Looks like WARDRUNA’s been busy doing good deeds between summoning ancient Norse spirits and soundtracking your favorite Vikings binge-watch sessions. The Norwegian mystical-music squad just dropped over $14k into the Firekeeper Alliance’s coffers – a Montana-based nonprofit helping Indigenous communities and suicide prevention efforts. How? By selling LIMITED-EDITION tees designed by Blackfeet Nation student Reb Pollock. They shifted 500+ shirts online and at July’s Fire in the Mountains fest. Not too shabby for a band whose usual merch table probably also sells rune-carving kits.
“It makes us profoundly happy and proud to see that the Wardruna community all over the world responded with a genuine desire to support the Firekeeper Alliance, their cause, purpose and work,” said WARDRUNA, clearly forgetting they’re supposed to be moody Scandinavian mystics and not wholesome charity champions.
Firekeeper Alliance director Charlie Speicher called the collab between the fest, WARDRUNA, and music labels “one of the most powerful relationships I’ve been a part of.” Translation: When a Nordic folk collective, a metal-adjacent festival, and Indigenous advocates team up, magic happens. Who knew?
At Fire in the Mountains, WARDRUNA didn’t just play their usual set of bone-rattling drums and throat-singing. Oh no, they went full cultural exchange mode – workshops, storytelling sessions, and enough meaningful moments to make your average music fest look like a Walmart parking lot party. Main composer Einar Selvik (who low-key scored half of Vikings) summed it up: “It was one of those events that changes people and views.” Heavy stuff, literally and figuratively.
Want in on the Nordic vibes? WARDRUNA’s touring like they’ve got a personal grudge against free weekends. Pro tip: The Greek Theatre show in LA comes with a bonus – no Chelsea Wolfe! (We don’t know why either.)
TOUR DATES:
9/4 Ft. Worth, TX – Will Rogers Auditorium
9/5 San Antonio, TX – Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
9/7 Phoenix, AZ – Ikeda Theatre (Mesa Arts Center)
9/8 Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre [Chelsea Wolfe-free edition]
9/9 Oakland, CA – Paramount Theatre
9/11 Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium
9/14 Seattle, WA – The Moore Theater
9/16 Salt Lake City, UT – Capitol Theatre
9/17 Colorado Springs, CO – Pikes Peak Center
9/19 Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre
9/20 Chicago, IL – The Auditorium Theater
9/22 Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
9/23 Rochester, NY – Kodak Center
9/24 Boston, MA – Wang Theater
9/26 New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
9/27 Philadelphia, PA – Kimmel Center
9/28 Washington, DC – Warner Theater
…and a whole European leg in Nov/Dec because apparently fjord-dwellers need love too.
