MIXTAPE: Strengeplukk’s Intro to Scandigrass

Since Strengeplukk (translation: “string plucking”) formed in Stavanger, Norway, in 2015, we have established ourselves as one of our country’s most dedicated bluegrass bands. For the last ten years, we’ve played hundreds of concerts spanning the entire latitude of our homeland, as well as several festivals around Europe. Known for combining differing bluegrass traditions with Norwegian lyrics in our diverse and distinct dialects, Strengeplukk consists of Andreas Barsnes Onarheim (mandolin), Jakob Folke Ossum (guitar), Mikael Jonassen (banjo), Nikolai Storevik (fiddle) and Vidar Starheimseter (bass). We are now based in Oslo, but Andreas still resides in Stavanger.

As an introduction to Scandinavian bluegrass, we have collectively gathered a playlist of Norwegian and Scandinavian bluegrass-adjacent music. The list is populated with some favourite music from our friends and colleagues on the scene, as well as some historic cuts from Norwegian bluegrass history. It also features some brand-new tracks from our newest album, Neste steg, which released on March 7! – Strengeplukk

“Aust-Vågøy” – Strengeplukk

This is one of the more progressive Strengeplukk tunes, featuring lyrics from a war poem written by Inger Hagerup in 1941. Musically, it’s a song that pays tribute to many of the present day bluegrass musicians and bands that influence us. It was composed by Andreas as a homage to his grandfather who fought in the resistance during WWII.

“Kjekt å ha” – Øystein Sunde

Inspired by the ’60s folk revival, Øystein Sunde was part of the first generation of bluegrass musicians in Norway – and started Norway’s first bluegrass band, Christiana Fusel & Blaagress in the late ’60s. For the ’80s song “Kjekt å ha,” well-known by all Norwegians, he went to Nashville to record with the best of the best session musicians at the time, including Béla Fleck, Mark O’Connor, and Jerry Douglas.

“Springar” – Earlybird Stringband

An early example of Norwegian folk music and bluegrass fusion, pioneered by our friends in the Earlybird Stringband.

“Havly” – Strengeplukk

For our fiddle player Nikolai’s graduation fiddle concert, we arranged his tunes inspired by a mix of Norwegian folk music traditions and bluegrass. The resulting arrangements turned into half of our 2020 album, Nyslått Gras. This song is based on one of the oldest forms of folk music in Norway, the folk music from Setesdalen.

“Gone With the Wind” – Dunderhead

Dunderhead is one of neighbouring Sweden’s best known bluegrass bands. This one is a real banger, sung by Angelina Lundh.

“Father’s Presence” – Lars Endrerud

Lars is mostly seen playing bass with various bands and artists, but also picks guitar, mandolin, and more like a pro. This beautiful instrumental is from his solo album, Mandouche, and features him playing his Norwegian-built Rian mandolin. Rune Thoen, who joins Lars, plays various other string instruments.

“Et hundredels sekund” – Strengeplukk

This one is about getting lost in your hobby. An amateur photographer wants to take a photo of him and his girlfriend, but he spends too long fumbling with the gear and the girl disappears.

“Oriental Hoedown” – Gammalgrass

Norway’s foremost multi-instrumentalist Stian Carstensen – known for his work with artists eclectically ranging from Jacob Collier and Michael Brecker to Mike Patton – spearheads the band Gammalgrass together with award-winning jazz fiddle player Ola Kvernberg.

“Creedence på kassett” – Ila Auto

With a four-figure number of concerts played and several Spellemannprisen (Norwegian GRAMMY) wins and nominations behind them, Ila Auto has for the past 20 years been the face of bluegrass bands featuring original songs with Norwegian lyrics. This is one of their hits.

“Legg han i bløyt” – Strengeplukk

On this uptempo song, we wanted to recreate a fast and fierce sound inspired by bands like Kentucky Thunder. The lyrics are about an angry housewife who grows tired of raising both her kids and her husband and ends up taking matters in her own hands.

