This year, the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival is being held for the 50th time. It will be a mixture of nostalgic moods and fresh breezes from the colourful world of folk and world music. This year, festival guests are invited to children's parties, provincial celebrations, multi-national jam sessions, bear hunts and the biggest of parties, weddings.
In keeping with the theme of the year, the celebrations of the century will take the form of both individual concerts and a new marquee and its contents. The tent will serve as a stall where the atmosphere of the celebrations will be created and the dancing crowd will be enchanted by minstrels, maestros and storytellers - not forgetting the food.
Fiddler's Bid (GB)
The international flavour of the festival will be represented by the long-standing ambassador of Gypsy music, the Romanian Taraf de Haidouks, among others. Other international performers include the American Laura Cortese and the Dance Cards, the dance-floor-raising Trad.Attack! from Estonia, and the Fiddlers’ Bid from Shetland, also known as the Celtic Tordan. The party will also feature the powerful Spanish interpreter of the Galician musical tradition Davide Salvado, the Chilean-French Trio Bordelestino, and the Estonian-Belgian Estbel. Danish folk music will also be represented by Trio Svin, the seven-piece Trolska Polska and the duo Fromseier Hockings. Interesting multinational collaborations will be presented by the trio of Swiss, Ukrainian and Finnish virtuoso singers Pulkkinen - Räss - Sadovska, the Finnish-Danish-Swedish Floating Sofa Quartet and the Scottish-Finnish duo Sarah-Jane Summers & Juhani Silvola.
The band of the year is Gájanas, a progressive renewal of the Sámi tradition, combining electronic band instruments with impressive yoika. The latest trends in folk music are presented by this year's Etno-Emma winner, the vocal group Tuuletar, the Karelian electronic group Suistamon Sähkö and Kalevauva.fi, which draws its lyrics from online discussion forums. Laitakaupungin Orkesteri and Paleface, a highly acclaimed co-production singing about a better place for the world, will also be part of this year's celebrations, as will Aija Puurtinen & Rytmiraide Allstars with their immigrant music. The pages of history will also be in evidence at the festival, with performances by Värttinä, Arto Järvelkä and Kimmo Pohjonen's Pinnin Pojat, the legendary Salamakannel, Pihasoittajat, formed in 1969 at the end of a Kaustinen festival tour, and the Hootenanny Trio, who performed at the first festival.
Kalevauva.fi (photo: Leif Rosas)
The festival week will also be enlivened by the captivating Erin, Samuli Edelmann and Paula Koivuniemi as soloist of the folk orchestra assembled by Niko Kumpuvaara. This year's Kaustinen special concert is a tribute to Kirka, with house band soloists Aija Puurtinen, Pekko Käppi, Anssi Salminen and Kisu Jernström. As usual, the programme will also include the Tekosyy Club, hosted this year by Dimi Salo.
The seeds of Kaustisian musicianship are usually sown, if not planted, then at least rooted at the festivals, when children and young people from the region who are looking for musical inspiration have spent the month of July at these festivals, soaking up musical influences in many forms. 50. The festival, which is being held for the 50th time, will see this current group of professionals take their place in the arenas of their own growing up: the Folkkarit, Prusikoukku and Tötterssön in a great joint concert, Ville Ojanen and Kameleontti, Ville Kangas Plastic fiddle band, Snekka and Frigg.
This summer, international folk dance artists will represent the European dance tradition, while the dance programme will otherwise focus on a diverse range of domestic folk dance. Both Western and Eastern traditions, traditional and modern dance will meet, collide and merge during the week with top domestic groups in a celebration of the theme of the festival. 30 years after the publication of Tanssikont, the time has come to present the most beloved choreographies of the legendary Helvi Jukarainen in a concert by master folk dancer Hannu Nipul. With its energy and freshness, Hässäkkä goes Ultra Bra is one of the dance events of the year. Décadas - the power of Flamenco! is a performance by long-standing Finnish flamenco artists, offering traditional flamenco with a personal twist.
Kaustinen's long history as a strong cultural town and its vitality to this day will be on display throughout the week. The main concert of Kaustisian music will be the Great Cavalcade Concert, in the spirit of the very first cavalcade. The wedding choir, the Tallari and its guests, the Kaustinen Purple Boys' Choir and the horn section are among the regulars. These performers will be brought together, for example, at a concert by Viljo S. Määttälä, the party's long-time president, who has now passed away, and at the Kaustisian Evenings.
Bridge dances (photo: Tapio Rantakari / archive of the Folk Music Institute)
By popular demand, a bridge dance will also be held in the dairy yard to celebrate the anniversary, as in the old days. The dancers will include JPP, Kaustinen's horn section and the Boys of America, Kaustinen's long-time friends from across the pond. Other favourite bands at the summer party include Lasse Hoikka and Souvarit and T for Three.
The brand new Children's Tent invites festival-goers to a week-long children's party with music, dance and workshops. To celebrate the centenary, children's music will also take over the arena on several days. As usual, the arena's festivities will kick off on Tuesday with the traditional cuddle matinees by Näppärei and Ottoste, and end on Sunday with the ever-popular Satu Sopanen and the Tutti Orchestra. In addition, the Tradilintuu Festival Orchestra and a children's concert will take to the Arena, hosted by the familiar TV duo Siina and Nalle. Other highlights of the week include the Maukka and Väykkä story concert and the Henxelit celebrating its 10th anniversary. The UULU cultural cooperative will be holding concerts and workshops to ensure that babies and young children can join in the festivities.
