Open String Department at Voi Voi

Welcome to a concert at Voi Voi with Open String Department!

Open String Department was conceived on a road trip in the Appalachians in 2012, and has since gotten both bluegrass folk and jazz folk to perk up their ears. The band is led by multi-instrumentalist Magnus Wiik, who together with guitarist Espen Bjarnar and bassist Aksel Jensen have played together longer than they haven't. With three critically acclaimed albums and touring around the world as a trio, singer and flutist Siril Malmedal Hauge showed up in 2023 as a guest at Trad sessions. Her incredible voice and instrumental contributions proved to be a perfect match for the band, and got organiser Richard Burgess to exclaim that "You have to keep her!". Said and done!

In autumn 2025 Open String Department released the album "We Can Be Anyone", the first full-length with Siril Malmedal as a permanent part of the lineup. The album has received unanimous positive reception from both sides of the Atlantic, from publications such as Songlines, Americana UK, Bluegrass Unlimited and Gramophone. Critics have drawn parallels to artists such as Alison Krauss and Punch Brothers, which helps cement this release's status as a modern classic on the Nordic folk and americana scene.

«Open String Department has for sure managed to do the trick again. Maybe even better than the first time, and for sure with as much excitement. I state that the best American music is not made by Americans» - Mono Magazine

«Strong emotions and aching beauty, alongside the compelling bluegrass scampering and melodic drive, live on long after the last notes of We Can Be Anyone has faded away» - Fiona Talkington, Songlines

Open String Department:

Siril Malmedal Hauge - vocals, flute, mandolin
Magnus Wiik - banjo, dobro, mandolin, backing vocals
Espen Bjarnar - guitar, backing vocals
Aksel Jensen - bass, backing vocals

https://www.magnuswiik.com/projects/osd
https://youtu.be/8HeuwmZiddQ
https://openstringdepartment.bandcamp.com/album/we-can-be-anyone


Admission 250 kr