“Fast Forward” – The Bluegrass Playboys

This band consists of present and former members of Øystein Sunde’s lineup. The tune is written by Dobro player Knut Hem.

“Bode’s Reel” – Open String Department

More good friends on the list. These guys are on the A-list of virtuosos in both bluegrass and jazz. Open String Department combines these genres in a smooth and tasty way. Their compositions are both complex and catchy, and their improvisations are creative and inspiring. They’ve always been someone to look up to.

“Caravelle” – Strengeplukk

Strengeplukk spent our early days touring the western parts of Norway in an old, red Volkswagen Caravelle. This song is about those days, those memories, and the fact that even though you’re on the road doing what you love, there’s no place like home.

“Annie on My Mind” – Happy Heartaches

Some of our best jamming has been together with these lovely Swedes, who we’ve run into at numerous bluegrass festivals over the years. Last year they released their debut album, A Place to Land, on CD only, but it will be available on streaming later this spring.

“Dry River” – Twang

The Danish trio Twang are kings of tasteful arrangements and their take on swing-inspired folk with a bluegrass-inspired instrumentation and beautiful vocal sounds.


Photo Credit: Nikolai Grasaasen

You Gotta Hear This: New Music from Caleb Caudle, Zoe Boekbinder, and More

This week, BGS readers enjoyed two brand new, original sessions – one from Jesper Lindell at Rootsy Summer Fest ’23 and the other featuring bluegrass singer-songwriter Theo MacMillan for our latest Yamaha Session.

Now, to wrap up the week, we’re celebrating new releases from a host of roots musicians like Caleb Caudle, Zoe Boekbinder, Eddie Sanders, Denmark-based string band Twang, and fiddler Andy Leftwich.

Of all the new music released this week, you gotta hear this!

Caleb Caudle, “Monte Carlo”

Artist: Caleb Caudle
Hometown: Germanton, North Carolina
Song: “Monte Carlo”
Album: Live From Cash Cabin
Release Date: January 31, 2024 (single); February 29, 2024 (EP)

In Their Words: “We recorded these songs live at Cash Cabin in the spring of 2022 and had such a great time. It was one of my last memories of playing music with my friend, Alex McKinney, who recently passed away after a battle with cancer. His untimely death hit me like a ton of bricks and I wanted to release this now to showcase what an amazing musician he was. I’m so thankful for these recordings that keep his spirit alive.” – Caleb Caudle

Video Credit: Joseph Cash


Zoe Boekbinder, “Hold My Hand”

Artist: Zoe Boekbinder
Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana
Song: “Hold My Hand”
Album: Wildflower
Release Date: February 2, 2024 (single); April 26, 2024 (album)
Label: Are and Be Recordings

In Their Words: “‘Hold My Hand’ was written on a farm of rescue horses in the mountains in northern Spain. I was there doing a music residency in the summer of 2017. Myself and another songwriter, Dustin Hamman, co-wrote a collection of songs and recorded them all in one week. We also each wrote one song independent of each other. ‘Hold My Hand’ was mine. We slept in the attic of the horse barn, directly above the horse stalls. One of the horses had digestive issues that caused it to fart very loudly and constantly. It was an interesting soundtrack for sleeping. Somehow in that silliness, I wrote this very painful song about my confused heart.” – Zoe Boekbinder


Twang, “Crowdpleaser”

Artist: Twang
Hometown: Copenhagen, Denmark
Song: “Crowdpleaser”
Release Date: February 2, 2024

In Their Words: “The song talks about a musician’s encounter with the audience and the fear that things could go terribly wrong. Despite this fear, the message is to be honest and give everything you have, in order to receive the same honesty and love in return. The chorus goes: ‘Love is honesty, honesty, respect / What you give is what you get.'” – Twang

Video Credit: Hidayet C


Eddie Sanders, “Chasing That Midnight Moon”

