Thea Paulsrud // Folken

Vocalist, storyteller, and artist Thea Paulsrud has a reputation for captivating her audience with outstanding vocal performances and clever, thought-provoking lyrics. Her music is rooted in traditional soul with a powerful edge, and melodic nods to the standard jazz repertoire. In spring 2025, she released her first full-length album titled "Lay With Me For A While", described by Øyvind Rønning as “a highly successful marriage between soul and jazz.” On August 29, we’ll get to hear material from that album.

The band is made up of a stellar group of musicians — not only are they remarkably tight as a unit, they also shine as soloists. Together, they create a playful, acoustic soundscape that stirs both your dancing feet and your heart. With a presence that can make anyone smile, Thea promises a concert experience full of both joy and reflection. When the album was released, Tor Hammerø expressed, “I’m very glad I discovered Thea Paulsrud already now.” Something tells us you’ll feel the same after her concert at Folken.

The band includes:
Matias Steinnes Christoffersen (Ragnhild Og., Fabeldyr, Brainchild),
Øyvind Kløve Kjernlie (Emelie Hollow, Ole Kirkeng),
Andreas Svabø (Beharie, Gabriela Garrubo, Rino Sivathas, Lyder Røed Quintet),
and Vegard Staum (Sojum Klub, Soft City, Vegard & Ivar Band).

The latter and Thea have also been active in the blues scene in recent years through their band Soft City. They’ve performed at, among others, Molde Jazz Festival and Notodden Blues Festival, and in 2023 they toured the cradle of blues — Mississippi and Tennessee. In this context, Paulsrud’s voice has also made a mark in the blues community: Dagens Næringsliv called her a “power singer,” while Nettavisen described her voice and performance as “tough, raw in just the right way, and she conveys the message in a way that makes me believe her — she delivers something genuine and credible.”