Origin Fyresdal, Norway Years active 2000–present | Genres Pop, folk, country Labels Spun Sugar | |
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Members Øyvind Berge
Merethe Jørgensdottir Reinskås
Birgith Jørgensdottir Reinskås | ||
Sugar Plum Fairies is a folk and pop band from Fyresdal, Vest-Telemark, Norway formed in 2000, who released one studio album. The band plays pop-music leaning heavily on the folk music tradition of their native Telemark and its immediate surroundings, using folk instruments like the Norwegian harding fiddle and accordion alongside more "poppy" instruments like guitar and piano. Brass instruments like trumpet and euphonium are also a vital part of the band's soundscape. These aspects also come into display concerning their vocal performance. The band perform their own material in their native dialect. In addition, Norwegian artists like Odd Nordstoga, Hellbillies, a-ha, Brazz Bros and deLillos are cited as major influences by the band, as are The Beatles and Pink Floyd.
Contents
- Members
- Fivrelddans Haakon Lie i ord og tonar
- Track listing
- Other appearances
- Solo appearances by band members
- Discography
- Awards
- References
On June 2, 2009 it was announced via the band's official Facebook fan page that they are on indefinite hiatus.
Members
Fivrelddans - Haakon Lie i ord og tonar
Sugar Plum Fairies' first album is entitled "Fivrelddans" and is a spin-off from a concert production entitled Fivrelddans & filosofi - Haakon Lie i ord og tonar composed and performed exclusively for the Olsokdagane i Fyresdal festival in 2004.
The record has received several good reviews and some airplay both in Norway and abroad, scoring three minor Norwegian radio hits with the songs Andre Dugurdskvildi, Fridtjof Nansen and Strålefall.
The album contains music put to the poems of Haakon Lie, himself originally from Fyresdal. Lie, in turn, was son of the renowned author and poet John Lie. Haakon Lie himself was a well-known writer in Norway and was a member of the Norwegian Authors' Union.
The title of the album means "Butterfly dance" in English.
Fivrelddans was released independently through the band's own label Spun Sugar Music on December 10, 2005.
Track listing
Fivrelddans contains 15 tracks. Unless otherwise stated, all words are written by Haakon Lie with music by Øyvind Berge.
The album was co-produced by Torbjørn Kittelsen and Jørgen Eide Kittelsen in Largostudio, Rjukan, Norway in April and May 2005.
Guest appearances on the album are made by Sarah Corbisier (viola) and Magne Berge (Hardanger fiddle).
The song "Storlivisa" and the poem "Hjuringvise" were a part of the original stage production, but did not get recorded by the band. "Fløytarvisa hans Aslak smed" was not a part of the original stage production.
Other appearances
In 2006 Paul Bernard (Sleire), Norwegian rapper, hip-hop artist & producer, sampled the band's song "Jolekveld" and the collaboration "Depend" was released under the banner Paul Bernard feat. Sugar Plum Fairies. The release is an Internet exclusive and is part of Paul Bernard's album "Unfinished bizniz - a collection of dreams and grey stones" and a live version is also available on the Paul Bernard and The Fat Fucks DVD "Live at Lost Weekend". In 2007, the band appeared with Sigmund Groven and Tore Reppe as invited guests of Norsk Munnspillforum (The Norwegian Harmonica Association) at a concert in Moland kyrkje in Fyresdal. In 2008 the band was picked out to be a part of the October Party Records compilation album "Norwegian Wood Music For China vol.5"
Sugar Plum Fairies with Sigmund Groven in 2007.
Solo appearances by band members
Øyvind Berge contributes vocals and songwriting on the track "Ser Du Stjernene?" on Paul Bernard's album "Unfinished Bizniz - a collection of dreams and grey stones". In addition, he lends his voice to "Fat Fucks' Theme", part of the incidental music for Paul Bernard and The Fat Fucks' DVD "Live at Lost Weekend". In 2012 he made his debut as a fully fledged solo artist under the moniker "Sir Øyvind Berge & His Imaginary Orchestra" on Norwegian label Valiant Sounds.
Merethe Jørgensdottir Reinskås is a member of the Oslofjord Brass ensemble and appears on their album "OfBit".