Biograpy

Bente & Leif were awarded with a "Danish Music Award 2004" (The Danish 'Grammy'!) for their seventh album "Ovenover alting" and nominated for their 2006-album "Den niende udsigt"!

In what you are about to read now, you might get yourself a laugh here and there over the language - our translations from Danish to English - but be our guest! There's nothing as healthy as a good laugh, so if we can add a few happy days to your life - then please read it again!! :-)

Bente Kure & Leif Ernstsen...

.... is a Danish duo with a solid background in the Danish folk music tradition, but with inspiration sources like Moody Blues, Pink Floyd and Genesis!.
Bente with her great voice and powerful singing and Leif with his very personal and sensitive way of playing make up this exciting musical combination, that sure is folk music, but in a very different way. They do their concerts in a show- and cabaret-like way. Someone once said that "It is obvious that their music is based on a high level of consciousness!"
Bente: vocal & guitar. Leif: Accordion. Both: A lot of comments along the way!!

Their story....
After their first concert together as a duo in 1985 at the Skagen Festival in Denmark, they've since gone from strength to strength. Now with albums, cassettes and CD's, numerous concerts, radio and TV-performances, festival and folk club gigs under the belt, combined with their great rapport with the audience, they have established themselves as a well known and populare duo among the "folkies" in their home country. They do around 100-150 concerts a year.

And outside of Denmark....
Their music has taken them to festivals and other venues in Scotland, Belgium, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Holland, Korea, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Poland, Malaysia and Germany. In Germany they have performed at the prestigious "Folk Fest Am Ith" which accredited them with excellent reviews.
Both Bente and Leif have performed on many occasions in Scotland; Leif as a member the dance band "Danish Export", and Bente as a solo guest at The Isle of Bute International Folk Festival, The Glenfarg Folk Feast, The Edinburgh Folk Festival, The Orkney Festival and many local folk clubs and other venues the length and breadth of the country - not to mention 'live' on BBC! And everything with great success.

And what does their repertoire include....
Their material is a blend of their own material mixed up with old Danish folksongs, other contemporary songs both in Danish and English, lively Scandinavian tunes - and a bit of Cajun, too!
Eventhough when Bente sings in Danish, her audience abroad tells her that with her expression and explanations, they almost feel that they understand the Danish words anyway. And the language of the sound of Leif's accordion is ofcourse international!

Contact....
Leif Ernstsen

Tel & Fax +0045 46 48 05 66
Mobile • +0045 40 14 42 02
E-mail: info@leifernstsen.dk
www.benteogleif.dk