It’s wild to think that the FolkFest of the North 2025 tour is already winding down. There are just a handful of dates left, with the final show hitting Brooklyn, NY on March 30th, but it all started back in February with a ridiculously stacked lineup. Honestly, from the very beginning, it felt like something special was brewing, and after seeing it for myself, I can confirm, it absolutely lived up to the hype.
The night kicked off with Nini and her band, and I can say this has been one of our absolute favorite performances this year. If you’ve caught her live, you already know why. Her set was full of these joyful, high energy moments that bounced between funand powerful. At one point, her guitarist and the traditional folk instrumentalist were trading the exact same notes, one-for-one, like a duel across centuries. And just when you thought the song couldn’t escalate more, she’d reach for another instrument like it was second nature, like she’s some kind of folk metal Swiss Army knife. This was her first full-length tour, too, which is crazy when you see how natural she is on stage. It felt like she was built for this.
Then came Trollfest, the long-reigning champions of chaos and fun in folk metal. Their show was just pure, unleashed mayhem, and that’s a compliment. It’s the kind of band where you’re laughing one second and windmilling the next. Their antics are legendary by now, but seeing it in person still somehow feels new. They had the crowd split in two, one side jumping while the other sat down, then flipping back and forth in this wild seesaw of energy. Only Trollfest could pull off something that ridiculous and make it feel like the most natural thing in the world. And of course, no one forgot the congo line.
The co-headliners: Korpiklaani and Ensiferum, two of the most legendary names in folk metal and part of what many consider the genre’s “big four”, finished off the night. Seeing their names on a tour flyer is enough to make you clear your calendar, and for good reason they both absolutely brought it. Korpiklaani came in with some stuff on their most recent release, and Ensiferum were riding high from their latest full-length as well, one that we also gave Folk Metal Album of the Year in our 2024 awards. These two titans of metal are still evolving, still firing on all cylinders. The energy in the room was massive, and the crowd was completely into it. It felt like a celebration of everything that makes this scene what it is.
As of tonight, the tour hits Baltimore, followed by Mechanicsburg, PA, and then Brooklyn on the 30th. If you’re anywhere near those cities, make the effort. These final dates are going to be insane. And if you’ve missed it, don’t sweat it too hard, but definitely keep your eyes peeled for when these bands circle back around. Because trust me, this is the kind of tour you do not want to sleep on the next time they hit NA.
Nini
Korpiklaani
Ensiferum
Trollfest
