Väsen opened their 2018 NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert with the song “IPA-Gubben.”: npr.org/2018/03/23/595525307/v-sen-tiny-desk-concert.
Two-thirds of the acoustic Swedish folk trio will be performing an all-ages show at St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Ave., Vancouver) on Saturday, April 13, 8 p.m.
Tickets - $24 ($20 members) available online at roguefolk.bc.ca and in person at Highlife Records & Tapestry Music or call the Rogue Ticket Hotline at 604-736-3022.
The Rogue Folk Club says: “The third member, violist Mikael Marin, failed to receive his U.S. work visa, which is currently being subjected to something called “administrative processing,” with no indication of how long it will take. This has been referred to by U.S. Immigration experts as a “black hole” in the U.S. visa process.
“All three members of the trio have successfully secured over 15 work visas over the past 25 years, resulting in over 30 U.S. tours and festival appearances. It’s likely that Marin will eventually be granted a visa, but unlikely that it will happen for Väsen’s upcoming North American performances
"Visas for band members Olov Johannsson (nyckelharpa) and Roger Tallroth (guitar) were processed without issue. Over the course of their 30 years together, they have been called upon to perform in varying configurations, and now the two have been preparing duo arrangements of some of the extensive Väsen repertoire. The focus for this tour will be their new recording, Rule of 3, (the band’s 12th studio album, due for worldwide release on April 17, but available at the shows on this tour), as well as a sampling of Väsen favorites from their 30-year history."
Here’s a personal statement from Olov Johansson:
“What can you expect from the Väsen duo? You can expect an almost complete Väsen experience. Not the same as with the full band present but something as good, only slightly different. We play a lot as a duo as well when someone in the band isn’t available. A common comment after a show with a duo from Väsen is: “I really enjoyed hearing just the two of you! I heard more what was going on in the guitar and the nyckelharpa.” So, if you have heard Väsen before you will get a new experience you haven’t heard before. If you haven’t heard Väsen before you won’t know what you are missing! I really hope you will support Väsen and your local presenters and come to the concert and experience the absolute best we can offer due to the circumstances.”
roguefolk.bc.ca/concerts/ev19041320
