The world's most famous Sámi artist, Norwegian Mari Boine.
(Photo: Gregor Hohenberg)
The history of the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival has continued uninterrupted. The largest folk music festival in the Nordic countries will take place for the 54th time in the second week of July.
The world's most famous Sámi artist, a Norwegian Mari Boine will be shown at the main arena in Kaustinen on Friday 16 July. He has been combining jazz, pop and rock with Sámi music since the 1980s. The angry young woman has grown into an international star. Most recently, she has recorded in English after years in the Sámi language.
Kaustinen's all-time favourite Frigg has been known worldwide not only as a fusion of folk music styles but also for its crowd-pleasing stage energy for 20 years. Now the band aims to play a celebration concert on Friday with its original Norwegian-Finnish line-up.
Also a happy Estonian MandoTrio and a young Swede Spöket i Köket have attracted attention with their energy. Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble visited Kaustinen in 2013, and those who saw the show will remember the Finnish-Beninese band's vibe. The Finnish PIranian Blom Company there is a special warmth and strength to be gained from the encounter.
- Music is combined with movement, dance and energy in all these bands so strongly that the familiar slogan "Feel the music" will certainly be true this year, Programme Director Anne-Mari Hakamäki smiles.
- This feeling is also strongly involved in the organisation of the festival. We have perhaps more enthusiasm than ever, both for the organisers and the performers. Our shared values have been strengthened by the realisation of how much we need the togetherness of a festival week to sustain us throughout the year.
Kaustinen's own house band has been challenging well-known Finnish musicians for years. This year the challenge has been taken up by Mariska. Other domestic favourites include Behm and Samuli Putro. Familiar and safe fun is guaranteed The butcher's shop form.
The programme for the whole family includes Kangasala Little Players, Mimmit and Siina & Taikaradio.
Kymenlaakso as a regional theme
In the summer, people play, sing and dance in Kaustinen, especially to the tune of polka. This year's festival theme is ”polska”, which is danced in a circle, in a chain or in pairs. It is one of the oldest forms of folk dance in the Nordic countries.
In the series on regional themes, the next is Kymenlaakso. There will be a wide variety of concerts and workshops on the music of the Cymenlaakso region.
The third theme this year is the theme of the Folk Music and Folk Dance Promotion Centre. ”on the northern paths”. This theme will be reflected not only in the range of Nordic performers at the festival, but also in the main seminar, which will set out a vision for strengthening Nordic cooperation.
Pelimann search under way
New programme announcements will be made during the spring as preparations progress. Registration for Pelimanni is open until the end of March. You can register yourself or your group for next summer's festival here.