The programme will again feature a strong representation of bands and choirs, many of which have been attending the festival for several decades, some even since the beginning. The centenary year has inspired bands from all over the world to take part in this year's festivals.
The life of Pelimann will be opened up in their own concerts by two different generations of experts, Katja Lampinen and Toivo ”Topi” Rajala. They will bring along their playing friends, their mentors and various ensembles from along the way. The themed ”In the Company of Pelimann” concerts reflect the festival's past years, when Toivo Rajala's ”Topi's Hour” concerts at Pelimannitalo always drew a full house.
Katja Lampinen and Heikki Lahti (photo: Lauri Oino)
The diversity of tradition renewal, creativity and open-mindedness can be seen and heard in the gamemans' groups. Queen's Days combines music and drama in an unprecedented and bold way. The Pelimanns also collaborate on a concert series called Blue and White Songs by the Singing and Sound Company Rempallaan. Multi-talented pelimann, lyricist and composer Jussi Asu has put together an atmospheric concert of Finland's best-known tunes, and a strong group of performers will bring the show to life in the pelimann spirit.
The Pidot programme of the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival is also part of the programme for the Finland 100 centenary year.
At the end of the day, a selection of performers.
More information:
Anne-Mari Hakamäki, Programme Director
anne-mari.hakamaki(a)kaustinen.net, tel. 040 3582 446
The programme for the Folk Music Festival will be published on 19.6.2017.
Daily programme: highlights
Monday 10 july
Procession, opening ceremony, Tekosyy-club, Konsta Jylhä competition, Heikki Laitinen and Kimmo Pohjonen: Murhaballadit, Sakalaiskat, Marsalkan horse, Showcase: Duo Systrami (SE), Tallari, Kaustisen Purppuripelimannit, Polkamonsters, Timo Alakotila solo, Trio Svin (DK)
Tuesday 11 july
Prusikoukku & Tötterssön & Folkkarit, Tribuutti Kirkale (with soloists Aija Puurtinen, Anssi Salminen, Pekko Käppi and Kisu Jernström), Thunder Bay's players, Konsta Jylhä final, Band of the Year: Gájanas, Mukulamatinea I: Ottoset, Mukulamatinea II: Näppärit, Arvid Lundén, Sarah-Jane Summers & Juhani Silvola (GB/FI), Baran Band, Floating Sofa Quartet (FI/DK/SE), Tuuletar, Ameriikan Poijat (US), Trad.Attack! (EE), Aila Rauhala's Kanteletgirlöt, Rempallaan Singing and Playing Company, Tradilintujen Feast Orchestra
Wednesday 12 july
Bridge dancing: JPP, American Boys, Kaustinen Hornsword and Järvelän Pelimannit, Lasse Hoikka and Souvarit, Laitakaupungin Orkesteri & Paleface, Kaustinen Social Club, Katja Lampinen with Pelimannit, Pirkkalainen messu, Lilla spelmansstämman, Pulkkinen - Räss - Sadovska (FI/CH/HU), Frigg, Hyväluoma Group, Trolska Polska (DK), Aija Puurtinen & Rytmiraide Allstars, Sakarat, 5. Great traditional harmonica concert, Brunsviga Folk Orchestra (DE), Folk Dance Circle, Suistamo Electric, Armas, Siina and Teddy Bear
Thursday 13 july
Erin, Bears' Night, Showcase: Perpetuum Lokomobile, Tötterssön, Taraf De Haïdouks (RO), Great Cavalcade Concert (Act I), Kaustinen dances!, Pentti Rasinkangas and Jarmo Romppanen, Kalevauva.Fi, Jesse Kaikuranta & Tallari, Yökatrilli, Laura Cortese And The Dance Cards (US), Vanhanpiia Bojat, Nytky, Eki Luumi and Pasi Suikkanen, Duo Saana & Einar (FI/SE), Folklara?!, Snekka, AP Sarjanto & Arto Järvelä & Tuomas Logrén
Friday 14 july
Samuli Edelmann, Ville Ojanen & Kameleontti, Fifties wish concert, Värttinä, Davide Salvado (ES), Kuokkavieraat, Viljo S. Toivo “Topi” Rajala and his friends, Hässäkkä Goes Ultra Bra, Mestaripelimannit Tepot, Kaustinen Hääkuoro, Fromseier Hockings (DK), Maukka ja Väykkä -arita concert, Salamakannel, Petri Hakala & Piia Kleemola
Saturday 15 july
Paula Koivuniemi Goes Folk, Juhlavalssi - Helvi Jukaraaisen's Best, Bill Hota & The Pulvers, Provincial Song Concert, Iso Ilo, Fiddler's Bid (GB) & Frigg, Haka, Sattuma (Ru), Showcase: Marko Siekkinen and Toivoniemi Reserve, Varjakka String Band, Queen's Days, Väisänen, etc., Ville Kangas Plastic Fiddle Band, Hääpelimannit, Henxelit, Hootenanny Trio.
Sunday 16 july
Great Cavalcade Concert (Act II), Satu Sopanen & Tutti Orchestra, Jubilee Service, Estbel (EE/BE), Yard Players, Rommakko