Bingsjöstämman offered a festive celebration of tradition and folk music

Like every summer since 1969, Bingsjöstämman once again turned the small community of Bingsjö in Dalarna into a living stage. Fiddlers, dancers and music lovers from all corners of the country gathered for an unforgettable July day filled with community and passion for folk music.

Thousands of visitors had found their way to the old parish community that once a year comes to life. In addition to the usual visitors, enthusiasts from north and south also come and many spend several days in the village, which almost reminds us of views from Astrid Lindgren’s world. Surrounding fields were filled with tents and camper vans and the small local grocery store has survived thanks to the annual fiddler’s convention which accounts for a large part of its income.

This year was also a special year for the Bingsjöstämman as the Dalarna Spelmansförbund celebrated its 80th anniversary. On the program were fiddlers born in different decades from the 1930s onwards. These experienced fiddlers, together with the young promising talents, took the audience on a musical journey through time and space.

In addition, for the second year in a row, a national meeting and course was organized for the country’s young regional folk music ensembles. The course was led by Spöket i köket (“The Ghost in the Kitchen”), a band known for its unique and lively folk music.

More than a one-day festival

Although the meeting was opened on Wednesday, there was, as always, a sneak start the day before.

The meeting then continued well into the July night on the opening day, a fact that was happily confirmed by the chairman of the meeting, Jonas Päckos.

– It was late yesterday. But that’s how it should be, said Päckos.

But it was not only the music that attracted visitors. Bingsjöstämman is also a place for different art forms to meet. Bingsjö’s own goldsmith, Kristina Suhk, displayed some of her beautiful creations.

Dancing is important

Dancing is at least as important as the fiddler’s music during the gathering and there is an opportunity to dance already on Tuesday evening.

– Dancing has become an increasingly important part of the convention over the years and there are several dance floors, adds Ola. Peo Österholm and Siv Tillsjö.

But despite the fast pace and packed program, the gathering was not just about music and dance. A guided walk in Bingsjö was offered the day before the official opening, where visitors could learn more about the village’s historic farms and its connection to traditional folk music.

Another popular event is the recurring singing sessions in the wood cabin, where young and old alike gather to sing old folk songs. Many of these are local to the surrounding Dalarna parishes and have been passed on only as living and sung songs and are not written down anywhere.

Bingsjöstämman showed that Swedish folk music is very much alive and viable and the proportion of younger enthusiasts and visitors this year was particularly commendable for the survival of folk music.