Lillebjørn Nilsen Essentials

Armed with just a guitar, banjo or mandolin, Lillebjørn Nilsen boasts a down-to-earth delivery and socially conscious lyrical touch, making for jovial, courageous masterpieces. Active since the mid-'60s and the recipient of the 2005 Oslo City Cultural Prize, he's become a legend in his native Norway and has attracted high-profile collaborations like the folk icon Pete Seeger and super-group Gitarkameratene. Whether it's for his own original compositions or translated folk material, Nilsen relies on nimble guitar, flecks of violins and an utterly laidback mood.