BARELY a week after the Jorvik Viking Festival concludes, the genuine Vikings will be coming to York in the musical form of Aurora Voices.

On February 25, Acomb Methodist Church, in Front Street, will play host to a family-friendly, hour-long concert by the children and youth choirs from Finnsnes church, Finnsnes being a small Norwegian city with a population of 4,400, 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

This city is known for Ottar the Viking, a 9th century chieftain and seafarer who travelled, mostly peacefully apparently, as a trader. Those travels took in a visit to King Alfred in England, to whom Ottar told tales of voyages to Russia, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

In the same spirit of peace and cultural exchange, the 23 modern Vikings will present a concert sung in both Norwegian and English, giving a "smakebit" – a taste – of the music they sing throughout the church year, including at Advent, Christmas, Easter and on May 17, Norway's national day. Songs reflecting life under the midnight sun and the aurora in the north of Norway will be performed too.

There will be both traditional and modern pieces with accompaniment from piano, organ and a small contemporary band. Translations of the Norwegian texts will be projected and choir members will give a short presentation about Finnsnes, illustrated with pictures. The audience might learn a little Norwegian too during the course of the concert.

The choirs are open to both boys and girls but this trip is with the girls only. The children's choir covers the ages six to 11; the youth choir, from 12 to 15, and the choirs have been running for more than 20 years, with former members now sending their own children to participate. As well as singing regularly in family services, special services and concerts in Finnsnes, the choirs have visited Germany and Trondheim and sung in other parishes in northern Norway.

The choirs are led by Jon and Sarah Blamire, together with conductor Solrun Borvik. Jon and Sarah are both English and moved to Norway in 2012 to serve as full-time church musicians, known as kantors. Jon was born in Huntington, York, and his parents now live in Acomb, a connection that has led to the concert taking place at Acomb Methodist Church.

Norwegian children learn English from the age of six and even the youngest in the choir are comfortable singing in several languages. The choristers are excited at the prospect of experiencing the common Viking heritage that still prevails in York, not least to see Norwegian-sounding words such as 'gate', 'beck' and 'foss' on road signs.

Tickets for the 7pm concert on February 25 cost £3 on the door or on 01904 788497. Refreshments will be served after the event.