Oh baby—we're in heaven! Fans of strings of all stripes should drop everything and sprint straight over to the Freight to catch this jaw-dropping, eye-popping double whammy of virtuoso plucking, strumming, picking, and bowing. American fiddle maestro Darol Anger and mandolin wizard Mike Marshall join forces with the breathtaking Swedish string trio Väsen to explore the vast reaches of musical territory that stretch between the dance tunes of Appalachia and the polskas of Sweden, leaving nary a creative stone unturned. Don't miss them!

Wild invention reigns supreme whenever Darol and Mike take the stage. Darol has spent the last 25 years or so reinventing the American string ensemble to incorporate his explorations into American traditional, bluegrass, jazz, and world musics. Acoustic string virtuoso, Mike is the leading proponent of an ebullient and fascinating brand of folk-jazz-classical music that explores territory stretching from Brazil through Appalachia to Europe and Africa, by way of Manhattan and the Florida swamps. Together, Darol and Mike have created amazing music in groups like the avant garde bluegrass quintet, Psychograss, and the folk-jazz fusion group, Montreux.

The Swedish word Väsen has three meanings—essence, spirit, and hullabaloo—making it the perfect name for a band that is part Nordic tradition and part whirling dervish. To its roots in the musical traditions of Uppland, Sweden, Vasen brings playfulness and vitality, transforming venerable polskas and marches into modern groove masterpieces, yet retaining the consummate playing skills and ageless appeal of the best traditional music. Väsen's unique sound showcases the playing of Olov Johansson, a virtuoso of the nykelharpa (a bowed, 16-string instrument related to both the hurdy-gurdy and the fiddle), along with violist Mikael Marin and guitarist Roger Tallroth, in a ensemble that swings through dense, sinuous arrangements with amazing intensity and deft interplay.

These musical powerhouses released a self-titled CD in 2007—appropriately enough, on the Adventure Music label.