Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra

All the way from Norway (yes, Norway) comes this remarkable seven-piece ensemble that took the unlikely detour from European classical training to American roots music. It’s like finding banana pudding in Oslo — delightfully unexpected and somehow even more delicious for the surprise. Their sound weaves traditional Appalachian influences with threads of Celtic and Norwegian fiddle traditions, creating a tapestry that’s both familiar and refreshingly distinctive. Recently nominated for “Band of the Year” and winners of “Vocalist of the Year” at the IBMA Momentum Awards, their vocal harmonies are simply breathtaking. If you haven’t yet witnessed their magic, do yourself a favor and watch their rendition of “Wayfaring Stranger” that’s captivated nearly 12 million viewers on YouTube. You’ll understand immediately why we had to bring them to our stage.