CONCERT PHOTOGRAPHY: FOLK FEST OF THE NORTH Korpiklaani co-headlining with Ensiferum with special guests, Trollfest and NINI at Gothic Theater in Colorado - READ AND SEE IT HERE

NINI

BY: TERRELL STEWART

One thing I knew for sure as I headed to the Gothic Theater this past Sunday night for this show was, it was going to be a lot of fun. I was not disappointed in any way.

Opening the show this evening was a very pleasant surprise for me was NINI. I had discovered her a couple of years ago on Youtube and was excited to see her live. Dressed in a very colorful traditional silk costume which she looked wonderful in, she began her set shredding with one of her traditional Chinese instruments which she has mastered over many years of playing them. She also plays modern guitars as well. 

Her set was a mixture of metal and Taiwanese folk metal. Vocalist Jesse Venom poured out his hardcore vocals and at times joined in on guitar. Their stage presence with the colorful lighting and just a small amount of fog made for a great atmosphere. The crowd was really into her and showed their appreciation with a loud roaring applause after each song. NINI finished out her set with a cover of Brittany Spears “Hit Me Baby One More Time”. With the crowd cheering, NINI and her band mates said goodnight.
I had the pleasure of meeting NINI a little later that evening along with many other fans.  

NINI:
NiNi – Ruan, Liuqin, San Xian, ukulele, Irish banjo, DaoYu
Jesse Venom – guitar - vocals
Taylor Bellemare – guitars
Emilio Vergo – drums

Setlist:
Longma
HUYAO
WUKONG
MAZ
SOLO + BEE
CAN'T HELP FALLING IN
GAN BEI
HOMELAND
HIT ME BABY ONE MORE TIME - (Brittany Spears cover)

TROLLFEST

I had not seen Trollfest in a number of years and was looking forward to a fun set by them. But when they all took the stage in pink flamingo outfits with head pieces and blacklight face makeup I thought, this is going to be a one crazy set! They started their set with, “Dance Like a Pink Flamingo” and as the red lightning danced across the stage their fans were going crazy head banging and cheering. Trollfest throughout their set were constantly egging on the crowd to move. At one point, what looked like a little mosh pit, was actually a conga line that grew and grew. The energy level by now was off the charts and the packed venue found a way to move or dance wherever they could. Throughout a great set of music that energized the crowd, Trollfest had the crowd split in half and one half sat on the floor while the other half was jumping and dancing and then they would switch. Trollfest finished out their night with “Helvetes hunden garm” and the crowd roared in thanks for a crazy fun set.  
  
TrollfesT members:
Jostein "Trollmannen" Austvik – vocals (2003–present)
John "Mr. Seidel" Sagstad – guitars (2003–present)
Eirik "Trollbank" Renton – drums, bouzouki (2003–present)
Dag "Drekka Dag" Stiberg – saxophone (2011–present)
Kai "Fjernkontrollet" Renton – accordion, keyboards (2017–present)
Fabian "Fabio Grimdrap" Jiru – guitars (2019–present)
Bjørn "Kjellkjé" Rønnow – drums (2019–present)
Alexander "Böesse Basshöl" Bøe – bass (2022–present)

Setlist:
Dance Like a Pink Flamingo
Flamongous
Essenfest
Ave Maria @Cover
Twenty Miles an Hour
Kaptein Kaos
Illsint
Renkespill
Piña Colada @Info[Conga line formed in the audience]
Kjettaren mot strømmen
All Drinks on Me
Espen Bin Askeladden
Helvetes hunden garm

ENSIFERUM

Next up was Ensiferum who I also had not seen for many years. The band wasted no time in getting the crowd moving, starting their set with the fast paced anthem, “Fatherland” and the crowd was on the move. From there the energy throughout the venue was electric and what is really fun is that all the members take their turn singing. The lights danced through the fog as the band moved about the stage and then, as I was moving to the other side of the stage, here came a crowd surfer, a young lady, face painted up and a smile that could light up the venue.

I have no idea how the energy level could get any higher, but it did. Ensiferum moved through their high energy set and the crowd did not slow down. But listening to each member taking their turns singing was really special because each one had their own style and they all sounded great. Throughout their set, their musicianship with a blend of fun and high energy songs had the crowd endlessly moving and cheering that only added to what a great night it was and still having one more band to go!
Ensiferum finished out their set with “Two of Spades” and left the crowd wanting more and more was coming.

Ensiferum members:
Markus Toivonen – guitars, backing vocals (1995–present), clean vocals (2004–2020)
Petri Lindroos – harsh vocals, guitars (2004–present)
Sami Hinkka – bass, clean and harsh vocals (2004–present)
Janne Parviainen – drums (2005–present)
Pekka Montin – keyboards, clean vocals (2020–present)

Setlist:
Fatherland
Twilight Tavern
Treacherous Gods
Winter Storm Vigilantes
Lai Lai Hei
The Howl
From Afar
Andromeda
Leniret Coram Tempestate @Tape
Victorious
Wanderer
Rum, Women, Victory
In My Sword I Trust
Two of Spades

KORPIKLAANI

Korpiklaai bounced their way onto the stage to a cheering venue and they started their high energy set with “Rankarumpu” and how anyone had the energy left to move surprised me. I wasn’t even moving, I got tired watching the bands and crowds non-stop movements. The band members were on the move all over the stage as they wowed the crowd with amazing musicianship and on stage antics while encouraging the crowd's interactions as well. The atmosphere they create on stage with their music is fun and energizing and their fans can’t get enough of it. When I tell people about their folk music, I get strange looks, I hear, “it sounds boring isn't it”?

I tell people to go on Youtube and watch their live videos, they will see what I mean. I keep using the word fun because that's what this music is all about, people are moving, dancing, cheering and laughing. Drummer Samuli Mikkonen fired up the crowd with a kick ass drum solo that had everyone cheering. Finishing off their amazing set, Korpiklaani played two fan favorites, “Tequila” and “Vodka”. What a night! I doubt very much if anyone at this show had any problems sleeping that night. I sure didn’t! 
Korpikliaani members:
Jonne Järvelä – vocals, guitar (1993–present)
Kalle "Cane" Savijärvi – guitar (2003–present)
Jarkko Aaltonen – bass (2005–present)
Sami Perttula – accordion (2013–present)
Samuli Mikkonen – drums (2019–present)
Olli Vänskä – violin (2022–present)

Setlist:
Rankarumpu
A Man With a Plan
Saunaan
Happy Little Boozer
Ievan polkka
Rauta
Aita
Oraakkelit
Kalmisto
Tuli kokko
Vaarinpolkka
Leväluhta
Gotta Go Home @Cover
Iron Fist @Cover
Viima
Metsämies
Drum Solo
Sahti
Tequila
Vodka