National Folk Musician Alban Faust is bringing folk music to the Dalsland Canal in the summer of 2026. Eight free concerts will be held along the canal, from Strömmen to Lennartsfors, between July 23 and August 2. Don’t miss Alban and his friends as they arrive in his electric wooden boat and perform along one of Europe’s most beautiful waterways.
Meet Alban Faust
A musician, instrument maker, and one of Dalsland’s most distinctive musical figures. With roots in Central Europe and over 30 years in Dalsland, his musical style spans traditional folk music and medieval melodies, performed on the nyckelharpa and bagpipes he crafts himself.
In 2009, he was named National Folk Musician and has since performed at folk music venues across Europe, driven by the conviction that music is fundamentally about communication, not competition.
“The title of National Folk Musician is not just an honor,” says Alban Faust, “it also entails a commitment to folk music and a responsibility as a guardian of tradition to pass that music on. I am happy to shoulder that responsibility, not least as the proud musical director of the Dalsland Folk Music Orchestra.”
Where music and history come together
The Dalsland Canal winds its way through a landscape where time moves at its own pace. Serene lakes, ancient bedrock, and old industrial towns in both Dalsland and Värmland. Places that hold stories far older than the canal itself.
Craftsmanship with heart
Even as a teenager, Alban built his first instruments and developed an early fascination with wood. Whether it comes to acoustic music or the natural materials used in his instruments, he has always sought out what is authentic, natural, and down-to-earth.
Dalsland folk music possesses something that is hard to put into words—a musical language shaped by the forests, lakes, and communities that once lived in harmony with the seasons. It is music with deep roots, yet far from static. In the hands of the musicians who carry it forward, it lives and evolves, without losing its essence.
Polskas, waltzes, schottisches, and walking tunes—the rhythms are old and evoke memories of dancing and socializing in a time when music was something to be shared, not just listened to. Many of the older songs would have been lost if it weren’t for the folk musicians who chose to keep them alive. Alban Faust is one of them.
Here's a sample of Alban's music at the link below.
Guest performance with friends
Outside Faust Thomas
Ute plays the clarinet and bagpipes, tours with Alban, and shares his passion for folk music. Together, they take the audience on a journey through Nordic tradition, from the rhythms of the polska to wedding marches and melancholic songs, often accompanied by stories about folk musicians and their lives. Together on stage as in life, most recently on tour through Germany and Switzerland.
The Dalsland Folk Music Orchestra
More than 15 years of live folk music under the direction of National Folk Musician Alban Faust, with performances in Sweden, Norway, and Germany. The sound is carried by violins, wind instruments, the nyckelharpa, and bass, with an emphasis on the folk traditions of western Sweden. What unites them is a joy of playing, a lively groove, and a sense of ensemble that really stands out.
People for the People
The core members of the Dalslands Spelmansorkester. Four musicians with tight, seamless ensemble playing. Their repertoire spans a wide range, from the traditions of western Sweden to beautiful melodies of all origins. Alban Faust (nyckelharpa, bagpipes), Ingela Fredriksson (violin), Lars Nilsson (bass), Britt Marie (guitar).
Tomas Fredriksson
Alban Faust and Thomas Fredriksson were both awarded the title of “Riksspelman” on the same day in 2009, at which point they decided to deepen their collaboration. As neighbors and musical kindred spirits, they have been playing together ever since. Their music is warm and playful, equally at home on the dance floor as it is on the concert stage.
Treehugger
Kristoffer Emanuelsson (Treehugger) has delved deep into the world of American folk music, resulting in frequent visits and tours in the United States. He moves seamlessly between the old and the new, blending traditional folk music with his own original material in the folk, blues, and country traditions. He lives and works at Vänna Gård in northern Dalsland.
The Norns
The motor sailboat Norna was built at the Blåsut shipyard in Vänersborg in 1950 and has been owned by Alban since 1993. All these years, an Albin O21 engine—known for its reliability and long service life—has powered her forward.
This year, Alban fulfilled a lifelong dream and replaced the engine with an electric propulsion system. Now she glides silently along the canal, giving the music all the space it deserves.
Schedule
Does it cost anything?
All performances are open to the public. No ticket, no registration required. Just come as you are.
Åmål Municipality, Dalsland
Strömmen, July 23 at 6:00 p.m.
Strömmen is one of the canal’s two manually operated locks. Quartz from the surrounding area was transported through here until 1971; the very last ship passed through on December 4, carrying 111 tons. Special guest performance: Dalslands Spelmansorkester.
Mellerud Municipality, Dalsland
Köpmannebro, 24/7 at 6:00 p.m.
The canal’s southernmost lock is located at Köpmannebro—the gateway from Lake Vänern into Svanefjorden and onward northward through the entire canal system all the way to Östervallsskog in Värmland. Come enjoy music and coffee at the lock café in Köpmannebro and the Dalsland Canal. Special guest performance: Dalslands Spelmansorkester.
Mellerud Municipality, Dalsland
Upperud 9:9, July 25 at 6:00 p.m.
Upperud 9:9 is a modern hotel housed in an early 20th-century grain silo, once the heart of the region’s grain handling operations with shipments via the Dalsland Canal; today, it is a popular destination featuring a café, banquet hall, and sauna on the pier. Guest performance: Ute Faust Thomas.
Bengtsfors Municipality, Dalsland
Högsbyn, July 27 at 6:00 p.m.
Experience enchanting folk music in Högsbyn, one of Sweden’s largest rock carving sites, where people carved their stories into stone thousands of years ago. Special guest: Ute Faust Thomas.
Bengtsfors Municipality, Dalsland
Långbron, July 28 at 6:00 p.m.
The Långbron lock connects Långbrohöljen to Laxsjön, with the canal’s own lock café serving as an atmospheric setting. Special guest performance: Folk För Folket.
Bengtsfors Municipality, Dalsland
Gustavsfors, July 30 at 6:00 p.m.
A delightful spot at Elvira’s Canal Ice Cream, a charming summer café by the Gustavsfors lock offering delicious ice cream, homemade treats, and a view of the water. Special guest: Tomas Fredriksson.
Bengsfors Municipality, Dalsland
Vänna Farm, July 31 at 6:00 p.m.
Located on the headland of Mossviken near Västra Silen is Vänna Gård, one of Dalsland’s most renowned music venues, where folk and roots music have found the perfect home. A place that seems tailor-made for Alban’s music. Special guests: Tomas Fredriksson and Treehugger.
Årjäng Municipality, Värmland
Lennartsfors, August 2 at 6:00 p.m.
The Lennartsfors Lock is truly one of a kind, with an impressive series of lock chambers carved into the rock and a rock-cut canal with high banks. An atmospheric finale to this summer’s concert tour. Guest performance: Folk För Folket.
A warm welcome to you!
Fröskog – Nössemark
Learn more about Alban
Here you’ll find more about Alban’s more than 30-year journey as a folk musician and instrument maker, including news, inspiration, and in-depth insights into his work.
Interested in more events?
Experience events on the Dalsland Canal all year round. From craft markets, music and art to cycling adventures, cultural weeks, film festivals and taste experiences. Here you meet nature, culture and community along one of Europe's most beautiful waterways.