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Irish Arts Minnesota: St. Patrick's Day
Date: March 17, 2026 Location: Landmark Center, Weyerhauser Auditorium and Location: Waldmann Brewery Irish Arts Minnesota celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a special concert by The McNordiques on March 17, 2026 at the Landmark Center’s Weyerhaeuser Auditorium. Featuring Tom Klein (uilleann pipes), Dan Newton (accordion) and Renee Vaughan (nyckelharpa) their musical offering brings Irish, French and Nordic traditions together. Later that day stop in to Waldmann's to hear a Irish, French and Nordic band play in a German brewery. |
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McNordiques House Concert
Date: March 20, 2026 Location: St. Paul. Email for details The McNordiques bring Irish, French, and Nordic traditions together for an evening of richly textured acoustic music. Featuring Dan Newton (accordion), Tom Klein (uilleann pipes), and Renee Vaughan (nyckelharpa), the trio draws from deep traditional lineages, honoring the character of each tradition while finding common ground. The result is an intimate, dynamic concert showcasing the expressive range of these rarely heard instrumental combinations. |
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International Festival of MN
Date: April 10-11, 2026 Location: St. Paul River Center Very happy to be part of the International Festival of Minnesota (IFest-MN, formerly the Festival of Nations) April 10 welcomes school groups for a day of shared. learning through music and culture, and April 11 invites families and the public to celebrate together. This is a much needed celebration of our neighbors, of living traditions, shared stories, and the kind of community connection we need. |
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Your Class Notes Sessions: Minnesota Public Radio
Upcoming Dates April 14, 2026 Watertown-Mayer Elementary April 20, 2026 Avon Elementary & Albany Elementary Nordstär Duo consists of Renee Vaughan on nyckelharpa and Laura MacKenzie playing both the säckpipa (a Swedish bagpipe) and wooden flutes. They share a passion for traditional Swedish folk music and its unique instruments. In their Class Notes Concert, students will explore how traditional folk music connects with their own heritage, community, and sense of belonging. Students will learn about and identify by sight and sound several traditional Swedish instruments, and how music, dance and storytelling are linked to cultural identity, history, and community, fostering a greater appreciation for traditional music’s role in shaping and reflecting community. |
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The Longest Table Event
Date: April 23, 2026 Location: Thief River Falls Pull up a chair at The Longest Table and celebrate Thief River Falls at this family friendly evening where food, storytelling, live music and connection bring our community together. Enjoy a five course meal honoring the cultures of our neighbors and create space to connect, share stories, and build stronger neighborhoods. Live music with Renee Vaughan and Paul Sauey. |
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Valborgsmässoafton (Walpurgis Eve) Spring Dance
Date: April 28, 2026 Location: American Swedish Institute Celebrate Valborgsmässoafton at the American Swedish Institute with Renee Vaughan's Nordstär Ensemble! This evening's dance will weave haunting sounds and springtime celebration into a spellbinding dance experience. Enjoy lots of called mixers and accessible dances for all levels. This night's Nordstär Ensemble will feature Renee Vaughan (nyckelharpa), Paul Sauey (guitar & cittern), Laura MacKenzie (säckpipa and flutes), Dan Newton (accordion), and Mattie Snyder (cello) |
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Greg Watson Book Launch and Poetry Reading
Date: April 30, 2026 Location: American School of Storytelling An award-winning poet and author of twelve collections, his recent books include Stars Unseen (Holy Cow! Press) and The Days Between (Kelsay Books). His upcoming work is a series of grief and remembrance poems. Live music with Renee Vaughan will support Greg's poetry reading. |
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Walloon's Impact on Swedish Folk Traditions
Date: May 2, 2026 Location: The Belgian Heritage Center, Brussels, WI In the 17th century, thousands of Walloon ironworkers left Belgium for Sweden, transforming its iron industry and cultural life. Among their descendants was the celebrated nyckelharpa player Byss-Kalle Bössa (born Boussard) and Hasse Gille, whose Walloon roots highlight a legacy of cross-cultural influence. Renee Vaughan is a nyckelharpa player whose great-great-grandparents were Walloon immigrants, and settled in Wisconsin’s Belgian Colony in 1856. |
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Minneapolis Mayday Parade.
