Stian Carstensen

The musical traditions of the Balkan Mountains have been introduced to audiences in Norway by multi-instrumentalist Stian Carstensen and his band Farmer's Market. Although he formed the group as a free jazz ensemble, Carstensen increasingly steered the band toward Balkan folk music, combining traditional and modern approaches into a unique, folk-rooted music. Playing the accordion from the age of eight, Carstensen immersed himself in heavy metal music as a teenager. Although he taught himself to play the guitar, the accordion remained his instrument of choice. Joining with stu...