{"id":37232,"date":"2018-07-04T11:16:00","date_gmt":"2018-07-04T08:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kaustinen.net\/?p=37232"},"modified":"2018-07-04T11:16:00","modified_gmt":"2018-07-04T08:16:00","slug":"vauhdilla-kohti-kaustisen-51-kansanmusiikkijuhlia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kaustinen.net\/en\/vauhdilla-kohti-kaustisen-51-kansanmusiikkijuhlia\/","title":{"rendered":"Fast forward to the 51st Kaustinen Folk Music Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Opening parade 2017 at Penttilk\u00e4 bridge. Photo by Arto Kuorikoski.<\/p><\/div>\n

Press release 4.7.2018<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Folk Music Festival offers both traditional folk music and big-name star artists (<\/span><\/span>Virve Rosti, Suvi Ter\u00e4sniska, Egotrippi.<\/b><\/span><\/span>..). International guests include critically acclaimed avant-folk singer-songwriter <\/span><\/span>Richard Dawson <\/b><\/span><\/span>From the UK, <\/span><\/span>Polish family band <\/span><\/span>Kapela Malisz\u00f3w<\/b><\/span><\/span> and a Haitian atmosphere <\/span><\/span>Chouk Bwa<\/b><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dance offerings range from acoustic pelican dances to spectacular dance performances such as a major production from Oulu. <\/span><\/span>Owla and the lost walkia<\/b><\/span><\/span>. 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 <\/span><\/span>From Alasdair Fraser<\/b><\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span>Natalie Haasilta<\/b><\/span><\/span>. Throughout the week there is also plenty on offer for the whole family, <\/span><\/span>Children's Music Orchestra Ammuun<\/b><\/span><\/span> from concerts to a stick hammer workshop and a lava trip.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pre-sales are brisk<\/span><\/h4>\n

Last year, the Folk Music Festival celebrated its 50th year in spectacular style, breaking records for both attendance and number of players.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2013 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.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u2013 Of last year's new additions, the Kestikievari tent will also continue to operate, says Production Manager Juha Kuuraj\u00e4rvi. 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.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kaustinen Folk Music Festival in a nutshell<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n