Baldrs Draumar
Månegarm Open Air - 2024
Text: Tobias Nilsson Photo: Lunah Lauridsen
Baldrs Draumar from Friesland, the northernmost section of the Netherlands, was one of only two foreign bands to guest Månegarm Open Air 2024. They were also the only other band, except for Månegarm themselves, to play the main stage on the acoustic day of the festival. Since Baldrs Draumar has a lot of acoustic material alongside their metal songs, not in the least their latest album, Njord, which is in fact all acoustic, this made good sense.
“Good evening Sweden! It’s fantastic for us to be here, the first time we play in Sweden!”
- Sjoerd ‘Wildgeraesch’ Steegstra (vocals)
Baldrs Draumar went straight for the music when they arrived on the stage, and only announced themselves after the first song. For some undivined reason, rain came with them, and this was the only show at the festival that saw this type of weather. It cleared up more or less as soon as they were done, but that’s getting ahead of ourselves. Anyway, it didn’t seem to dampen (pun intended) the response. There were still a lot of people in front of the stage, more than I felt I had seen all day, and a lot of folk also occupied the covered drinking tables in the back - each and everyone cheering the band on.
Baldrs Draumar had a well thought through show planned. They were more than happy to share stories along the way; ancient history, band history, lyrical themes - anything and everything was discussed, especially in conjunction with the fitting song on the setlist. This was interesting enough, but also lucky, as all the songs were sung in Friesian (is that what it’s called?), as the band had a goal of keeping their local traditions and history alive, and not let it be swallowed up in a greater Netherlandian whole. A noble goal for sure, but it also meant that I didn’t understand a single word they sang, and being new to the band, that was a bit of a problem.
The gig went on for about an hour, and the band clearly had a party up there on the stage. They were dancing, drinking, and having a lot of fun. There was a song Steegstra got to perform by himself, which was a nice break from the norm.
“I don’t know any of you. Yet. Well, I know some of you, but most I don’t know. But there is one thing I do know, and all of you too - the heathen heart never dies!”
- Aant Jelle ‘Dondervuyscht’ Soepboer (drums)
All in all, Baldrs Draumar delivered a good and entertaining show. It just got a bit too long for me - as I didn’t know the songs or understood the language, it was hard to keep the interest going for an entire hour, even if the band was a fun one to watch.
Setlist (incomplete):
Jûl
Hva Faen
Fan Keardel En Skiep
Ravens
De Lêste Fries
“Good evening Sweden! It’s fantastic for us to be here, the first time we play in Sweden!”
- Sjoerd ‘Wildgeraesch’ Steegstra (vocals)
Baldrs Draumar went straight for the music when they arrived on the stage, and only announced themselves after the first song. For some undivined reason, rain came with them, and this was the only show at the festival that saw this type of weather. It cleared up more or less as soon as they were done, but that’s getting ahead of ourselves. Anyway, it didn’t seem to dampen (pun intended) the response. There were still a lot of people in front of the stage, more than I felt I had seen all day, and a lot of folk also occupied the covered drinking tables in the back - each and everyone cheering the band on.
Baldrs Draumar had a well thought through show planned. They were more than happy to share stories along the way; ancient history, band history, lyrical themes - anything and everything was discussed, especially in conjunction with the fitting song on the setlist. This was interesting enough, but also lucky, as all the songs were sung in Friesian (is that what it’s called?), as the band had a goal of keeping their local traditions and history alive, and not let it be swallowed up in a greater Netherlandian whole. A noble goal for sure, but it also meant that I didn’t understand a single word they sang, and being new to the band, that was a bit of a problem.
The gig went on for about an hour, and the band clearly had a party up there on the stage. They were dancing, drinking, and having a lot of fun. There was a song Steegstra got to perform by himself, which was a nice break from the norm.
“I don’t know any of you. Yet. Well, I know some of you, but most I don’t know. But there is one thing I do know, and all of you too - the heathen heart never dies!”
- Aant Jelle ‘Dondervuyscht’ Soepboer (drums)
All in all, Baldrs Draumar delivered a good and entertaining show. It just got a bit too long for me - as I didn’t know the songs or understood the language, it was hard to keep the interest going for an entire hour, even if the band was a fun one to watch.
Setlist (incomplete):
Jûl
Hva Faen
Fan Keardel En Skiep
Ravens
De Lêste Fries
Baldrs Draumar
