Ethno 2015: A beautiful jam

Memories from our Ethno camps. A summer of music.

over 9 years ago

The Summer is long gone and the fallen Autumn leaves and heavy coats have slowly taken over our routine again. Nonetheless, our minds still fill with joy when we remember the great Summer memories created by Ethno World!

In case you missed it or just want to reminisce, here is a quick recap brighten with pictures and videos.

Since its launch, Ethno brings to the world brand new camps each summer. This year we actually welcomed two and a half new ones: Ethno Italy, Ethno Finland and the “half” being Ethno England, which has been successfully resurrected by Tandem Festival’s fantastic staff after a pause of seven years.

Ethno Italy

Ethno Finland

Ethno England

In total, 11 camps were organised throughout Europe this summer, gathering about 300 international participants who played some 30 concerts and performed at 7 of the most renowned traditional-folk festivals on the continent (Viljandi Folk Music Festival, Andanças, Musik vid Siljan festival, Dranouter among others).

Concert at Ethno Croatia in a dome at TradInEtno, Pazin, Croatia

Ethno Estonia having a blast at the Viljandi Folk Festival, Estonia © Ülar Mändmets

The participants of ethno England singing together at Tandem Festival, England

Ethno Portugal warming up the ball, Andanças Festival, Portugal © Bruno Zayas

Ethno Flader, Concert in Ghent, Belgium

The Ethno participants didn’t only perform in concerts: every excursions, ballads, free-times were pretexts for jamming. Whether in cities….

Ethno Flanders trying to make a living out of music in Ghent

...in banks...

Ethno Germany, Kreissparkasse, Kaiserslautern, Germany

...or in churches...

Ethno Norway © Sofie Søndervik Sæther

Like every year, Ethno also had its share of instruments that some might qualify as “weird” but we rather call “rare” or simply “traditional”. Our Top 5:

The Jouhikko, a 2 or 3 stringed bowed lyre, from Finland and Karelia (Ethno Finland)

The Kanun, a string instrument played in much of the Middle East, Central Asia, and southeastern Europe (Ethno Flanders)

The Nyckelharpa, a traditional Swedish string instrument (Ethno Germany)

The Guzheng, a Chinese plucked zither (Ethno Norway) © Sofie Søndervik Sæther

The Mbira, an African musical instrument consisting of a wooden board with attached staggered metal tines (Ethno Estonia) © Kerttu Kruusla

Ethno 2015 also was a great human experience, punctuated with laughs, intercultural meetings and friendships, exchanges and learning: magical moments the participants won’t forget soon!