Today, very few native speakers remain of the endangered Ume Sámi language. But with an otherworldly force, Katarina Barruk has made her mark on the international music scene with her deeply grounded blend of pop and traditional folk, sung in Ume Sámi. Following performances at the Royal Albert Hall and festivals such as Roskilde and Iceland Airwaves, she is now ready to take the stage at ALICE. Experience her live this November, when she brings her powerful voice to our intimate stage.

“It’s incredible – almost not credible – that she’s managed to become something that never existed before: an internationally renowned Ume Sámi touring artist.“ – The Line of Best Fit

Katarina Barruk is a unique voice on the international music scene. She sings in Ume Sámi, a language spoken today by very few native speakers and listed by UNESCO as critically endangered. But for Barruk, the rarity of the language is no limitation. On the contrary, she invites audiences into a world where Ume Sámi is alive, relevant and completely natural. With her powerful, clear voice, Indigenous vocal techniques and strong stage presence, Barruk brings together raw force, vulnerability and strength in an intense blend of pop, traditional joik and improvisation.

Barruk made her debut with Báruos in 2015 and has since toured extensively across Europe. She became the first Sámi artist to perform at Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms and has collaborated with leading Scandinavian orchestras including Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and Norwegian Chamber Orchestra. In 2025, she released the EP Guh Lejmeh Sámieh, based on the music she composed for the first theatre play in Ume Sámi in 100 years. Her second album, Ruhttuo (2022), was created in collaboration with producers Arnljot Nordvik and Christo Stangness, further establishing Barruk as an artist who follows her own path. At ALICE, you can experience a more intimate and stripped-back side of Barruk as she performs with Eirik Fjelde and Arnljot Nordvik in a raw and experimental concert setting.