Artist of the Year Vilma Jää (Photo: Mikko Malmivaara)
Folk musician, singer and composer Vilma Jää has been awarded by the Federation of Musicians Artist of the Year -award. He is described in the award criteria as a luminous soloist who crosses genre boundaries. Vilma Jää will perform on Wednesday and Thursday of the second week of July next summer in Kaustinen.
The winners of the Long Live Folk! awards were announced on Tuesday 1 February. Wäinö of the Year -was awarded the Jaana-Maria Jukkara, Executive Director of the Global Music Centre. Through her work, she has promoted the status of musicians who have moved to Finland and the opportunities for them to enrich Finnish cultural life.
On the same occasion, the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival announced the Band of the Year, Aapintuva's pelimannis, which this time is a recognition of the entire Kaustis violin tradition.The community college's violin group, which began in the early 1980s, has been bringing players together for more than four decades.
Read more about the Kaustinen Band of the Year 2022 here
Long Live Folk! awards 2022
Every year, the most prominent players in the folk dance and folk music scene award the most luminous stars and important influencers in the field. The awards were due to be presented at the Folklandia Cruise's Long Live Folk! gala in January, but had to be cancelled due to the interest rate. Now the awards will be handed out in their own way.
Folk Music Maker of the Year: Akkajee. The band has raised the bar in folk music making with its diverse and ambitious work. (Suomen Musiikintekijät)
Dance of the Year: To Riina Hosio for her book Bloodless Words. (Finnish Youth Clubs)
Folk Music Album of the Year: Ánnámáret: Nieguid duovdagat. The music on the album draws from both the rich Yokai tradition and the living culture of Sami. (Kansanmusiikki-lehti and kamukanta.fi)
Canticle Plate of the Year: Folk'Avant band: Jorvik Lu llaby. A unique and impressive collaboration that combines the world of games, great creative content and the expertise of musicians. (Kanteleliitto)
Young Pelican of the Year: Anni Saksman, 12. He has won the Silver Accordion Competition in 2019. (Folk Music Association, Juho Koiranen Memorial Fund)
Crossroads Award: Hapavesi Folk Music Festival has been building its work boldly across genres and national borders for decades. (World Music Centre - Global Music Centre)