Next Stage Arts will welcome an electrifying night of Nordic folk music on Thursday, February 5, when internationally acclaimed Finnish band Frigg takes the stage with opening set by fiddle duo Teho. The show begins at 7:00 pm, with doors opening at 6:15 pm, at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, Putney.
Hailing from Finland and celebrated worldwide, Frigg is among the most exhilarating and innovative bands in contemporary folk music. The six-piece ensemble are true masters of the Finnish folk tradition, known for delivering heart-bursting, life-affirming tunes with astonishing precision and joy.
Named after the Norse goddess of love and fertility, Frigg has forged a singular sound they call “Nordgrass”—a captivating fusion of Nordic folk music and American bluegrass. Their violin-driven melodies soar over ringing strings and the deep, propulsive pulse of double bass, creating music that feels both ancient and entirely fresh. The result is hypnotic, infectious, and often impossible to sit still through.
Over nearly 25 years, Frigg has released eleven albums and performed close to a thousand concerts in more than thirty countries. Their work has earned numerous accolades, including Finnish Folk Album of the Year and recognition from Songlines magazine as a Top of the World album. Recent releases, FRIXX and Heritage, reaffirm the band’s deep roots in tradition while pushing boldly into new musical territory. As they approach their quarter-century milestone, Frigg’s passion and creative spark burn brighter than ever.
Opening the evening is Teho., a Finnish power-fiddle duo rooted in Nordic folk traditions yet unafraid to push musical boundaries. Fiddlers Tero Hyväluoma and Esko Järvelä, both from Central Ostrobothnia—a region renowned for its rich folk music culture—blend Finnish fiddling with Norwegian Halling, Swedish Polska, bebop, Western swing, and contemporary folk into a dynamic, high-energy sound.
Teho.’s music balances virtuosic technique with playful improvisation, earning widespread praise. Konsta Jylhä Competition director Hannu Saha described them as “extremely versatile professionals…mastering their instruments on a virtuoso level, giving them unlimited musical possibilities.” The duo has performed internationally across Europe and North America, and their debut album was nominated for a Finnish Grammy (Emma Awards) in 2018. Songlines magazine has called them “virtuosic and occasionally off-the-wall,” a fitting description for their exhilarating live performances.
Tickets for Frigg with Teho. are available at nextstagearts.org for $22 in advance, $25 at the door, or $10 for livestream access. For fans of folk, world, and acoustic music—or anyone eager for a midwinter night of warmth, rhythm, and joy—this concert promises to be a highlight of the season.
