Press release 05.02.2015
KAUSTINEN FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL ATTRACTS MORE AND MORE PLAYERS
The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival has already attracted a record number of players during the first registration period. By the end of January, no fewer than 232 groups had applied, with a total of 1700 players performing. Compared to the 160 groups registered a year ago, there are already more than 70 more registered groups. The second registration period is now open and players can apply until the end of March.
Pro Kaustinen ry has made a determined return to its roots and created the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival as a celebration of inclusive participation. The threshold for participation in playing, singing and dancing is kept as low as possible. Amateurs and professionals are on the same page: when building the festival programme, both amateur and professional musicians are placed on the same stages and, where possible, at the same concerts. The energy of music and dance and the joy of working together define the festival's fundamental character.
All musicians, singers and dancers who participate in the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival under so-called "pelimannie" conditions, i.e. for the joy of playing, dancing and singing, without financial compensation, are considered to be pelimannas. Performers receive a festival pass and benefits in terms of accommodation and food. In 2012, the festival attracted 3,000 players, the following year 3,080 and last summer 3,400. The figures are gratifying to see: they show that the folk music and dance hobby is on a stable, even growing, footing.
The festival's 2015 folk song theme aims to cover a wide range of topics, from bare, unaccompanied folk song traditions to polyphonic singing groups. ”We hope to see more folk singers, singer-songwriters and various song groups in particular sign up!” hopes Salla Seppä, who is putting together the pelimanni programme and for whom this year is her first in the pelimanni manager's boots.
In the last couple of years, new stages have been added to the festival area to ensure sufficient performance time and space. No new stage is planned for next summer, but the traditional acoustic music venue Viinitupa will move to new premises near the main festival gate. In total, the festival will have 24 performance spaces of varying sizes. The music will also spread outside the festival area, for example to shops and petrol stations, thanks to the Kaustinen käy kylään programme series.
Pelimannimusikkusik will play at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival every day, from morning till evening 6.-12.7.2015!
More information:
Sini Keränen
Executive Director
040 1729 566
sini.keranen@kaustinen.net