Farmers Market

Farmers Market is a genre-bending Norwegian band that blends jazz, Bulgarian folk music, bluegrass, and more into a sound as unpredictable as it is virtuosic.

Founded in Trondheim in 1991, the band began as a free jazz quintet formed by students from the conservatory. Led by multi-instrumentalist Stian Carstensen, the group quickly expanded their musical horizons, incorporating a dizzying array of genres into their performances. Known for their intricate time signatures, lightning-fast arrangements, and a healthy dose of humor, Farmers Market has become a mainstay on the international jazz scene.

In the early years, the band featured saxophonist Håvard Lund, who played a key role in shaping the group's early sound before leaving in 1995. His departure led to the arrival of Bulgarian saxophonist and clarinetist Trifon Trifonov, bringing the band’s fascination with Balkan folk music to the forefront. The combination of Bulgarian rhythms, Norwegian jazz sensibilities, and Stian’s penchant for the unexpected became the signature Farmers Market sound.

Rounding out the ensemble are bassist Finn Guttormsen, drummer Jarle Vespestad, and guitarist and vocalist Nils-Olav Johansen. Together, they form a band whose virtuosity and playfulness have earned them fans across the globe.

Over the years, Farmers Market has performed at major jazz festivals around the world, including the North Sea Jazz Festival and the Berliner Festspiele. They’ve also worked with world-renowned orchestras and musicians, such as the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and Michael Brecker. Their 2008 album *Surfin’ USSR* earned them the prestigious Spellemannprisen in the Open class, cementing their reputation as one of Norway's most innovative and entertaining ensembles.

Today, Farmers Market continues to push musical boundaries, blending the seemingly incompatible into a cohesive, joyous sound that defies categorization.

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Discography

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