Opening parade 2017 at Penttilkä bridge. Photo by Arto Kuorikoski.
Press release 4.7.2018
The 51st Kaustinen Folk Music Festival is approaching - the small village's big celebration kicks off on Monday 9 July and preparations are in the final stages. As in Kaustinen, the programme has something for everyone. There will be around 1800 gigs during the week! If all the concerts were held on one stage, each concert lasted 30 minutes and there were concerts around the clock, there would be enough for a month and a half! On top of that, the bushes are banging and the area is jammed from dawn to dusk.
The Folk Music Festival offers both traditional folk music and big-name star artists (Virve Rosti, Suvi Teräsniska, Egotrippi...). International guests include critically acclaimed avant-folk singer-songwriter Richard Dawson From the UK, Polish family band Kapela Maliszów and a Haitian atmosphere Chouk Bwa.
Dance offerings range from acoustic pelican dances to spectacular dance performances such as a major production from Oulu. Owla and the lost walkia. As well as enjoying all kinds of performances in the festival area, you can also learn new skills such as playing the ukulele, Argentine tango or canal weaving. In a dance jam workshop you can immerse yourself in dancing in a whole new way, in popular jam workshops anyone can learn from star guests such as From Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haasilta. Throughout the week there is also plenty on offer for the whole family, Children's Music Orchestra Ammuun from concerts to a stick hammer workshop and a lava trip.
Pre-sales are brisk
Last year, the Folk Music Festival celebrated its 50th year in spectacular style, breaking records for both attendance and number of players.
– Last year the total number of visits was about 55 000 and the year before about 43 000, says Acting Executive Director Minna Huuskonen. This year we expect around 48 000 visitors. We especially hope that many of last year's first-time visitors will return to Kaustinen! Advance sales have been busier than last year, so in that sense the situation is promising.
We are constantly working to improve the functionality of the Festival Park, with last year's innovation being a recycling point, for example. This year, music and song will ring out on 26 stages, from the massive Keskipohjanmaa arena to the intimate Mauno dormitory, from the Kaustinen church to the communal singing cave.
– Of last year's new additions, the Kestikievari tent will also continue to operate, says Production Manager Juha Kuurajärvi. This year, the tent will have a bar and two food vendors, and will be open all week, not just during special catering hours like last year. The Kestikievar stage has been specially programmed with danceable music.
Folk music festivals will also spread throughout Kausti. Under the banner "Kaustinen visits the village", visits will be made to petrol stations and grocery stores as well as to service houses and atmospheric village houses outside the Festival Park.
Kaustinen Folk Music Festival in a nutshell
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was first organised in 1968
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This year, in addition to Finland, 15 countries are participating: Sweden, Estonia, Norway, Denmark, Latvia, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, UK, Spain, Portugal, USA, Japan, Haiti, Colombia.
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the themes of the year are Nature, Living Heritage and the regional theme of Lapland
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on the opening day, Mon 9.7. Kaustinen municipality offers free admission to all in connection with its 150th anniversary celebrations
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plenty of family activities, free admission for children under 7 years old
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26 stages and performances all over the village
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the number of individual performers in 2017 was around 5200, exact figures will only be known after the festival
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total number of visitors in 2017 was 55 958 (42 892 in 2016), number of tickets sold in 2017 was 22 395 (16 743 in 2016)
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You can get to Kaustinen by train to Kokkola and from there by bus.
51. Kaustinen Folk Music Festival will be held 9.-15.7.2018.
Summer programme information can be found on the website http://www.kaustinen.net
In cooperation with the 150th anniversary of Kaustinen municipality