By Norse Music

As part of the previously announced Nordic Night Showcase, By Norse Music will organize a series of workshops at Fire In The Mountains 2025, held on the tribal lands of the Blackfeet Nation, Montana, US. Band members of Wardruna will host a number of music related workshops, alongside the founders of the record label and platform By Norse Music.

The workshops are an aspect of the Nordic Night Showcase, a dedicated program at Fire In The Mountains, organized by By Norse, The Firekeeper Alliance, Wardruna and Fire In The Mountains. The events focus on music, nature and culture as common ground, and music as medicine in the contemporary world and its challenges. The Nordic Night Showcase also features performances of Lindy-Fay Hella & Dei Farne and BardSpec.

Ivar Bjørnson, co-owner of By Norse states: “We thank you; the Firekeeper Alliance, Fire in the Mountains and the Blackfeet Nation – for inviting us and for letting us be part of not just a historic cultural event, but also to this workshop series. Getting to know the people, the philosophy and work behind the Firekeeper Alliance has been inspiring and rewarding on so many levels during these months of preparation and communication across the Atlantic – we are brimming with excitement and enthusiasm as we stock our ships and study the star maps for the journey ahead. Until soon!”

Charlie Speicher comments on behalf of The Firekeeper Alliance: “It is our great honor at Firekeeper Alliance to host our friends in Wardruna along with members of the By Norse Music family at our workshop series at FITM. In our short time as a non-profit organization,Wardruna and By Norse have stepped up and offered us massive support, for which we will be forever grateful. We couldn’t be more excited to feature these passionate artists, musicians, and industry professionals to celebrate with us by sharing their stories and knowledge at the festival. And we can’t wait for them to experience what we gave in store for them here in the Blackfeet Nation. This reciprocal exchange has affirmed our belief in the healing power of music and that when we connect with others that feel the same, there is no limit to the positive synergy we can create.”

Fire In The Mountains is set to take place in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, on July 25 – 27, 2025 in the Blackfeet Nation, Montana, US. Standing by the indigenous community hosting the festival, this will be an event without alcohol.

Tickets & Program: https://www.fitmfest.com/

Weaving new sounds with sources of Ancient Nordic Musicology

In this session, main Wardruna composer Einar Selvik will be speaking about his research and approach to Old Nordic musical expressions and the extensive creative concepts behind the music of Wardruna. These topics flow into a broader discussion: how does one go about gathering cultural fragments from the past and sustainably letting them take root in the present? How does one apply that to one’s own culture and background?

Voice and rhythmic improvisation

Wardruna vocalist Lindy-Fay Hella and backing vocalist and percussionist Sondre Veland will dive into the power of the voice. This inspiring and playful workshop will entail improvisation, pushing creative boundaries, playing with sounds, and discovering new ways to express oneself. Lindy-Fay Hella will also explain some of her own vocal techniques she uses in Wardruna. Using your voice is not just limited to singing, but the courage to express yourself and your identity.

The Idea Behind By Norse

Ivar Bjørnson and Simon Füllemann, two co-founders of the label and company By Norse will take you through the journey from intention to materialization – how wanting to create a home for art and a safe haven for artists and label staff to grow and thrive within. What is the concept behind it and how would a young band approach a label for a deal? Nordic music is explored but also the approach to it; what is Nordic music and that By Norse sees this as an attitude rather than a position of where you are born and raised. Hear how three friends who had an idea with an existing, substantial catalogue of releases turned it into an evergrowing family of art and culture.

Music as Medicine – The Healing Power of Heavy Music

Featuring Chelsea Wolfe, Steve Von Till, Nate Newton (Converge), Kurator of War (Pan-Amerikan Native Front), and Ivar Bjørnson (Enslaved, BardSpec). This collective of musical legends will be sharing their perspectives on how heavy music can help us stay sane in an insane world. Moderated by Firekeeper Alliance Director Charlie Speicher.

By Norse Music present an installment of the Nordic Night at Fire In The Mountains (FITM) 2025, held on the tribal lands of the Blackfeet Nation, Montana, US. Besides the already announced headliner Wardruna, the artists featured are Sámi icon Mari Boine, ambient project BardSpec and electronic pop duo Lindy-Fay Hella & Dei Farne.

Hosting a Nordic Night Showcase at FITM is rooted in the aim to create shared cultural experiences such as performances and workshops. Celebrating the variety of cultures present at the 2025 edition, strengthening internationalcommunity, reflecting on shared values and the connection to the natural world through these experiences, is a reminder that our cultures are one and the same, born out of the grounds we walk on. More information on the workshops will follow later.

Simon Fülleman, co-founder of By Norse states: “I vividly remember working on ‘On Wings over Utgard’ FITM curation alongside Ivar Bjørnson in 2022. I couldn’t attend but was honored to work with many dedicated people to bring unique bands to an even more unique location. Since then, we stayed in touch in different ways, like Wayfarer joining the Enslaved European Tour in 2023. Some bonds go deeper than you think, and they bring you back together to build upon what has been sown along time ago. Now, with FITM moving to the sacred Blackfeet Lands, things fell into place even more. The values, the nature, the scenery, the people, the cause, everything is aligned with what I am, and we are standing for. So having the opportunity to curate a part of the festival with friends again is nothing short of amazing. This time I will make it to the festival. So should you!”

Laetitia Abbenes, project leader for the Nordic Night Showcase adds: “Ever sincehearing about FITM, I’ve felt our shared love for music, the natural world, the similar mindset and the cause were something I would like to contribute to insome way or form. I’m glad we now get to do so by bringing a delegation of the By Norse family to the Blackfeet Nation during the festival and celebrate with this wonderful, cross-continent community. I can’t wait for these worlds to meet, learn from and inspire each other at Red Eagle Campground.”

Shane McCarthy, music curator at Fire In The Mountains concludes: “As our festival grows, the experience is only as strong as the people who apply their vision to it. It has been no small honour to forge a partnership with ByNorse Music, whose ideas and contributions have gone beyond simple collaboration with their artists. We are delighted to have them as guest curators – selecting artists from their roster to perform as a part of the inaugural event at Red Eagle.”

The showcase is an aspect of the earlier established partnership between the Blackfeet Nation, Fire In The Mountains, the non-profit TheFirekeeper Alliance, AISAmusic & By Norse Music, and Wardruna. These parties aim to have a positive impact on both the Blackfeet community and those who gather on the festival grounds next July.