Date: May 3, 2026 Location: Bloomington Ave We’ll be performing in the streets and park, bringing bright Swedish folk tunes and springtime energy to the celebration. Vårvinder features Oliver Hunter (saxophone), Mattie Snyder (cello), Mary Cait Bayliss (violin) and Renee Vaughan (nyckelharpa) |
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The CI (Cochlear Implant) Music Hour
Date: May 7, 2026 Location: Online The CI (Cochlear Implant) Music Hour provides a dedicated space for cochlear implant users to engage with music, fostering listening skills and appreciation. Each week, participants interact with a distinguished musical guest and share their own listening experiences. On May 7, Renee Vaughan will perform Swedish folk music on the nyckelharpa. The program is presented by the USC Bionic Ear Lab in collaboration with the USC Thornton School of Music’s Community Engagement Program and other partners. |
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Rochester Music Guild's Listen & Learn
Date: May 15, 2026 Location: Christ United Methodist Church The Rochester Music Guild is dedicated to music appreciation, education, and performance. One of the Guild’s signature programs is Listen & Learn, which combines engaging performances with accessible music education This season, Renee Vaughan will share the resonant sounds of the nyckelharpa, highlighting its rich musical heritage and strong connection to dance. Paul Sauey will explore Nordic guitar tunings, techniques, and unique rhythms of this musical tradition. |
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Private Party
Date: June 7, 2026 |
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The 156th Dalesburg Midsummer Festival
Date: June 19, 2026 Location: Dalesburg Lutheran Church, SD Each year the Dalesburg community celebrates the traditional Midsummer (or Midsommar) Festival. The event includes afternoon programs, a Swedish meatball dinner, and a free evening concert. Renee Vaughan and Rose Arrowsmith, performing together as "Berätta", and joined by special guest, Paul Sauey, will share traditional midsummer songs, lead a few of the midsummer dances, and present an evening concert of poetry, song and instrumental music. |
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National Music Museum
Date: June 19, 2026 Location: Vermillion, SD Renee Vaughan presents "What We Carry" at the National Music Museum, an afternoon of music and storytelling centered on the journeys of the nyckelharpa and the people who carried it across centuries and continents. The program traces the story of Knute Stone, who emigrated from Sweden to South Dakota with his beloved nyckelharpa packed in a wooden case, and reaches back to 1702 when a nyckelharpa player from Åland carried their nyckelharpa to Sweden to make a living in music. Traditional midsummer tunes will be woven throughout, celebrating the light and spirit of the Swedish holiday weekend. This concert will feature special guests Rose Arrowsmith with song and spoken word, and Paul Sauey on cittern and guitar. |
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Midsommar at Gammelgården of Scandia
Date: June 27, 2026 Location: Gammelgården of Scandia This outdoor Swedish festival is one of most popular at Gammelgården Museum. Dating back to ancient times, Midsommardagen marks the longest day of the year and welcomes back warm weather. Traditional song games, hands-on activities, vendor fair and live music with Renee Vaughan (nyckelharpa) and Paul Sauey (guitar and cittern). Featured performers will be Berätta, with Rose Arrowsmith and Renee Vaughan with special guest, Paul Sauey. |
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American Scandinavian Foundation Folk Art Fellowship
Date: Mid July to Early August. Location: Uppland and Södermanland Renee Vaughan is a recipient of her second American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowship and will study in Sweden with master tradition bearers Cajsa Ekstav (nyckelharpa), Christina Frohm (violin and dance), and Bert Persson (folk dance), focusing on 16th-note polska from Uppland and Södermanland and exploring connecting dance variations in ways that are inclusive and accessible for all learners. |
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Nyckelharpa and Näcken!
