english

KAUSTINEN BAND OF THE YEAR 2012: SIBA FOLK BIG BAND

KAUSTINEN FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL – PRESS RELEASE 13^th JANUARY 2012

The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival Band of the Year 2012 is the Sibelius Academy Folk Big Band. They are a folk music band consisting of 35 musicians, each of whom play an important role as the composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, soloist and a band member. Their instrument repertoire includes violins, kanteles, accordions, guitars, wind instruments and harmoniums. A wide array of instruments and indisputably strong folk singing skills give the band a distinct and unequalled sound.

Kaustinen for the 45^th time from 9^th to 15^th July 2012

Themes for the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival this year are Scandinavia, the kantele and the historical province of Tavastia (Häme) in southern Finland. Finnish folk music and its various related phenomena are proudly represented at the core of the festival. You can also expect to see a wide selection of folk dance, singer-songwriters, international atmosphere and mind-boggling crossovers. A record-breaking number of over 300 folk music groups, from amateurs to professionals, are expected to arrive at the festival.

As this year's ambassadors of modern Nordic folk music, Kaustinen proudly presents Frigg, duo Hazelius Hedin and Magnus Holmström, a triple world champion of nyckelharpa. The hilarious New Rope String Band adds further international color to the festival. Tuure Kilpeläinen and Nikolai Blad are both singer-songwriters with very unique styles and they are prime examples of the lineup of singer-songwriters present at the festival.

The programme for Kaustinen Folk Music Festival is scheduled to come out on 9^th March 2012. The festival is organised by Pro Kaustinen ry, the association that also produced last year's programme.