Top names in Finnish world and folk music will take the stage at WOMEX 2019 opening ceremony.
Four top-notch Finnish acts will perform at the WOMEX 2019 opening concert Arctic Fire - Pohjoiset tulet.
This year's opening concert of WOMEX World Music Expo 2019, held in Finland for the first time, showcases the versatility of Finnish world music. The stars of the opening show on Wednesday 23 October 2019 – starting at 19:30 – are Pauanne, Pekko Käppi, Suistamon Sähkö and Vildá. The concert is named Arctic Fire – Pohjoiset tulet.
Pauanne, a trio who released their debut album this year, combines their modern folk sound with archive tapes over one hundred years old, featuring spells of Northern healers and Karelian cattle calls.
Pekko Käppi, who will perform solo at the WOMEX opening ceremony, is known as a reformer of the traditional string instrument jouhikko (bowed lyre), as well as a charismatic frontman with his folk rock band K:H:H:L, and a versatile composer, producer and music researcher.
Vildá is a duo of vocalist, yoiker, charismatic performer Hildá Länsman and accordion virtuoso Viivi Maria Saarenkylä, whose blend of indigenous Sámi yoiks, grooving rhythms and improvisation is inspired by Sámi people's close connection to nature and present-day pop.
The energetic folktronica act Suistamon Sähkö are a four-piece band inspired by Karelian villages, folk poetry, hip hop, toy instruments – and manic dance moves.
The concert is staged and directed by internationally noted choreographer, flamenco dancer Kaari Martin together with composer, musician, producer Roni Martin, renowned for their ensemble Compañía Kaari & Roni Martin. The opening concert will be broadcast live on Yle Teema.
Northern music expertise will be also present at WOMEX's regional showcase stage, whose performers will be from the Nordic and Baltic countries this year. The host country Finland will feature three top notch acts. MA Rouf's music is a unique combination of Middle Eastern rhythmic traditions, Scandinavian jazz and Finnish folk music. Drawing on ancient tradition in their own innovative way, Tuuletar is a four-piece a cappella act that has aroused significant interest abroad. Wimme Saari is celebrated as a master of joik – the Sámi’s unique vocal tradition – and as Wimme & Rinne duo together with musician-producer Tapani Rinne, they create unparalleled combination of joik, contemporary improvisation, and ambient sound. Read more on the whole line-up of Northern Connections here.
Also the highly competed Official WOMEX Showcase selection features Finnish colors: the five-string fiddle Duo Emilia Lajunen & Suvi Oskala, whose repertoire consists of traditional Finnish fiddle tunes, arranged with a twist, as well as commissioned works by top-notch names of the folk music scene.
article posted by:Teemu Fiilin, Music Finland