Date: August 8, 2026 Location: Chanhassen Public Library Step into the enchanting world of Nordic folk music and folklore! Join us for Enchanting Tales of Nyckelharpa & Näcken, where stories and tunes come alive. Discover the legend of the Näcken, a shapeshifting water spirit whose music could make chairs dance, stop waterfalls, and even cast spells on other musicians. Musicians protected themselves with a trollpåse, a magical pouch hidden in their instrument. This lively performance blends storytelling, history, and music, and is perfect for young listeners and families alike. Special Guest Artist, Paul Sauey |
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FinnFest 2026
Date: September 18-20, 2026 Location: Minneapolis, MN A Dance Across Centuries: The Minuet in Ostrobothnia traces how the elegant 1700s court minuet took root in the villages of Finnish Ostrobothnia, where it is still danced today, including an unbroken tradition in Jeppo, Finland. With live music, brief historical context, and a chance to try a few steps, participants will experience how this refined dance became a vibrant Finnish folk tradition connecting generations. Date and time TBD |
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Polska of the People! Music and Movement Workshop
Date: October 4, 2026 Location: American Swedish Institute Participants will learn a traditional Swedish 16th-note polska (often referred to as slängpolska) from Uppland, Södermanland, and Skåne and explore how these regional styles connect to the larger polska family. We will see how the music connects to the traditional dance step, as well as an adaptive version that is welcoming and accessible for non-dancers. This workshop is open to all levels of experience. Whether you want to play, dance, do both, or simply observe and listen, you are welcome to participate in the way that feels right for you. Made possible by the American-Scandinavian Foundation. |
Photo from the Historic Grass Lake Mission Church
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Nordic Newcomers Historic Grass Lake Mission Church
Location: Historic Grass Lake Mission Church Address: 2650 133rd Ave. Braham MN Date: Sunday, October 11, 2026 Join us at the Historic Grass Lake Mission Church—the last surviving building of the Swedish immigrant town. Built in 1898, this historic site features their newly restored late-19th-century chapel pump organ played by Judy Peterson Renee Vaughan (nyckelharpa) will share tunes and stories of the Swedish musicians who settled in the area. (50 mile radius) of the church. Sepcial feature will be on John Nordenstrom an award winning folk musician who lived in the area, including Grass Lake! Also music by Tång Anna, Per Selander, Gumas Lars Larsson, and Korp Eric Linde. More soon! |
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Finnish American Heritage Center
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026 Location: Hancock Michigan This October, Vårvindar heads north to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, bringing Nordic melodies to the Finnish American Heritage Center. We’re thrilled to share Nordic tunes with the Yoopers, some new, some familiar, all awesome. Featuring Oliver Hunter (saxophone), Mattie Snyder (cello), Mary Cait Bayliss (violin) and Renee Vaughan (nyckelharpa) |
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Dala Heritage Society's St. Lucia Celebration
Date: December 13, 2025 Location: Mora, MN Calvary Lutheran Church The Dala Heritage Society has been maintaining the Scandinavian tradition of celebrating St. Lucia since 1978. This year it falls on the actual St. Lucia Day too!! There will be the crowning of Lucia, FIKA and live music with Renee Vaughan's Nordstär Ensemble. This event is free of charge and is sponsored by a generous grant from the East Central Regional Arts Council. |
MN Orchestra: Nordic Soundscapes (2025 & 2026)
Minneapolis Institute of Art (2026)
The Cedar Cultural Center (2026)
American Musicology Association (2025)
MN Children's Hospitals & Clinics (2025)
Norsk Høstfest (2014-2025)
FinnFest (2025)
American Craft Council (2025)
Exhibit Opener for Salad Hilowye (2025)
Mpls. St. Paul International Film Fest (2025)
Opening for Skye Consort (2025)
Opening for FRIGG (2025)
