Erling Fredriksson explores his Tornedalian roots in a musical journey aimed at instilling courage. With the help of inspiring anecdotes and a bunch of world-class musicians on stage, he encourages the audience to seek out their inner compass. This will touch you from the inside out!

Like the main characters in Mikael Niemi's bestselling novel Popular Music from Vittula, young schoolboy Erling Fredriksson in the 1970s had a music teacher who made a real difference. His name was Bengt Granberg and he came to Pajala after a long jazz tour around Europe.

– Bengt filled the room with Swedish prog, Tornedalian songs, and Olle Adolfsson, and I consumed everything, says Erling Fredriksson as he looks back.

It was during this time that Erling developed a taste for music in Meänkieli, and he began to feel a pride in his Tornedalian roots. This pride forms the foundation of this concert.

The concert will feature a selection of songs from Erling Fredriksson's over 30-year-long career as a singer, actor, and musician. They come from theater productions, recording sessions, and other performances. Much of it is written in Meänkieli and the genre is a mix of folk and world music, jazz, and ballads.

– I enjoy when many different styles meet and when you don’t quite know what’s going to appear around the next musical curve. We will offer a rough groove mixed with stripped-down simplicity. All seasoned with a large portion of genuine Tornedalian melancholy.

– I want, through the music, to provide inspiration and courage to the audience. For me, it has been important to try to connect with my inner compass and dare to follow it, even if it leads me down new and surprising paths.

In addition to his long career as a musician and actor, Erling Fredriksson is also the theater manager and artistic director of Tornedalsteatern. But he is not alone on stage. He is joined by a group of very exciting musicians who are also given ample space to put their own stamp on the music.

For example, the bassist Dan Berglund, who has played with Esbjörn Svensson's trio and is one of Sweden's most established musicians on both the national and international jazz scene. Then we have Livet Nord, an award-winning violinist, composer, and artist who is not afraid to break boundaries between different music genres and cultures. Her unique musical identity and unmistakable sound can be heard on over 60 albums.
Also on stage is Viktor Vilhelmsen, guitar, a Norwegian musician who plays everything from blues and jazz to rock and North Sámi yoik. On percussion, we have Isidor Abdelkader, whose roots are in Tärendö, and who has been part of the Norrbotten World production Aventura Brasileira! led by Karin Hammar.

”Ettheen aina ettheen ei saa heivata
Ei saa antaa perhiin ei saa koskhaan seisahtaa”
”Framåt alltid framåt i ett ändlöst lopp
Alltid bara framåt aldrig någonsin ge opp.”

– Erling Fredriksson

The performance is presented in collaboration with Norrlandsoperan.