The Fretless & Väsen-Duo
Presented by Stone Mountain Arts Center

Stone Mountain Arts Center is thrilled to present a rare and powerful collaboration between two internationally celebrated folk ensembles: Canada’s The Fretless and Sweden’s Väsen-Duo. Billed as a special, limited-run “power double-bill,” this concert brings together genre-bending contemporary fiddle music and masterful Scandinavian folk traditions in one unforgettable evening.

Väsen-Duo—Mikael Marin and Olov Johansson—are legends of Nordic folk music. After nearly 40 years of performing together, their interplay is nothing short of mesmerizing, marked by humor, intensity, and what feels like telepathic communication. Rooted in the traditional music of Uppland yet constantly exploring new musical terrain, the duo performs on an extraordinary range of instruments, including nyckelharpa, viola, kontrabasharpa, and cello da spalla, creating a sound that is both ancient and strikingly modern.

Canada’s The Fretless brings a bold, progressive edge to traditional music. Winners of the Juno Award, this all-string quartet—Trent Freeman, Karrnnel Sawitsky, Ben Plotnick, and Eric Wright—reimagines fiddle tunes and folk melodies through intricate arrangements and high-energy performances. Their innovative approach has earned them international acclaim and a devoted global following.

Together, The Fretless and Väsen-Duo create a rare musical meeting point—virtuosic, joyful, and deeply rooted—offering audiences a transcendent experience that bridges cultures, traditions, and generations of folk music.

Lobby Opens at 1:30pm
Show at 3:00pm