Midwinter Folk Festival at ASI (2025)
Minneapolis Improvement District (2025)
Minnesota State Fiddlers Association (2025)
Nisswa-Stämmman (2007-2021)
Duluth Nordic Music Festival (2022-2025)
Norsk Høstfest Festival (2014-2025)
Vesterheim Norwegian Museum (2024)
Hjemkomst Festival (2024)
Folklore Village (2024)
Musician-in-Residence, UW-Madison (2024)
Morphy Hall (2024)
Minnesota History Center
Landmark Center Theater
Mounds Theatre
St. Mane Theater
New York Scandinavian Festival
MN Bluegrass Festival
Nordic Music Festival
Minnesota State Fair
Norway House
Minneapolis Institute of Art (2026)
The Cedar Cultural Center (2026)
American Musicology Association (2025)
MN Children's Hospitals & Clinics (2025)
Norsk Høstfest (2014-2025)
FinnFest (2025)
American Craft Council (2025)
Exhibit Opener for Salad Hilowye (2025)
Mpls. St. Paul International Film Fest (2025)
Opening for Skye Consort (2025)
Opening for FRIGG (2025)
Midwinter Folk Festival at ASI (2025)
Minneapolis Improvement District (2025)
Minnesota State Fiddlers Association (2025)
Nisswa-Stämmman (2007-2021)
Duluth Nordic Music Festival (2022-2025)
Norsk Høstfest Festival (2014-2025)
Vesterheim Norwegian Museum (2024)
Hjemkomst Festival (2024)
Folklore Village (2024)
Musician-in-Residence, UW-Madison (2024)
Morphy Hall (2024)
Minnesota History Center
Landmark Center Theater
Mounds Theatre
St. Mane Theater
New York Scandinavian Festival
MN Bluegrass Festival
Nordic Music Festival
Minnesota State Fair
Norway House
Previous Events - Past Year
1-17-2026 Minnesota Orchestra Nordic Soundscapes Festival
1-15-2026. MPR Class Notes
1-14-2026 BalFolk Dance
1-5-25. Jul Ball at ASI
1-3-2026. WCCO TV Good Morning show
12-28-25. Folklore Village
12-24-25 First Presbyterian Church
12-20-25. Gammelgåren Jul Tea Party
12-19-26. The Acreage Retreat
12-12-25. Finnish Bistro
12-12-25. Braham Brewing
12-7-25. Julmarknad at ASI
12-6-25. Julmarknad at ASI
11-29-25. European Christmas Market
11-24-25. Gustavus Adolphus College
11-19-25. Happy Trucker Show
11-17-25. Harmony for Mayo Clinic Concert Series & Live Stream
11-16-25. Lutefisk Dinner at American Swedish Institute
11-15-25. Woodbury Public Library Swedish Folk Painting Dalmålning Workshop
11-12-25. Minnesota Public Radio Class Notes Sessions
11-09-25. Nordic Social Dance
11-07-25. American Musicology Association Performance
10-30-25. Wyoming Public Library Swedish Folk Painting Dalmålning
10-28-25. Minnesota Children’s Hospitals and Clinics: Star Studio
10-28-25. Rush City Public Library Nordic Newcomers Presentation and Performance
10-25-25. MacGregor Public Library Nordic Newcomers Presentation and Performance
10-23-25. Mille Lacs Public Library Introduction to Swedish Folk Painting Dalmålning
10-19-25. Grass Lake Mission Church Performance
10-16-25. Sandstone Public Library Nordic Newcomers Presentation and Performance
10-14-25. Milaca Public Library Nordic Newcomers Presentation and Performance
10-13-25. North Branch Public Library Swedish Folk Painting Dalmålning
10-07-25. Hinkley Public Library Swedish Folk Painting Dalmålning
09-24-25. Norsk Høstfest
09-21-25. Norsk Høstfest in the Schools (including Air Force Base)
09-17-25. Minneapolis Improvement District Street Show
09-09-25. ASI Men’s Choir Paddleboat Cruise
09-08-25. Scandia Sister City
09-06-25. Victoria Nordic Music Fest
09-03-25. Scandia Farmer’s Market & Sister City Event
08-27-25. Minneapolis Improvement District Street Show
08-22-25. Kräftvisa at American Swedish Institute
08-16-25. Gammelgärden Spelmanstämma
08-13-25. Scandia Farmer’s Market
08-12-25. Minneapolis Improvement District Street Show
08-03-25. FinnFest: Maria/Magnus Presentation and Performance
07-26-25. Nordic Camp: Music, Dance and Painting
07-25-25. Lake Elmo Library Swedish Music and Storytelling
07-19-25. Daughters of Norway International Convention
07-09-25. Scandia Farmer’s Market
07-08-25. Balfolk Dance at Mpls. Eagles Club
06-28-25. American Craft Council Festival at Union Depot
06-28-25. Midsummer at Red Pine Winery
06-26-25. Maria Magnus Presentation and Performance at American Swedish Institute
06-21-25. Midsummer at at American Swedish Institute
06-20-25. Salad Hilowle Exhibit Opener at American Swedish Institute
06-13-25. Duluth-Stämman Nordic Music Festival
04-27-25. World Nyckelharpa Day
