Värttinä (meaning spindle) is an early progenitor of “New Finnish Folk.” Värttinä’s origins go back to 1983 in the village of Rääkkylä, in Karelia, the…
Artist Profiles: Värttinä
Tag: Finnish music
Artist Profiles: Janne Lappalainen
Janne Lappalainen is an original Värttinä member from Rääkkylä and is one of the band’s chief arrangers and composers. Janne, a student of Sibelius Academy…
Artist Profiles: Maria Kalaniemi
Maria Kalaniemi was born in May 1964. She has become one of the world’s most talented accordionists, not only as a technically skilled player but…
Artist Profiles: Loituma
Loituma is an ensemble that mixes the Finnish vocal tradition with the exquisite sounds of the kantele (Finnish harp). At ease with four-part unaccompanied vocals…
Artist Profiles: JPP
In the early eighties, a group of young fiddlers from the tiny village of Järvelä began making some noise in local folk music circles. Järvelän…
Artist Profiles: Gjallarhorn
Gjallarhorn rejuvenated traditional music rooted in the Swedish folk music of Finland. Their music was a modern echo of the ancient Nordic folk tradition with…
Artist Profiles: Ampron Prunni
Ampron Prunni, composed of Arto Järvelä, Risto Hotakainen and Timo Valo, have continued to develop the rich tradition of Kaustinen fiddle music. The three musicians…
Delightful Contemporary Finnish Folk Music from Kardemimmit
Kardemimmit – Kesäyön valo – Midnight Sun (Kardemimmit, 2018) Midnight Sun is the fifth album by highly talented Finnish female ensemble Kardemimmit. The quartet delivers…
Finnish Electro-folk Band Okra Playground to Release Ääneni Yli Vesien
Helsinki-based band Okra Playground is set to release a new album in March 2018 titled Ääneni Yli Vesien. The group combines traditional Finnish musical instruments…
Nordic fingerstyle Virtuosity
J-P Piirainen – Twined ((Bafe’s Factory / Nordic Notes, 2017) Twined is the new release by Finnish fingerstyle guitarist J-P Piirainen. The guitar virtuoso is…