International touring artist Sofia Talvik will bring her acclaimed folk music to Estes Park on Sunday, June 15 at 2:00 p.m. as part of the Listening at the Legion series at Circle 119 — Home of American Legion Post 119. The concert is open to the public and promises an afternoon of heartfelt storytelling and song.

Talvik, a Swedish-born singer/songwriter, is in the midst of a 50-concert Midwest tour, bringing her distinctive blend of Nordic-influenced Americana to audiences across the region. Known for her clear, haunting voice and poetic lyrics, she has drawn comparisons to Joni Mitchell and Buffy Sainte-Marie. Her most recent album, released in 2023, received national airplay and was considered for a Grammy nomination in the Best Folk Album category.

Though she’s played major festivals, Talvik says it’s smaller, community-centered shows like this that leave the biggest impact.

“Performing in places like Estes Park feels more like a conversation than a concert,” says Talvik. “You feel the room listening, connecting—it’s beautiful and honest.”

The Listening at the Legion series is known for its focus on original, acoustic music in a relaxed and welcoming environment, making it a perfect fit for Talvik’s stripped-down, emotionally rich performance style.

Center of the Universe Tour

Swedish born artist Sofia Talvik is on a 4 month 50+ concert release tour throughout the U.S. to promote her 9th studio album ‘Center of the Universe’. The album was recorded over a week in an old Swedish rural village that has been around since the 1500’s. Bringing over two American musicians for the recordings, that she met in NC on her 2022 tour, she has taken her mix of Swedish melancholy and American folk to the next level.

“When I heard Drake and Peyton (of the band Discount Rothko) play last year I instantly knew I wanted to work with them. The way they played was both modern and traditional at the same time and I could really hear that being a great complement to my songs.”

Together they built a studio in the living room of an old traditional wooden house and created magic. Sofia’s unique songwriting and crystal clear voice brought together with a more Americana and bluegrass feel with mandolin and accordion. You can even hear the birds outside sing along on some of the songs.

“Lots of people released albums during the pandemic, because there wasn’t much else to do, but I didn’t want to “waste” another album by not being able to tour with it”, says Sofia. “Also, many of the songs were written during the pandemic, including 2 songs for a good friend who passed away, as well as reflections about war and refugees, in particular about the Ukraine. There has been a lot to write about these past couple of years.”

To celebrate the release and promote her new songs she embarked on the ‘Center of the Universe Tour’ in July. The tour takes Sofia from the East Coast to the West Coast and back inland ending in New Mexico. Touring in her 1989 Winnebago Warrior Lil’Chief with husband Jonas Westin on driving duty and sound design she is mostly playing intimate listening venues, but also some summer series and festivals, headlining The Tumbleweed Folk Festival in Richland, WA.

Evoking the sounds of Laurel Canyon and the intimate coffee houses of the 60’s and 70’s, Sofia’s shows will treat the audience not just to beautiful music but also to stories from her many tours and her life as a full time artist of over 10 years. On days off she takes Lil’Chief and seeks out the wilderness in the U.S, enjoying the less crowded parts of the country, national forests and parks along the route.

“That’s one thing I love about touring in an RV. I get to see so much that other touring artists from Europe never get to see. And you can really tell it reflects in my songs as well, it’s a true inspiration to get to experience the vast and beautiful nature here”, says Sofia.

Sofia’s full schedule can be found here: https://sofiatalvik.com/gigs

For more info about the upcoming album “Center of the Universe” follow her on: https://facebook.com/sofiatalvikmusic https://www.instagram.com/sofiatalvikmusic/