Life In a Country Camper and Swedish Folklore Music

When was the last time you felt that life is truly perfect? That moment of pure perfection? Of feeling deeply relaxed. Completely at ease.

Just being.

I had one of those moments during a recent trip in a country camper.

I love spending time in a camper. A motorhome. A delightful miniature home that you can move around across the world. When you go on eager adventures exploring all the riches of this world. A little kitchen, a sitting area, and a bedroom. On wheels.

I had my eye on a folklore musician event (folkmusikstämma) I wanted to visit and realized a good way to spend a weekend there was to go by camper.

I always eagerly enjoy preparing for a trip. I got out my prettiest vintage curtains to cover the little camper windows for the night.

Forget sleeping pads and sleeping bags. I put in a couple of real mattresses on top of each other, and made the bed with the most comfortable, fluffy duvets and pillows – all with starched white cotton bedlinen. When it comes to comfort I don’t compromise. I always have the best.

I packed home made lemonade, vegetable pie and other good stuff in the cooler, slid the music-cd’s filled with upbeat music into the car cd player, and off I went.

For me, visiting a Swedish folklore musician event is deeply soothing. A folklore musician event is really a large jam session. Musicians from near and far meet up to hang out and play. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. There is no alcohol. People gather for the pure joy of music.

This event was set at a rural community center (hembygdsgård) in the most wonderful luscious countryside. Green birch trees, sunny skies, happy tunes.

The setting is truly magical. Old wooden farmhouses. A dance floor made out of wood in middle of an open field.

I go for a stroll. Wherever I turn I encounter groups of people playing their fiddles, hurdy-gurdys (vevlira) and the wonderful Swedish string instrument nyckelharpa. Some play clarinet. Others accordion (durspel).

What a treat.

After some heartwarming concerts I head for the camper. It is late afternoon and there is a light summer rain coming up. I feel like taking a nap and tuck myself in under the lavishly fluffy duvets. I keep my camper van door slightly open. A waft of summer jasmine flowers drifts in the air. It mixes with the scent of freshly washed bedlinen. From afar I hear the fiddles. Delightful folk music is being played. Some birds are chirping in a nearby tree.

Now then. This is a moment to be in. What a state of pure bliss.

Here is some Swedish Folk music I enjoy listening to:

Rasmus Hemström

Daniel Höglund

Rickard Näslin