillie Dhu, so come along a make it a night to remember!
READ MORE
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons by Candlelight
Enjoy Vivaldi's timeless classic, The Four Seasons, and other magnificent works by Candlelight at St Giles' Cathedral, performed by The Piccadilly Sinfonietta!
READ MORE
Moonlight Sonata by Candlelight
Join renowned British concert pianist Warren Mailley-Smith for a performance of sensational classical and romantic works for solo piano at St Giles' Cathedral!
READ MORE
Ceilidh in Charteris Centre
Edinburgh Ceilidhs invites you to their regular ceilidh in the Charteris Centre with caller Ken Gourlay, ceilidh band and piper!
READ MORE
Scottish Folk Music Cruise with Pure Malt
Step aboard Maid of the Forth for a magical evening on a Scottish Folk Cruise with live music from the fantastic Pure Malt!
READ MORE
The Haggis Ceilidh Club
One of Edinburgh's best nights out! Come join The Haggis Chasers Ceilidh Band's monthly ceilidh at Old Dr Bells Baths!
READ MORE
Day Disco Brunch
Come along to the Granary Leith for this Day Disco Brunch with live saxophone tunes and DJ beats!
READ MORE
Annasach’s Ceilidh at The Counting House
Annasach Ceilidh Band invites you to our regular ceilidh in the hidden gem of Edinburgh’s Old Town, The Counting House!
READ MORE
Grand Cafe Ceilidh
Come along for our Ceilidh Night at The Grand Cafe every Saturday from 10pm until late throughout the summer!
READ MOREFind other events in Edinburgh
Sponsored Links