“ŌLI” is the name of a new solo project by musician Óli Joensen, also known as the lead singer and songwriter of the indie pop/rock band TeleMama.

ŌLI’s music is characterized by a characteristic Faroese sense of melancholy, where emotions, nature, and existence collide in a deep and interesting sonic landscape. Drawing inspiration from Faroese artists and releases, ŌLI creates a unique identity in which Faroese nature and everyday life are an integral part of both the sound and the lyrics.

“Risar og trøll” (“Giants and Trolls”) is the first single from Óli’s new solo project. With this song, Óli lays the foundation for the sound of this project and offers a sense of what can be expected from future releases and live performances.

On July 3rd, he will present what he has been working on in recent months at OY, in a concert that promises to be both intimate, interesting and epic.

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Jónas Reinert Vesturklett (vocals, guitar), Treysti Holm (guitar), Helge Marius Greve (piano, guitar), Heini Hofgaard Johannessen (bass), Alfred Moyell Johansen (drums).

Alto are driven by their passion for writing and performing great music. It is important to them to create their music together, as each member draws inspiration from different genres and styles. This gives their music a unique character—and that is exactly how they want it.

When they perform, it is a celebration. Energy and good vibes are essential parts of their live shows, and it is important to them that the audience gets to share in that experience.

In short: Great music. Good vibes. That's Alto.

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Trio Ciocaia (Italy)

Marco Mainini (vocals, Emilia piva, fife), Ferdinando Gatti (Emilia piva, guitar, vocals), Fabio Bonvicini (accordion, Emilia piva, vocals)

Ciocaia was named after the distinctive “clicking” sounds his fingers made on the instrument, and he was one of the last great players of the Emilian piva in the Parma Apennine Mountains of Italy.

Trio Ciocaia adopted this name to honor the old rural tradition and uses the Emilian piva, a member of the large bagpipe family, to reconnect with this unique musical heritage.

Their repertoire weaves together songs and dances from folk tradition with excerpts from 17th-century classical music—a period that is said to have strengthened and preserved a rich musical heritage and culture.

Alterne (Denmark/Estonia/Belgium)

Ida Marie Jessen (vocals), Oscar Beerten (violin, Hardanger fiddle), Maimu Jõgeda (accordion)

With contemporary songwriting, the dream-folk trio Alterne blurs the boundaries between pop, folk, and ambient music. The group consists of Danish singer Ida Marie Jessen, Belgian violinist Oscar Beerten, and Estonian accordion player Maimu Jõgeda. Together, they create a captivating and dreamlike soundscape.

Alterne has performed at festivals such as FolkBaltica (Denmark), Lõikuspidu (Estonia), Boglárt (Hungary), Bijloke (Belgium), and Merode (Belgium), enchanting audiences across Europe.

Their debut album was released in 2024 on GO’ Danish Folk Music and received strong international acclaim. Eric Van Domburg Scipio of Heavenmagazine.nl wrote:

“Jessen’s singing and voice are world-class, especially in combination with the trio’s beautiful arrangements. 2024 is unlikely to bring much folk music more beautiful than this.”

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Ingmar + The Mysterious Guest

Ingmar Berg Mikkelsen (vocals, piano), Sakaris (vocals), Ari Johannesen (guitar), Katrina Olsen (vocals, saxophone, backing vocals), Jósef Magni Heinesen (drums), David Simonsen (bass)

Ingmar takes the stage at Oy with energy, charm, and a playful spirit—and before long, and before anyone suspects a thing, the completely anonymous Mysterious Guest (Loyniligur Gestaris) suddenly joins him on stage, cleverly arriving with yet another overflowing bag of joy, excitement, and musical magic.

The audience can expect a performance for the history books—one that will send the right kind of shivers down their spines and make it impossible to stay seated.

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Nordic Ballads & Šatro Shaman Drum Orchestra

Katrina Petersen (vocals), Andreas Ugorskij (guitar), Villu Veski (saxophone), Raun Juurikas (keyboards)

& Šatro Shaman Drum Orchestra, conducted by Arno Kalbus

Come and experience an intimate live concert at OY, where singer Katrina Petersen, who is half Danish and half Faroese, interprets ballads inspired by Nordic stories, myths, and legends.

The program features both Katrina’s own compositions and traditional Nordic songs.

Joining her are Danish guitarist Andreas Ugorskij, Estonian saxophonist Villu Veski, Estonian keyboardist Raun Juurikas, and the powerful Šatro Shaman Drum Orchestra.

This promises to be an intense musical experience that brings together voices, rhythms, and mystical tales from across the Nordic region.

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Kika Sprangers (saxophone), Sasha Berliner (vibraphone), Bárður Reinert Poulsen (bass), Simon Olderskog Albertsen (drums)

Mother Boy brings together four leading jazz musicians from the Netherlands, the USA, Norway, and the Faroe Islands.

They play contemporary jazz with a Nordic touch, where vibraphone, alto saxophone, bass, and drums create a bright and shimmering sound, built on a strong rhythmic foundation.

Their adventurous and free interplay—marked by closeness and emotional depth—makes each performance a living expression of their shared desire to create music from the heart, while also pushing and expanding musical boundaries.

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Yggdrasil

Kristian Blak (piano), Heðin Ziska Davidsen (guitar), Mikael Blak (bass)

Yggdrasil is a Nordic ensemble based in the Faroe Islands. It was founded in 1981 and has always included musicians from other countries.

From the very beginning, Yggdrasil has had a distinctive artistic concept. Most of its compositions are created in collaboration with other art forms or, in some cases, with nature itself.

The musicians who have been part of the ensemble—either as long-term members or as participants in specific projects—come from diverse musical backgrounds, particularly jazz, but also ethnic and folk music, rock, and classical music. While the works often draw inspiration or themes from national and cultural traditions, improvisation ranges from completely free expression to more classical styles.

Over the years, many musicians and artists have contributed to Yggdrasil’s projects, which have included visual art, poetry, ballet, opera, and concerts performed in caves. Essential to the Yggdrasil concept is that the individuality of each member is heard or seen in the artistic result. This is what gives Yggdrasil its truly distinctive sound.

Kristian Blak is the pianist, founder, and principal composer of the ensemble. He has written several large-scale suite-form works for Yggdrasil, most of which have been released on Tutl Records.

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GØ

Ólavur Eyðunsson Gaard (guitar), Kristian Pauli Ellefsen (keyboards), Árni Jóhannesson (bass), Hjørtur Háberg (drums), Sjúður Zachariasson (saxophone)

The band GØ was formed in 2015 by four young musicians who were tired of playing “nice and correct” music. Today, they are among the most in-demand musicians in the Faroe Islands, and they continue to maintain the same rebellious approach in how they write and perform music—anything goes in GØ.

Musically, GØ’s sound draws inspiration from the 1960s and 1970s, while their compositions also carry strong influences of film noir, spaghetti western soundtracks, jazz, and rock.

Over the past year, GØ has performed extensively both in the Faroe Islands and abroad, including at the Reykjavík Jazz Festival, where they impressed the Icelandic audience and received strong reviews from the major jazz publication Jazzwise.

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Bjarni Jakobsen (drums), Erik Reynheim (bass), Helge Greve (guitar), Jóni Strøm (vocals)

Tunghoyrt is a band that plays heavy music. The name Tunghoyrt comes from the Faroese word “tunghoyrdur,” which means hard of hearing or nearly deaf.

The band has gained strong momentum over the past two years and is in high demand across the region.

Earlier this year, they released their first record, the EP “ÓJÓ.”

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