The Jorn Hilme Music Festival exclusively features folk music in a two week extravaganza. The name Jorn Hilme was actually derived from a popular fiddle among folk musicians in Norway, especially those with a heritage in the Valdres traditions. Since 1960, every last two weeks of July have seen the town of Fagernes come alive with concerts, dances and classes of a rare genre of music. Fagernes is in the district of Valdres, only about three hours from Oslo, to the North, by car. This year (July 19-26, 2009), during the festival’s 49th anniversary, it was bigger than any of the preceding events, bringing together hundreds of folk singers and dancers with their traditional instruments.
The festival incorporates two phases, each lasting one week. The first week is dedicated to a Strunkeveko, the local version of a boot camp. It is in the second week that the festival itself starts, where folk music reigns in numerous concerts, music classes, dance parties, camping sessions, bush dances and competitions. There is a competition for folk musicians, folk music singers and for folk music dancers all along the week.
The words ‘Stemnet’ featured in the festival’s name, Jorn Hilme-Stemnet Festival, refers to
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