Annbjørg Lien and Bruce Molsky of Waltz With MeVasenKicking off the Nordic Roots Festival this year will be favorites and good friends of The Cedar, Väsen, and a new project conceived by Annbjørg Lien, Waltz With Me.

Waltz With Me is an unusual string quartet project, informed by ancient traditions, but novel. Norwegian leader/composer Annbjørg Lien is a virtuoso of the Hardanger fiddle. Mats Edén (of Groupa) plays fiddle. Cellist and fiddler Tristan Clarridge also plays with Crooked Still, and Darol Anger's Republic of Strings. Bruce Molsky is a master of North American ‘ole-timey’ fiddle music.. and many other things besides. Here, he plays American and Scandinavian fiddles and guitar. Bruce also sings.

Väsen is a unique acoustic ensemble that transcends barriers and delight listeners with their music based in the rural Swedish tradition, delivered impeccably with a contemporary flavor.