Artist: Eddie Sanders
Hometown: McAlester, Oklahoma
Song: “Chasing That Midnight Moon”
Album: Born to Fly
Label: True Lonesome Records

In Their Words: “I really love this new single, ‘Chasing That Midnight Moon,’ a song I co-wrote with my producer and good friend, Glen Duncan. Glen, along with an all-star cast of pickers, found a dynamic studio groove on this one right away. Then, when the great John Cowan added his signature harmony, it immediately became one of my favorites on the forthcoming album and locked it in as the debut single. I can’t wait for everyone to check it out on the new True Lonesome Records label!” – Eddie Sanders

“What a pleasure and pleasant surprise to get to participate on Eddie’s ‘Chasing That Midnight Moon.’ Eddie possesses one of the finest voices and songwriting gifts in contemporary bluegrass music.” – John Cowan


Andy Leftwich, “Behind the 8 Ball”

Artist: Andy Leftwich
Hometown: Carthage, Tennessee
Song: “Behind the 8 Ball”
Release Date: February 2, 2024
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “The idea of this song was to have an upbeat ‘barn burner’ that could lend itself to some really creative soloing, and I feel like we captured that here. I have to give the credit of the title to my wife, Rachel, who heard me mention this phrase while in the studio recording it. We were moving along, but not at the pace I was hoping, so we were behind on time. At the end of the day, she mentioned naming this song, ‘Behind the 8 Ball.’ I thought it was perfect! It certainly has that anxious spirit we all have from time to time when we get in tough spots, but it’s a fun tune that has great energy and a different sound than you normally hear in bluegrass ‘barn burner’ instrumentals.” – Andy Leftwich


Jesper Lindell, “It Ain’t Easy”

Last summer, on the banks of the Ätran beside Tryckhallen – Rootsy Summer & Winter Fests’ home venue – in Falkenberg, Sweden, Jesper Lindell offered two songs in simple, stripped down, acoustic performances for his Rootsy Summer Session. On a balcony overlooking the rushing water and festival stage, he sings “It Ain’t Easy,” a song of long-suffering and devotion from his 2023 EP, Windows Vol. 1.

Read more and watch the full session here.


Theo MacMillan, “The One That’s Broken”

For our second original session this week, Theo MacMillan (of Theo & Brenna) and his band performed for an exclusive Yamaha Session at Solar Cabin last fall. MacMillan, who brought along Jed Clark (bass), Harry Clark (mandolin), and Cory Walker (banjo), pulled his Yamaha acoustic guitar out of the case and performed two original numbers. The first, “The One That’s Broken,” leans forward at a breakneck pace, channeling the frustration of a messy relationship’s end with cattywampus stops artfully executed by the band, tight and together.

Watch more here.


Photo Credit: Caleb Caudle by Joseph Cash; Zoe Boekbinder by Justin Nunnink.

The Show On The Road – Agnes Obel

This week, The Show On The Road features a conversation with renowned Danish pianist, experimental composer, and atmospheric-folk songstress Agnes Obel

LISTEN: APPLE PODCASTSMP3

Recorded high above Hollywood in the famed Capitol records building (Obel was recently signed to Blue Note Records), host Z. Lupetin takes an intimate tour of Obel’s newest work Myopia, which shows the pianist and composer at her most personal and aurally fearless.

Born in Copenhagen and based in Berlin, Obel’s albums warrant repeat listening, as it’s often hard to know exactly what instruments are playing at any given time. At times the darting, looping piano and quicksilver string work seem like a chamber orchestra, or maybe the songs on Myopia are secretly the technicolor backdrop and emotive score to a film that only she sees.

It’s been nearly a decade since her transcendent DIY debut album, Philharmonics, put her into many people’s minds (she may not be very well known yet in the States, but she is a gold-record selling, underground star in many parts of Europe). This past spring, Obel was set to play the expansive Greek Theater in Los Angeles before COVID-19 forced her to stay in Berlin — which, for an artist that creates hushed, often lyricless songs you probably can’t dance to, is an impressive leap.