Woodlands

The dynamic folk music duo Woodlands combines Celtic folk music with the modern Scandinavian sound. With roots in Swedish folk music and classical music, they perform traditional and original tunes on Celtic harp, fiddle and vocals. Rhythmic drive, expressiveness and dreamlike sounds characterise their playing, creating a captivating soundscape that transports us to the stormy coasts of Scotland and the Nordic pine forests.

Woodlands was formed in 2017 by Kristina Leesik (fiddle) and Justyna Krzyżanowska (harp) at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm during their studies in Swedish folk music and classical music, respectively. Their collaboration continued at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, where both earned a master's degree in Scottish traditional music.

Since the release of their debut album in 2020, the duo has performed at several major festivals in Sweden, such as Urkult, Umefolk and Norrköping Folk Music Festival. They have been featured on both British and Swedish radio, including BBC Radio 3, Folkmusiken i P2 and Celtic Music Radio, and are recipients of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music's ensemble scholarship. Woodlands frequently tours with various projects, including their quartet Woodlands Bäckafall, the children's show Kungens Krona and the American-Canadian band Atlantic Crossing. In July 2023, Woodlands+Bäckafall were the backing band for the folk music musical “Gruvfruns Guld” by Hampus Grönberg and Marit Eriksson in Falu Copper Mine. The musical ran for 11 successful shows.

In 2022, Kristina was awarded the prestigious silver badge Zornmärket and earned the title of Rikspelman, master of Swedish traditional music. Justyna regularly performs with orchestras such as the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Swedish Opera, the Gävle Symphony Orchestra and the Stockholm Concert Orchestra.