Symbio Brings Cinematic Electro-Folk to Athens — Concert and Free Workshop September 25

Released by the University of Georgia Center for the Performing Arts:

“Wonderful, catchy instrumental music with melodies that associate freely around the concept of folk/trad music and seek both electronic and art musical inspiration … The sound is about mood and produces a very special kind of shimmering warmth.”—Dagens Nyheter

The University of Georgia Performing Arts Center (PAC) welcomes Symbio, the acclaimed Swedish electro-folk duo, for both an evening performance and afternoon insights on Thursday, Sept. 25. These events are part of the Nordic Dream: Voices from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden series, which highlights exceptional Scandinavian artists.

Winners of the Band of the Year award at the Swedish Folk & World Music Gala, Symbio combines the unlikely pairing of accordion and hurdy-gurdy — an ancient, hand-cranked string instrument — with modern electronics. The duo creates dynamic performances that are at once intimate and cinematic. Their music, built on pulse, drone, and evolving soundscapes, ranges from delicate, dreamlike passages to powerful, driving grooves.

FREE OPEN WORKSHOP

Begin the experience with an intimate free workshop at Ramsey Concert Hall, starting at 12:45 p.m. Attendees will get a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse as musicians Johannes Geworkian Hellman (hurdy-gurdy, electronics) and LarsEmil Öjeberget (accordion, stomp box, electronics) discuss their creative process, instruments, and Swedish cultural roots. This session is open to the public, no tickets required.

EVENING CONCERT

At 7:30 p.m., the spotlight returns to Ramsey Concert Hall for a full-length, ticketed performance by Symbio. The duo’s poetic blend of acoustic instrumentation and ambient electronics offers a vibrant and immersive musical journey — perfectly aligned with the PAC’s mission to present culturally rich and emotionally resonant performances.

ABOUT SYMBIO

Formed during a jam session in 2011, Symbio quickly developed a creative connection that has since fueled their international success. Today they’re heralded as one of the most prominent voices in contemporary Nordic folk and world music, having toured extensively across Europe and North America.

Their album Endeavour was named best album of the year at the Swedish Folk & World Music Awards 2023, earning them high praise for its cinematic storytelling and emotional resonance. In the same year, Symbio was selected as an official showcase artist at WOMEX, the prestigious World Music Expo.