Press release 8.6.2017
Does any other summer event offer such a rich programme for children as the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival? It is certainly not about a side programme, but a week-long, varied and functional children's festival.
From helmet hats to rifle skirts to ukulele skirts
The children's tent with its playground is a traditional family favourite and base. Visitors to the Children's Tent, the oldest of whom are now well into adulthood, will remember the singing and playing of the Tradilinnu from nearly twenty years ago.
”It all started in 1999,” says Anne-Mari Hakamäki, one of the original Tradilinnu and currently programme manager of the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival. ”In the early years, the ’birds’ playing and making music with the children were students of the Lower Konni College, now students of music education at the Sibelius Academy. The comfortable and safe atmosphere under the wings of the Trad birds continues.”
In addition to making music, children and young people will find things to do in workshops, including dancing and making instruments, jewellery and trick horses. With the little ones, you can even learn helmet-cheek parachuting in the baby and toddler workshops in the Iholla hall. Older children can try archery or songwriting.
”There are more workshops and activities than ever before,” assures Children from Kaustinen. Veera Luomala. ”If you don't feel like doing it all the time, you can retreat to the nursery room next door to the primary school to cook, rest or change nappies. A new service for families is the 4H Child Park, where you can get childcare help if you need it.”
Conquering Comfort Carpets
On Tuesday, the children will take over the large Keskipohjanmaa arena. The stars of the Mukulamatineos will be a bewilderingly large number of Nippers and Ottos, big and small. Each of the two groups now has its own matinee.
New keyboarders will be recruited from the keyboard courses, such as the one currently running in Kaustinen. About 300 musicians from all over Finland, ranging in age from toddlers to teenagers and adults, are playing at the course. Courses are held all year round in different parts of Finland and Mauno Järvelä, the grandfather of keyboard philosophy, has spread keyboard pedagogy abroad.
The Ottos represent Kaustinen's strong tanh tradition. Every week, around 180 children and young people from 3 to 20 years old attend the youth club's hobby groups. ”That's a lot for a municipality of 4,300 inhabitants,” says the chairman of the Kaustinen Youth Society. Ira Korkala. ”Long traditions certainly have an impact, but so does determined work. The latest boom came about when a group for 3-year-olds was set up ten years ago,” says Korkala. Child-parent groups are also supporting this ”folklore bath”.
Top performers all week
The Children's Festival will be celebrated throughout the week with concerts in the Children's Tent, Keskipohjanmaa Arena, Iho, Pelimannitalo and the Folk Art Centre.
Orffit, who were actually born in Kaustinen 21 years ago, are on tour together. The City of Laita Orchestra with. TV stars Siina and Teddy Bear put on a jolly children's party with bands of children's bands and Pentti Rasinkankaan and Jarmo Romppaisen with. Emma Award winner Windstar-the ensemble's performance of ’Pohjanneito and the Stolen Golden Threads’ allows the audience to participate by singing and creating soundscapes. Timo Parvelan characters created by Flavour and Bunny bring to the stage not only music and dance, but also stories told and acted. Henxelit makes the feet of men of all ages twitch and the sugar at the bottom is Satu Sopanen and her Tutti Orchestra.
Comfortable carpets at Keskipohjanmaa-areena Tue 11.7. at 13 and 17
Orffs and the Laitakaupunki Orchestra at Keskipohjanmaa Arena Tue 11.7. at 15:00
Siina and Teddy Bear and their friends Keskipohjanmaa-areena on Wed 12.7. at 12.30 pm
Windstar In the children's tent Wed 12.7. at 16:00
Pentti Rasinkangas and Jarmo Romppainen In the children's tent on Thu 13.7. at 16.30
Flavour and Bunny Kaustinen Hall Fri 14.7. at 15 (quick visit at the Children's Tent Fri 14.7. at 14)
Henxelit Children's tent on Sat 15.7. at 11 am
Satu Sopanen and the Tutti Orchestra At the Children's Tent kantele jams on Sat 15.7. at 17.15 and at Keskipohjanmaa-areena on Sun 16.7. at 11.30
Children's tent and workshops programme >>>
For more information and interview requests:
Head of Information Tove Djupsjöbacka
p. 040-6585340
press(a)kaustinen.net