International acts come to deCoste centre stage

PICTOU, N.S. — PICTOU, N.S. – The deCoste Performing Arts Centre’s Festival of Summer Sounds which runs throughout July and August often showcases many of the talented artists the East Coast region is known for. However, every now and again, they are pleased to feature international artists from other parts of the world. 
This July, brings performances by the Scandinavian String Alliance (SSA) on July 23 and 24 at 7:30 p.m. The group will be on their way to the Stanfest concert following their stop at the deCoste.  
The Scandinavian String Alliance is a touring project created by two Scandinavian bands, who are playing and singing traditional as well as newly composed music and songs from Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
The project features the Pan-Scandinavian violin trio Fru Skagerrak made up of three master musicians – one from each Scandinavian country: Maja Kjær Jacobsen from Denmark; Elise Wessel Hildrum from Norway; and Anna Lindblad from Sweden as well as the Danish violin and guitar duo Kristian Bugge and Morten Alfred Høirup.
While both groups take the opportunity to present their own very individual ways of presenting the music of their homelands, the two acts also join forces as a part of their show of old Scandinavian joking songs and beautiful love songs, combined with some great traditional dance music and catchy new tunes – all arranged for strings, flutes, and voices.
Tickets are $23, but those who purchased a membership, receive the benefit of two tickets for the price of one so they can invite family and friends to enjoy the first come,first served cabaret-style seating, open bar and air conditioning.
Doors for the performance will open at 7 p.m. and while tickets are available to be purchased right up until showtime, anyone interested in purchasing them in advance or finding out more can visit the website at decostecentre.ca or contact the deCoste Box office at 902-485-8848 ext. 1; 1-800-353-5338; 99 Water Street, Pictou.
For more information about the group and to hear a sampling of their music, visit: http://scandinavianstringalliance.com/