Band of the Year 2026
Hilja Grönfors & Latšo Džinta

Band of the Year 2026 Hilja Grönfors & Latšo Džinta. Photo by Maarit Kytöharju.

Kaustinen Folk Music Festival's prestigious Band of the Year award is designed to highlight a band that has demonstrated special competence and activity in the field of folk music through its merits, fresh approach or long career. In 2026, the award will be given to Hilja Grönfors & Latšo Džinta.

Hilja Grönfors is the name that today is associated with Finnish Roma music. She is a unique treasure trove of songs in the field of folk music, with a profound knowledge of the stylistic features, history and cultural background of the songs she performs. For decades, the master folk singer Grönfors has made a determined and conscious effort to preserve the Roma singing tradition: he has toured Finland, collected hundreds of songs from old singers and played a key role in preserving the oral tradition for future generations.

In 2024, Hilja Grönfors' dedicated and persistent work was recognised on an exceptional scale when she was awarded an honorary doctorate and the title of academician. This honour, which is rare even internationally, is significant not only for her, but also for the entire Finnish Roma community and culture. Grönfors will perform in Kaustinen with the five-piece Latšo Džinta band.

The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival wishes to highlight the central importance of Roma music and culture for Finnish folk music and Hilja Grönfors' exceptional life's work as a guardian, transmitter and expert of living tradition.

Hilja Grönfors & Latšo Džinta:

Hilja Grönfors; vocals

Valtteri Bruun; guitar

Kiureli Sammallahti; accordion

Matti Pitkänen; violin, mandolin

Sara Puljula; bass

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