News Updates

4th January 2017
We can now reveal that we were extras for Holby City on Tuesday! The episode will remain on the BBC iPlayer for January. You can also catch uson the behind the scenes video. But just for you we've put together a little montage or two. It was an awesome experience! The first waltz music at the wedding has been released as a digital download single. Find out how to get hold of it by clicking here! Or if you "do" Spotify - here it is!

:)
Vicki & Jonny

2nd January 2017
Happy New Year to everyone!
It's a new year and we've got some Smörgåsballad performances coming up. We have so much news, so keep coming back! We added a new story to our Christmas show this year and we loved it so much that it has found a new home in Smörgåsballad. You're going to love it!
:)
Vicki & Jonny

17th April 2016
Hello!
We had such fun with the filming and you can now see the fruits of our labour in our youtube playlist on the front page, but we can't help but share the video in this news item too! We videoed some audiuence reactions too. I think my favourite bit is watching everyone with their waggly ears. We're performing Smörgåsballad at Halsway Manor next weekend during the 'Harpas at Halsway weekend there, so we'll get some more audience review comments.
We're working on tour dates for the autum, so definitely get in touch if you'd like to book the show - we love performing it!
:)
Vicki & Jonny

6th March 2016
Hello!
We're in the middle of working on dates for the autumn and publicity. We're really excited to be filming Smörgåsballad on the 22nd March in a local venue, we'd love to see you if you live close to us! It's in the Quaker Meeting House in Great Bardfield and because we're going to be focussed on the filming, we're just going to put a donations box out, so come along!

In other news we've spent some time filming the cowhorn in different locations. Our favourite to date has to be the day we went to IKEA in Coventry. Watch the resulting film below!
:)
Vicki & Jonny

25th January 2016
We had a great time at Moreton Millenium Village Hall on Saturday.

We had the wonderful Genevieve Tudor in the audience and after the show she caught up with us for an interview for BBC Radio Shropshire.. You can hear it on catch up for the next month on the BBC website. You get to hear Jonny playing his cowhorn. :D

Now it's now back into the studio to finish recording the CD for launch later on this year. So Smörgåsballad has now been pacled back into the prop box for a couple of months while we perform our standard folk duo for a few months. But have no fear - the drinking songs will be back and that black hat won't lose any of its magical properties!

We've been asked about the performance we gave with the amazing Peter Hedlund as the devil as part of the Nyckelharpas at Halsway festival last September - yes it was videoed and I've embedded the movie at the end of this post, enjoy!
Skål!
Vicki & Jonny

22nd January 2016
After a frantic December full of Christmas fun (check out our Christmas website for more info) we're in the middle of programming for the autumn. Lots of Christmas shows to get in the diary and also Smörgåsballads! For the past few weeks we've been busy recording the stories ready for the autumn run. Easter has a brand new story added to it, so you'll have to come and see us in the autumn to hear more about the Easter witches. We were lucky enough to perform the Vallborgsmässoafton story of the Legend of Hårga Mountain with world champion nyckelharpa player Peter Hedlund last autumn. Peter made an awesome devil, as did Magnus Holmström when we performed it in Germany.
We're gradually adding new tracks to our soundcloud playlist, so keep your eye on it!
:)
Vicki & Jonny

9th June 2015
So we've now had our first little tour of Smörgåsballad and we had a really great time.We drank many nubbe and told many tales of the devil. You can see our teaser trailer:

Thank you to everyone who came along to see us! Now to finish putting together the next tour!
:)
Vicki & Jonny

17th May 2015
Hello! We had a wonderful evening at Haverfolk on  Wednesday night. It changed from a half hour showcase spot to an almost complete outing for the show! We were really happy with it and everything went to plan. You'll have to wait until Monday to see the full show set, but here's a picture from the night and also a review! You'll have to come to the show to find out what we're pointing at and why there is a little table of shots!

Review from Haverfolk:
"Television is dominated by Scandinavian crime dramas but few have been as bleak and gripping as some of the songs and tales we heard at HaverFolk when the club’s old friends Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer dropped in. They came to give us a sneak preview of Smorgasballad, their new show which sprang from Vicki’s Swedish roots (her mother comes from that lovely country). We’ve often seen Vicki playing her nyckelharpa, the wonderful keyed violin from her homeland, but Smorgasballad offers a splendid introduction to Swedish culture with drinking songs, Maypole dancing, drinking songs, Midsummer celebrations, drinking songs, crayfish parties – did I mention the drinking songs? – and some folk tales.

And this is where the hint of Nordic noir creeps in with the chilling stories of Easter Witches, a Swedish version of the Pied Piper and feuding magicians. Plus a murder ballad that might be considered too grim even for an episode of Wallander. This was Vicki’s debut as a storyteller and she certainly has a talent for it. As for the music, it was of course of the high standard we have come to expect from this talented duo. They are taking Smorgasballad on tour and it can be seen in Essex at the Duton Hill Folk Club on May 21 and the Hoy at Anchor on June 2."

You can catch Smörgåsballad on the road over the next few weeks:
:D
Vicki & Jonny

12th May 2015
We're very excited! Tomorrow is the first outing for Smörgåsballad. As of last night we were presented with our final prop - the midsommarkrans. Made by our wonderful next door neighbours. So take one big black floppy hat, sprinkle liberally with assorted feathers. Next add one midsommarkrans, a moon man and mix together with lots of nubbe. What you get is a mixture of Nordic Noir, love and drinking. We can't wait to share it with the world. In the mean time have a listen to probably the first Nordic Noir detective stor: a medieval ballad from the show. It doesn't get any darker than this (and thankfully we hit midsummer after this which is much more lively!)
See you soon!
:)
Vicki & Jonny

24th April 2015
Less than a month to go before we put Smörgåsballad out for the first time. We're very excitied. :D I've just added a page to the website for anyone thinking of putting a smörgåsbord on as part of an evening. You can get everything you need at IKEA! This weekend we're out on the road with Nick Hennessey with The Whispering Road, a few bits and pieces from Smörgåsballad are slipping in....
See you next month!
:)
Vicki & Jonny

We came up with an idea of how to get our main artist on stage with us - one image split over two banners will become our side flats, we couldn't wait to put them up when we arrived, so this is it in our lounge! Just about fitted! For this show we've also upgraded our backdrop to be able to cope with a bit more interactivity (you'll have to wait to see that our lounge definitely isn't big enough to put the stage set out) - we think we might need a bigger vehicle to take this show on the road! As we get closer to opening night we'll post more details.

In the meantime, time to return to rehearsals, it's time to chanel the Easter witches and the devil....
skål!
Vicki & Jonny