FIKA Supper Club Concert Series: Kristian Bugge

Danish fiddling phenom Kristian Bugge returns to ASI for a special evening of music! As one of the most decorated Danish folk musicians, Kristian has made a name for himself with his virtuosic fiddling and charming stage presence. Come hear a master at work! Don’t forget to make your dinner reservation with FIKA Café – call (612) 524-5108 or email [email protected].

About the Artist
Kristian Bugge is one of the busiest folk musicians rooted in Denmark. He was born 1979 in Næstved, Denmark. His family lived in Sweden for two years and then settled in Vejle in Eastern Jutland, Denmark. He attended a Rudolf Steiner (Waldorf) School where, when asked in the fifth grade which instrument he would like, he chose the violin. Soon the two of them were inseparable. His mother, Lise, found a local music school offering ensemble playing for young people and that was where Bugge first met traditional music. He was fascinated by the catchy tunes, the close connection between music and dancing, and the spontaneous joy of playing among other young musicians—an experience which was to decide the direction of his musical career. He experienced music as a means of communication unhindered by national or cultural borders while traveling with the youth ensemble Fandango.

After graduating from school, Bugge studied five months at the Raduga Art College in Moscow where he was taught by Mikhail Tsinman, the first violinist of the Bolshoi Theatre. In the spring of 2000, he went to study at the Malung Folk High School in Sweden. there he received six month of lessons in traditional dance from Ami Petterson followed by fiddle classes with the distinguished Swedish fiddler Kalle Almlöf. It was an inspiring year which again confirmed his love of traditional music. He spent the Spring of 2001 in beautiful Stockholm, Sweden, and later that year he was admitted to the Carl Nielsen Academy of Music in Odense, Denmark, as a major in folk music.

In recent years Bugge has met with many young European musicians, among them the members of the English/Finnish/Danish band Baltic Crossing. They were involved in the recording of Bugge´s debut album. In 2004, he became the first musician ever to receive the Radium Award. The prize was awarded by the team behind the music program Radium, which at that time was broadcast every evening by Danish Radio’s P2.

The CD was released in the summer 2005 and was as well enclosed the Danish “Folk & Musik” magazine in June that year as a present to the subscribers. It got nominated in no less than four categories at The Danish Music Award—Folk 2006, in which Bugge received the awards as “Danish debut of the year” and “Danish Folk Instrumentalist of the year“! That was the beginning of quite an impressive row of awards (including 10 Danish Music Awards) that he’s received both as a soloist and with his groups. To mention a few ”Danish Folk Artist of the Year” at the Danish Music Awards 2011 (Danish Grammys) and again “Danish Folk Musician of the Year” at the same event in 2016 and latest the “Tradition Award of the Year” with Gangspil in 2024!

Now Bugge is very active in the Danish, Scandinavian and North American folk music scene, both as a musician and teacher. He has specialized in the strong Danish folk music traditions, playing with groups like Baltic Crossing, Jensen & Bugge, Gangspil and Jagdselskabet. For about 10 years he played duo with the legendary accordionist, late Karl Skaarup and for 16 years he toured with his friend Dwight Lamb from Iowa, USA, who sadly passed away in September 2024. Bugge has a strong love of traditional music but also really enjoys experimenting and being part of crossover projects like the cooperation with classical percussionist Ronni Kot Wenzell in the very active duo Wenzell & Bugge and the exciting Danish folk big band Habadekuk.