Norwegian Nordicana

Hayde is a seven-piece acoustic band from Oslo, Norway, that has captured hearts in both Europe and the US with their unique blend of bluegrass and Nordic folk – a style dubbed “Nordicana”.

With an instrumental acumen (including guitar, double bass, dobro, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, accordion - and four part harmonies) that defines them as musicians with a determined drive and dynamic, the group delivers a fresh take on American roots music wrapped in a finely tuned folk sound. Fronted by Rebekka Nilsson – winner of the 2022 IBMA Momentum “Vocalist of the Year” award – Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra combines original songs, classic tunes, and timeless covers into an energetic and soulful repertoire with beautiful harmonies, infectious melodies, and the well-maintained mix of driving, uptempo tunes and delicate yet demonstrative ballads. 

The band’s story reads like a modern fairy tale. Just a couple of weeks after forming, Hayde recorded the old traditional “Wayfaring Stranger” in fiddler Moa Meinich’s Oslo apartment. To their amazement, the video took off getting millions of views. That single living-room recording became the foundation of a YouTube channel that today holds hundreds of live recordings and over 68,000 subscribers, in addition to 100.000 monthly viewers on socials.

The accolades have followed. Their acclaimed debut album Migrants entered Billboard’s Bluegrass Albums chart at #4, staying on the list for 11 consecutive weeks — an extraordinary feat for an emerging European group. This established Hayde as a rising force on the international roots scene with major tours and festival appearences on both sides of the atlantic, defying any notion that bluegrass needs to be confined to Appalachia or any other corner of the American heartland. Migrants (2021) was also nominated for the Norwegian Grammy (Spellemannprisen), with Norwegian daily Dagsavisen declaring it “so solid it’s almost unbelievable.”  At the IBMA Momentum Awards the band earned back-to-back Band of the Year nominations in 2022 and 2023.

Now Hayde is rising on the music scene in the United States: Recent seasons have brought extensive US touring and major stages, including 3 packed shows at Merlefest for more than 5500 people as well as headlining major bluegrass festivals across the US. 

In 2026/2027, Hayde is set to release their new, self-titled album “HAYDE.” on US label Adhyaropa Records, dropping the first single in October. With their new music the band isn’t afraid to challenge the boundaries of bluegrass — drawing interest far beyond the genre’s core, from folk and Americana fans to indie and pop audiences. With booking agents in place in Norway, the EU, and the US, Hayde will be touring US, UK and Norway in 2026-2028, and are known for their good relations with their fans, wide marketing reach and big turnouts. For the band born from a spark in an Oslo apartment, the journey has only just begun.

Line-up: Rebekka Nilsson, lead vocals · Moa Meinich, fiddle & vocals · Ole André Enggrav – guitar & vocals · Emil Brattested – dobro & mandolin · Sjur Marqvardsen – accordion & vocals · David Buverud – upright bass

And in the US Charles Butler Joins us on the Banjo