Folkfest of the North @ The Brooklyn Monarch

While an afternoon of fog and cloud cover had tapped away the first sings of spring that had only just come to New York twenty four hours earlier, the spirits of those in line outside the Brooklyn Monarch was as lively as any bright and sunny day. Following a month long run through the U.S and Canada, the Folkfest of the North tour had come to town for its final show, bringing together legions of fans eagerly awaiting a night of booze infused music and memories.

Helming this mighty caravan of folk metal was Finnish legends Korpiklaani, returning to North America just under a year since their last visit. At their side were fellow Finns Ensiferum, Norwegian folk heroes Trollfest and rising Taiwanese superstar, NiNi.

Together, they would all ring in their last night on stage with many a surprise for their fans and, indeed, for each other.

Following an audition on America's Got Talent last year that left the judges with their jaws on the floor and the audience on their feet before (a journey that took her to the quarter finals), Taiwanese sensation NiNi launched her own band to bring her style of metal and traditional music to the masses.

With songs like "LongMa", "MaZu" and "Huyao", fans of Chtonic, The Hu and Tengger Cavalry were instantly enchanted. By mid-set, which featured a cover of Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling In Love", all eyes were on stage sharing the amazement that Simon Cowell expressed a year ago.

Delighting the crowd with a rendition of "Dueling Banjos", albeit with quite different instruments, the set was rounded out with "Homeland", the song that sent NiNi viral last year, and a rather heavy version of "...Baby One More Time".

Try as they might, even the most battle hardened folk metal fanatics couldn't help but sing along. Indeed, the beauty of folk metal concerts is the fun that comes with them, as proven when members of Ensiferum snuck on stage during NiNi's set for the first serving of end of tour hijinks.

Scheduled to tour Europe this summer with Japanese heavy hitters Jiluka, their meteoric rise that shows no signs of stopping means that this could very well be the last time to see NiNi on anything other than the biggest stages.

With memories of last year's North American tour supporting Týr still fresh in their minds, fans of Trollfest were delighted to see the band take New York once again. Opening with the song that brought them to the 2022 Melodi Grand Prix semi-finals in their native Norway, all bodies did their best to try to "Dance Like a Pink Flamingo".

Continuing with some of the finest cuts from 2022's Flamingo Overlord, the set included performances of "Flamongous", "Twenty Miles an Hour" and "All Drinks on Me", the latter of which vocalist Trollmannen noted 'there are many of you here tonight so, if you are indeed buying, we (the band) are going to have a good time before we go back to Norway!'

With a reputation for unique crowd engaging moments, "Kaptein Kaos" saw the return of the appropriately chaotic Sit/Stand pit, where half of the audience sits down with the other stands and hops in place until instructed to switch.

Likewise, after announcing their intent to set the record for the longest conga line at a metal show, no less than fifty fans came together to attempt this feat during "Piña Colada", with bassist Böesse at the front of the line, weaving it through the venue.

Continuing their heckling, the members of Ensiferum once again hopped on stage to tease their comrades, only adding to the overall entertainment of the set. With audience applauding and laughing throughout the entire performance, Trollfest are truly a masterclass in showmanship and amusement that all bands, regardless of genre, could learn a lesson or two from.

Returning to New York for the first time in nearly five and a half years, a tremendous applause greeting the members of Ensiferum as the quintet took the stage. Wasting no time, the icy riffs and rapid fire bass drums kicked off "Fatherland", the first of four tracks off last years' Winter Storm.

Balancing the harsh vocals of guitarist Petri Lindroos and bassist Sami Hinkka with the soaring cleans of keyboardist Pekka Montin and stage left guitarist Markus Toivonen, all voices in the crowd joined in for anthems including "Victorious", "The Howl" and "Winter Storm Warriors".

Having released not one, but two, albums since their last visit to North America, bodies came sailing over the barricades during "Andromeda", one of three songs making their U.S. debut off 2020's Thalassic. Also joining the Brooklyn premier were "Rum, Women, Victory" and "Run From the Crushing Tide".

As the only song off 2004's Iron, a belated twentieth anniversary was celebrated for the first pumping number "Lai Lai Hei". With clear direction from Sami Hinkka that 'you have no reason not to sing this one with us', "The Wanderer" set the moshpit ablaze as the sole cut from 2007's Victory Songs.

Despite the intensity of the music, by the end of the set, Ensiferum found themselves covered in pink feathers, balloons and confetti as both NiNi and Trollfest rushed the stage for a little payback.

Good sports as they are, all five members bid Brooklyn goodnight with mile wide smiles and the pledge to return again soon.

Closing out the show with maximum merriment in the air, the Monarch was primed and ready for Korpiklaani and their iconic style of folk metal. Still hot on promoting last year's Rankarumpu, "Aita", "Saunaan", "Oraakkelit", "Kalmisto" and the title track were all testaments to the album's place in the folk metal pantheon of extraordinary releases.

After a night of onstage antics, it was only natural that members of all the other bands joined in for "Happy Little Boozer", complete with mock dreadlocks and 'hat' in the manner of Korpiklanni vocalist Jonne Järvelä

Not forgetting the audience's need to dance, "Ievan Polkka" had the crowd grabbing a partner and bringing them to the dancefloor, as did "Vaarinpolkaa" and the Boney M. cover of "Gotta Go Home"

Covering material spanning nine albums plus the 2016 single "A Man With A Plan", the Finnish sextet made sure Brooklyn gave everything they had as a bon voyage gift on the last night of the tour. Scheduled to play multiple festivals in Europe this summer, another big year for Korpiklaani is only just beginning as North American fans count down the days until their next visit back to the U.S. and Canada.

Ticket and photo pass courtesy of Earsplit PR