Late one night in 2009 Nikolaj Busk pushed open the door of a bar in Copenhagen and chanced upon fiddle player Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen and cittern player, Ale Carr, playing some traditional Nordic tunes. Spotting a piano in the corner of the room Nikolaj joined the pair. Within minutes it became clear that there was an instant musical chemistry happening. Since that first meeting Dreamers’ Circus has toured widely, performing not just in our native Scandinavia but also throughout Europe and in Japan, Australia and North America. 

More than ten years later the journey goes on. While they all have various musical backgrounds what unites them is an interest in, and love for, folk and traditional music. Rune grew up in a household where traditional dance and music was important but he also studied classical music and to this day plays as a member of the world-class chamber music ensemble, Danish String Quartet. Nikolaj’s background in jazz is evident in his fluid and melodic playing while Ale hails from a well-known family of traditional musicians and teachers in his native southern Sweden and his rhythmic drive forms the backbone of the band.  

In late 2019 Dreamers’ Circus they were asked by the Danish Arts Foundation to submit an application for their Special Ensemble funding strand. As a result, Dreamers’ Circus, along with two other musical adventurists, the band, Efterklang, and the musician, Lars Greve, were appointed as Special Ensembles for three years beginning in January 2021. They were awarded Album of the Year, Track of the Year and Ale Carr got a statue for Composer of the Year at Danish Music Awards Roots 2020 for their album Blue White Gold.

Click here for Dreamers' Circus' website.

Foto: Göran Petersson/Daniela Hasse Coutinho