Trio from Rogaland tours the Midwest

Photo: courtesy of Uppstad and Waade
Comedic storytellers and musicians Per Henning Uppstad and Odd Ragnar Waade Ommundsen will perform with Norway’s “Sting,” Kjell Inge Torgersen on a Midwest tour.

Leslee Lane Hoyum
Rockford, Minn.

Prepare for an awesome and entertaining evening with three very talented guys from Stavanger, Norway. You can see them In Dalton, Minn., Fargo, N.D., Brookings, S.D., and Minneapolis, Minn. Their programs are exceptional opportunities to experience contemporary Norwegian music and lively storytelling that appeals to all generations.

Per Henning Uppstad and Odd Ragnar Waade Ommundsen, a well-known duo in western Norway, represent a new kind of storyteller—the kind who doesn’t take cheap shots at others. Rather, they put words and music together to represent the small things in life, occasionally frustrating or absurd, and so small that they may be experienced in only fleeting moments, moments to which we all can relate.

Uppstad and Waade Ommundsen are seasoned entertainers, and their humor is deeply rooted in the traditions and peculiarities of everyday life in Norway. Their music is inspired by Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon, and James Taylor, and Charlie Chaplin inspires their humor.

Photo: courtesy of Kjell Inge Torgersen
Norway’s “Sting,” Kjell Inge Torgersen.

The third member of the dynamic trio is Kjell Inge Torgersen, who combines his extraordinary musicality with playful humor. He’s a musician, singer, composer, and lyricist. In Norway, his countrymen liken him to Sting. Why not? He’s translated most of Sting’s work to Norwegian and he somewhat resembles him.

This is an exceptional opportunity to experience contemporary Norwegian music and lively storytelling. It’s a program for all ages.

Tour dates:
Dalton, Minn. (near Fergus Falls)
Oct. 4, 2:00 p.m.
Dalton Opera House, 109 Summit Ave. Contact John Halvorson at (218) 589-8157. Open to the public and free.

Fargo, N.D.
Oct. 6, 6:45 p.m.
Kringen Club, Sons of Norway, 722 2 Ave. N. You are welcome to have dinner at Kringen, too, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. for just $11 per person. For information, call (701) 232-9222. Open to the public and free.

Brookings, S.D.
Oct. 8, 7:00 p.m.
Sponsored by Fiordland Lodge, Sons of Norway, First Lutheran Church, Mission Coffeehouse Activity Center, 8th Street and Main Ave. For information, call (605) 693-3763. Open to the public and free.

Minneapolis, Minn.
Oct. 11, 5:00 p.m.
Danish American Center, 3030 West River Parkway. $15 at the door and includes a light meal. For more information, call (612) 874-0716 or go to www.leifmn.org.

This article originally appeared in the Oct. 2, 2015, issue of the Norwegian American Weekly.