Music often becomes most alive in the meeting between different voices. Alongside his solo work, Erik collaborates with musicians across Europe in ensembles exploring Nordic, Celtic, medieval and contemporary folk traditions. These projects range from the powerful, drone-rich sound of Dråm and the intimate Irish world of Carolan’s Welcome to distinctive duos built around harps, accordion, nyckelharpa and musical encounters across borders. Each collaboration has its own repertoire, atmosphere and personality, yet all share strong musicianship, curiosity and a belief that traditional music should never stand still. Explore the projects below.

Dråm: Nordic folk with passion, power and drones

Dråm is a Swedish folk band that has been performing for almost 30 years, always under the musical direction of Erik Ask-Upmark. With Swedish and European bagpipes, flutes, hurdy-gurdy, guitar, mandola, harp and different nyckelharpas together with voices, the band creates a distinctive and powerful sound in which Nordic traditions meet dance music from across Europe. The line-up has evolved over time, and today the core musicians are: Erik Ask-Upmark (bagpipes, harp, flutes, accordion), Anders Ådin (guitar, hurdy-gurdy), Christer Ådin (mandola, guitar) and Björn Balksten Regnér (nyckelharpas and percussion). The repertoire combines traditional tunes, original compositions and imaginative arrangements. Ancient drone sounds, sparkling melodies and irresistible rhythms make Dråm equally at home on the concert stage and on the dance floor. Dråm has its own website here: www.draam.com.

carolan's welcome: Irish music with warmth, spirit and grace

Carolan’s Welcome is an Irish folk trio based in Lund, Sweden, bringing together Celtic tradition, lyrical warmth and lively ensemble playing. Maria Bojlund sings and plays fiddle, Markus Tullberg adds wooden flute and Irish bouzouki, while Erik Ask-Upmark contributes Celtic harp, bagpipes and voice. Their repertoire moves from graceful airs, love songs and old ballads to spirited jigs, reels and sea songs, with the music of Ireland’s great harper-composer Turlough O’Carolan as a natural point of departure. The combination of harp, fiddle, flute, bouzouki and pipes gives the trio both intimacy and rhythmic drive. Their concerts are warm, varied and engaging – performed with energy, finesse and a genuine love of Irish music.

tim & erik: two harps - one musical journey

Two harps, two distinctive musical voices and one shared fascination with the unexpected. Swedish harpist Erik Ask-Upmark and German “sound weaver” Tim Rohrmann bring together Scandinavian dance music, medieval melodies, Celtic influences, jazz colours and musical impressions from around the world. At the centre is a constantly shifting dialogue between their instruments: intimate and crystalline one moment, richly rhythmic and exhilarating the next. Swedish polskas lead listeners into northern forests, while ancient tunes and improvised passages open doors to other times and places. Erik may also exchange the harp for the folk flute Härjedalspipa or the Swedish bagpipe, säckpipa, adding even more colours. With experience, curiosity and playful interaction, Tim and Erik create concerts full of warmth, virtuosity and musical adventure.

erik & johannes: nordic and continental folk worlds

Swedish multi-instrumentalist Erik Ask-Upmark and German accordionist, nyckelharpa player and instrument maker Johannes Mayr unite Nordic and continental folk traditions in a lively musical dialogue. Their wide-ranging instrumental palette allows harp, bagpipes and flutes to meet accordion and nyckelharpa, creating everything from floating drones and finely shaded melodies to powerful, irresistible dance grooves. Erik brings the rhythmic energy of Swedish polskas and decades of international touring, while Johannes draws on influences from Ireland and Scandinavia as well as his Bavarian-Swabian roots. Both are experienced performers with a strong instinct for communicating with an audience. Their concerts move effortlessly between intimate listening and joyful celebration: one moment quiet and meditative, the next inviting tapping feet, broad smiles and, before long, dancing.

adriano & erik: North Meets South – A European Folk Encounter

North meets South in this lively musical encounter between Sweden and Italy. Erik Ask-Upmark brings Nordic polskas, ancient ballads, harp, flutes and an ever-surprising collection of bagpipes, while Italian harpist Adriano Sangineto contributes Mediterranean warmth, lyrical expression and rhythmic vitality. Their contrasting backgrounds create a musical conversation that moves freely across borders, from atmospheric melodies and old traditions to playful improvisation and energetic dance rhythms. Harp and bagpipes may meet in unexpected ways, revealing connections between northern and southern European folk cultures without smoothing away their individual character. Rooted in tradition but guided by curiosity, Adriano and Erik offer a colourful, engaging concert full of contrast, spontaneity and warmth – a meeting of instruments, personalities and musical worlds.

Erik is also available for guest appearances, one-off collaborations and specially assembled ensembles for festivals and commissioned projects.