Musikgruppen RAA

Musikgruppen RAA, Sweden's oldest, still existing folk/world music groups, started as a quartet in 1973, and debuted onstage at Mosebacke in Stockholm 21 March, 1974. At that time they consisted of "nature boy troubadour Arnold Svensson from Gotland" (Sweden's largest island in the Baltic Sea), Stellan Sagvik (after having spent time in Scotland a huge fan of Scottish psyche/folk duo The Incredible String Band) on celtic harp, various clarinets and tárogató), the short-statured [a307307] fan Bert Kolker, on various string instruments, and [a1528513] - "a rock bassist with acoustic ambitions" - on vocals, bass and various string instruments, who also is their main composer. When their first album was released in 1980, it was as a five-piece group. These years were hectic, with extensive touring - both in Sweden and overseas - TV shows and gigs all over Sweden, often performing for children in a pedagogical mix of theatre and music. Various members came and left. Göran Stark was one of them, who also played on their eponymously entitled album debut in 1980, and in 1983 the group folded, but made a comeback in 1991 as the five-piece band they were in 1975. A children's album, 'Briggens Salta Anna', was released in 2003, and in 2004 the humouristic world music album 'Onda bet' was released. And the beat goes on...