04-26-25. Scandinavian Studies National Conference Performance
04-12-25. MSP International Film Festival
04-06-25. Norseland Nordic Newcomers Presentation
03-29-25. Twin Cities Annual Nordic Ball
03-23-25. Hardwood Creek Library Nordic Newcomers Presentation
03-17-25. Weyerhaeuser Auditorium at Landmark Center with McNordiques
03-17-25. Waldmann Brewing with McNordiques
03-01-25. Midwinter Folk Festival with FYRA
02-28-25. Sacred Heart Music, Opener for FRIGG Opener with FYRA
02-27-25. Scandia Sister City Event
02-22-25. Minnesota State Fiddlers Association Nordic Newcomers
01-31-25. American Swedish Institute: Opener for SKYE Consort
01-17-25. MN Orchestra — Nordic Soundscapes Festival
01-12-25. Nordic Social Dance at Tapestry
01-03-25. House Concert with McNordiques
1-15-2026. MPR Class Notes
1-14-2026 BalFolk Dance
1-5-25. Jul Ball at ASI
1-3-2026. WCCO TV Good Morning show
12-28-25. Folklore Village
12-24-25 First Presbyterian Church
12-20-25. Gammelgåren Jul Tea Party
12-19-26. The Acreage Retreat
12-12-25. Finnish Bistro
12-12-25. Braham Brewing
12-7-25. Julmarknad at ASI
12-6-25. Julmarknad at ASI
11-29-25. European Christmas Market
11-24-25. Gustavus Adolphus College
11-19-25. Happy Trucker Show
11-17-25. Harmony for Mayo Clinic Concert Series & Live Stream
11-16-25. Lutefisk Dinner at American Swedish Institute
11-15-25. Woodbury Public Library Swedish Folk Painting Dalmålning Workshop
11-12-25. Minnesota Public Radio Class Notes Sessions
11-09-25. Nordic Social Dance
11-07-25. American Musicology Association Performance
10-30-25. Wyoming Public Library Swedish Folk Painting Dalmålning
10-28-25. Minnesota Children’s Hospitals and Clinics: Star Studio
10-28-25. Rush City Public Library Nordic Newcomers Presentation and Performance
10-25-25. MacGregor Public Library Nordic Newcomers Presentation and Performance
10-23-25. Mille Lacs Public Library Introduction to Swedish Folk Painting Dalmålning
10-19-25. Grass Lake Mission Church Performance
10-16-25. Sandstone Public Library Nordic Newcomers Presentation and Performance
10-14-25. Milaca Public Library Nordic Newcomers Presentation and Performance
10-13-25. North Branch Public Library Swedish Folk Painting Dalmålning
10-07-25. Hinkley Public Library Swedish Folk Painting Dalmålning
09-24-25. Norsk Høstfest
09-21-25. Norsk Høstfest in the Schools (including Air Force Base)
09-17-25. Minneapolis Improvement District Street Show
09-09-25. ASI Men’s Choir Paddleboat Cruise
09-08-25. Scandia Sister City
09-06-25. Victoria Nordic Music Fest
09-03-25. Scandia Farmer’s Market & Sister City Event
08-27-25. Minneapolis Improvement District Street Show
08-22-25. Kräftvisa at American Swedish Institute
08-16-25. Gammelgärden Spelmanstämma
08-13-25. Scandia Farmer’s Market
08-12-25. Minneapolis Improvement District Street Show
08-03-25. FinnFest: Maria/Magnus Presentation and Performance
07-26-25. Nordic Camp: Music, Dance and Painting
07-25-25. Lake Elmo Library Swedish Music and Storytelling
07-19-25. Daughters of Norway International Convention
07-09-25. Scandia Farmer’s Market
07-08-25. Balfolk Dance at Mpls. Eagles Club
06-28-25. American Craft Council Festival at Union Depot
06-28-25. Midsummer at Red Pine Winery
06-26-25. Maria Magnus Presentation and Performance at American Swedish Institute
06-21-25. Midsummer at at American Swedish Institute
06-20-25. Salad Hilowle Exhibit Opener at American Swedish Institute
06-13-25. Duluth-Stämman Nordic Music Festival
04-27-25. World Nyckelharpa Day
04-26-25. Scandinavian Studies National Conference Performance
04-12-25. MSP International Film Festival
04-06-25. Norseland Nordic Newcomers Presentation
03-29-25. Twin Cities Annual Nordic Ball
03-23-25. Hardwood Creek Library Nordic Newcomers Presentation
03-17-25. Weyerhaeuser Auditorium at Landmark Center with McNordiques
03-17-25. Waldmann Brewing with McNordiques
03-01-25. Midwinter Folk Festival with FYRA
02-28-25. Sacred Heart Music, Opener for FRIGG Opener with FYRA
02-27-25. Scandia Sister City Event
02-22-25. Minnesota State Fiddlers Association Nordic Newcomers
01-31-25. American Swedish Institute: Opener for SKYE Consort
01-17-25. MN Orchestra — Nordic Soundscapes Festival
01-12-25. Nordic Social Dance at Tapestry
01-03-25. House Concert with McNordiques