William Soovik Grand Finale
Photo: Peter Claesson
William Soovik Grand Finale is the creation of drummer and composer William Soovik. The band in its current shape, started in mid 2017, initially as an attempt for the band-leader to try and work his way out of an especially boring gig-drought. They released their debut album "Rustik Musik" in mid 2018 and have been going on ever since. The album was met with great reviews, and was among other things chosen as "Record of the Day" in one of Swedens largest newspapers, Dagens Nyheter. The album also landed a 10th place in the prestigious contest “Gyllene Skivan”, where readers of Swedens biggest jazz magazine “Orkesterjournalen” voted on their favourite albums of 2018. They spent most of 2019 rehearsing new material and being the house band at a small cellar-venue in central Gothenburg. Their last performance there, in December 2019 was recorded by the Swedish Radio and is now released on the live album Live in Gothenburg. Out since May 15th 2021. Check it out!!
In July 2020 the band released their second studio album Major. Many of the tunes quickly landed on several big editorial playlists on Spotify and as of April 2021 the album has been streamed over 500.000 times.
William Sooviks music is like a sort of hybrid, influenced by everything from Led Zeppelin and Frank Zappa to Keith Jarret's early quartets, Charles Mingus and Ornette Coleman. It's rockin', melodic, beautiful, outgoing and appealing to a broad audience. Someone once described the band as "the missing link between Nirvana and The Bad Plus". We'll take that!
About the players of WSGF
Malin Wättring - Saxophone:
Malin is one of Scandinavias most exciting young players and composers, and has been for the past few years. She's been granted almost every jazz-prize and stipend available in Sweden, including the prestigious Stena A Olsson cultural stipend, and has recorded her music with Bohuslän Big Band. She is also the leader of her own group Malin Wättring 4.
Signe Dahlgreen - Saxophone:
Signe has an incredibly personal sound and a power unlike few others. She is super-technical and one of the finest improvisers that the nordics have to offer. Over the past years she has been traveling the world with different bands, playing live and making records. Check her out with the band Yes Deer. They are amazing!
Viktor Reuter - Bass:
Viktor is one of those people who are playing with "everybody". It's not surprising since he is an incredibly gifted musician. Highly musical and sophisticated yet with an enormous power and a huge sound. And a killer with the bow. A steady rock in any constellation and the best friend one could have.
Joel Fabiansson - Guitar:
Joel is a true gem of a person and musician. He can do everything. He makes amazing and epic soundscapes in his solo-project Nebulosa. He plays the big fat chords with Anna von Hauswolff and Xenia Kriisin on big stages across the globe. He plays complex and beautiful jazz music with his own trio and makes poppy tunes with the band Gordon.
William Soovik - Drums:
William seems to spend his days playing strange music that doesn't really fit into any box. When he's not writing for this band he's playing in rock bands, big bands, pop bands, churches or contemporary jazz groups. He's toured the world over the last ten years, playing with anyone who'll have him. He hasn't really won any big prizes or awards and stuff, but he's quite happy nontheless.
Stream and buy our music:
You can stream our music for free but we would really appreciate if you bought a cd or a digital copy from our Bandcamp page. This will help us produce new material and finance our future touring!
BUY!!
Written about WSGF
"... There is something youthful about William Soovik Grand Finale... There's a genuine joy when playing the music and whatever minor mistakes that happens doesn't seem to matter... "
- Lars Böhlin (Live concert review, Västerbottens-Kuriren, 22-10-2021)
Click HERE to read the full review, in Swedish.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"... This Gothenburgian quintet has embodies most of the qualities of a great jazz group: a strong emotional output, a connection with the audience, artistic freedom and a never waivering pulse... There are no nets. Every musical leap is an unpredictable musical adventure... "
- Gunnar Wiklund (Live concert review, Folkbladet, 22-10-2021)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"... The music feels open and created in the moment despite the fact that it contains well written, fun melodies and thoroughly arranged ensemble parts. It's well organized and messy at the same time. Major is an album that is easy to like!"
- Jan Strand (Album review, JAZZ (Orkesterjournalen), 23-09-2020)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"William Soovik has done it again! An exciting, fun and well composed album!"
- Jonas Persson (Album review, Det Tornas Rymd - Facebook Page, 22-07-2020)
Click HERE for the full post, in Swedish.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"...a record with a mix of euphoria and melancholy that won't be categorized or put in any box"
- Peter Bornemar (Album review, Lira Musikmagasin, 28-05-2020)
Click HERE to read the full review, in Swedish.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"... It's a great pleasure spending time with William, his band and the music that they make. I have a feeling that William Soovik Grand Finale is a great live band and would love to see them perform here in Norway".
Click HERE to read the full review, in Norwegian.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The Gothenburgian drummer William Soovik's peculiar mix of free jazz, rock and melancholy is hardly calculated, but feels very genuine. And his band is exellent!" (4/5)
- Johannes Cornell (Album review, Dagens Nyheter, 12-08-2018)
Click HERE to read the full review, in Swedish.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"This is good. Really good!"
- Jonas Persson (Interview and review, Det Tornas Rymd, 03-08-2018)
Click HERE to read the full interview, in Swedish.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"William Soovik Grand Finale is a wonderful and original band with new, exciting voices"
- Tor Hammerø (Album review, Netavisen.no, 06-12-2018)
Click HERE to read the full review, in Norwegian.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"...An excellent band in a jazz-rustling, carefree and clearly rustic music".
- Leif Carlsson (Album review, Lira Musikmagasin, 26-09-2019)
Click HERE to read the full review, in Swedish.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Watch WSGF
Gigs with WSGF
Upcoming:
We have some really fun stuff coming up for 2022!! :D
Stay tuned for more info!
Past:
21/10-2021: Umeå Jazzstudio, Umeå
6/10-2021: Fasching, Stockholm
21/8-2021: Jazzfesten, Västerås Konserthus
28/5-2021: Valand (Nefertiti), Gothenburg (Live Stream)
______________________________________________________________
13/12-2020: Bunkern, Gothenburg (Live Stream)
______________________________________________________________
7/12-2019: Studio HPKSM, Gothenburg (Live Recording)
2/11-2019: Studio HPKSM, Gothenburg
7/9-2019: Dalbogården, Alingsås
8/7-2019: Nefertiti Jazz Club, Gothenburg Culture Festival
1/6-2019: Studio HPKSM, Gothenburg
4/5-2019: Studio HPKSM, Gothenburg
6/4-2019: Studio HPKSM, Gothenburg
2/3-2019: Studio HPKSM, Gothenburg
2/2-2019: Studio HPKSM, Gothenburg
1/2-2019: Folk, Gothenburg
______________________________________________________________
29/6-2018: Nefertiti Jazz Club, Gothenburg. (Debut album release)
Click the button below to download our latest press kit and riders!