From Scotland...

In 2007 Corey Conradi, Hans Mathisen (and an added tour manager with a video camera) went to Scotland to test a new concept: Norwegian songs performed in English.

With them they had everything from "A King Was Laid To Rest" ("De skulle begrave en konge stor") to "Sleep Tight Little Man" ("So ro lille mann") and "I Whisper Your Name" ("Eg kviskrar ditt navn") mixed with traditional songs in English, including the well-known Robert Burns hit "My love is like a red, red rose" - in Ayre.

Could this really work?

After an untraditional week of performing in coffee shops in Stirling, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Ayr, the threesome's conclusion to this question was a definite yes. 

...to Draaben

On Sunday the 27th of May it turned out that the answer was still yes. In fact, even more so. It was the same concept, but in front of an audience that actually knew the songs they were served - in a different wrapping.

One of the songs that was born in Scotland was the translation of "There Will Be A Day Tomorrow" ("Du ska få en dag i mårå") by Prøysen, the song Conradi started the evening at Draaben with.

Vestfold Blad reported a great atmosphere and added laughter when it dawned on the audience which song they were actually hearing. Among other things, "Billy Black" ("Kaptein Sortebill") in English with a jazz arrangement isn't something you hear every day.

Conradi played with Mathisen, Haddy N'jie and saxophonist Øystein Trollsås this evening.