Norild Records

Norild Records is a Norwegian record label and music company based at Sjøholt in Møre og Romsdal, founded in 1978 by Kjell Opsal. It is dedicated to gammeldans (old-time dance music), folk music and, above all, accordion music. Its catalogue has combined new recordings with historical documentation releases, and it has long been a focal point for the Scandinavian trekkspel (accordion) community. The label is part of Norilds Musikk, a broader music house that also runs publishing activities and imports and distributes musical instruments and music, mainly accordions and torader (Norwegian diatonic button accordions). The distribution arm was established in 2002 by Kjell Opsal together with his son Reidar Opsal. Through its online shop, Norilds Musikk sells a wide range of accordions and related instruments, including models from brands such as Dise, Bengts, Golden Cup and Aidi, alongside sheet music and recordings. Norilds has also been active as an event organiser. Together with Ørskog og omegn trekkspelklubb it arranged the Belgiaden festival in Geiranger every August from 1981 until around 2010. The company has additionally been involved with the Swedish event Bälgspel vid landsvägskanten, described as the world's largest accordion festival. Norilds also publishes Norildavisa, an online niche publication about accordion, folk music and gammeldans; until 2021 it appeared in print. The label is comparable to other Norwegian folk-music labels such as Heilo, Ta:lik and Krets. It remains active, serving accordion enthusiasts across Scandinavia through recordings, instrument sales and specialist media.

Norild Records was established in 1978 at Sjøholt by Kjell Opsal as a Norwegian record label for gammeldans and folk music. From its beginnings the label concentrated on accordion music, old-time dance music and Scandinavian folk music, issuing both new recordings and historical documentation releases that preserved older repertoire. In 1981 the company, together with Ørskog og omegn trekkspelklubb, began arranging the Belgiaden festival in Geiranger, held every August. The festival ran until around 2010 and became a fixture for accordion enthusiasts. Norilds was also involved with the Swedish event Bälgspel vid landsvägskanten, described as the world's largest accordion festival. The label operates as part of Norilds Musikk, a music house that also carries on publishing activities and imports and distributes musical instruments and music, mainly accordions and torader. This distribution side was created in 2002 by Kjell Opsal together with his son Reidar Opsal, broadening the business from recordings into instrument retail and supply. Norilds also publishes Norildavisa, a niche publication about accordion, folk music and gammeldans. It was issued in paper format until 2021, after which it continued online. The label is grouped with other Norwegian folk-music labels such as Heilo, Ta:lik and Krets. It remains active, serving the accordion and folk-music community in Norway and across Scandinavia.

• 2021

  Norildavisa ceases paper publication and continues online.

• 2010

  Belgiaden festival runs until around this year.

• 2002

  Distribution arm established by Kjell Opsal and son Reidar Opsal.

• 1981

  Belgiaden festival in Geiranger first arranged with Ørskog og omegn trekkspelklubb.

• 1978

  Norild Records founded at Sjøholt by Kjell Opsal.

Specialist Norwegian label and music house for accordion, gammeldans and Scandinavian folk music.

• Accordion and gammeldans recordings

• Historical documentation releases

• Accordions and torader (import/distribution)

• Sheet music

• Norildavisa publication

1. 1Norilds Musikk – FOR TREKKSPELINTERESSERTE I SKANDINAVIAnorilds.no
2. 2Norild Records – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Norild Records – Wikipedia (Norwegian)no.wikipedia.org