Folkish Finns at Womex 2002

Finns will have a representative participation with seven companies: Finnish Folk Music Association, Hoedown Management, The Kantele Project & Koistinen Kantele, Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, Rockadillo Records & Agency, and Finnish Music Information Centre (FIMIC). The companies will have a joint stand of Finland (hall 7, 7.8-7.10), which is a part of the Nordic Corner.

Excellent kantele ambassador Timo Väänänen's official showcase on Friday the 25th at 7 pm (hall 23) along with percussionist Abdissa "Mamba" Assefa will be a celebration of electric kantele. The fair participants will be welcomed to play themselves at kantele workshops on Saturday the 26th at 11 am and 12 am (hall 23, stage 2).

FIMIC will introduce the brand new "Arctic Paradise 2003" compilation CD and cataloque at WOMEX for the first time. File under: quality folk.

• article submitted by: Minna Huuskonen, Finnish Music Information Centre