Finnish Music and Music Events

What comes to music, we Finns have our own kind of taste: more than half of the records sold in Finland, are also made here. The proportion is one of the highest in Europe. We Finns also love music festivals and outdoor concerts in summer time. During and right after the EAHIL 2008 Helsinki there are many music happenings going on in Helsinki and near Helsinki.

Avanti! XXIII Summer Sounds, Porvoo 25. – 29.6.2008

The Avanti! Chamber Orchestra was formed in 1983 by conductors Esa-Pekka Salonen, Olli Pohjola and Jukka-Pekka Saraste. Avanti! describes itself as "an ensemble that varies in size from a string quartet to a symphony orchestra, it specializes in no particular genre. Rather, it is proud to be a specialist in all styles with a strong sense of responsibility for the music of today." Since 1986 Avanti! has had a festival of its own called Suvisoitto (Summer Sounds) in the little Finnish town of Porvoo. During and right after the EAHIL 2008 Helsinki, there are many interesting concerts going on. See the Avanti! Summer Sounds programme [here]. Porvoo is a beautiful old town, so it is worthwhile visiting also for it's own sake. You can travel from Helsinki to Porvoo by bus in about 1 hour, or by ferry in about 3 and a half hours. Information about transportation options to Porvoo [here].

Tuska Open Air Metal Festival, Helsinki 27.-29.6.2008

Word “tuska” is Finnish, and means pain or agony. Tuska Open Air Metal Festival is the largest music festival dedicated to metal and related styles in the Nordic countries. So during the conference week you might see lots of people dressed in black going to direction Kaisaniemi park, where the festival takes place. On Thursday 26 June one of Finland’s metal pride and joy Nightwish gives a concert within Tuska Festival.

Organ Night and Aria Festival, Espoo 5.6.—28.8.2008

Series of late evening concerts in the mediaeval greystone Cathedral of Espoo provides classical music on Thursdays throughout the summer. On Thursday 26 June the concert is called Hilke with Handel . Espoo is a city near by Helsinki, and Espoo Cathedral is located in Espoo centre (Kirkkopuisto 5), so the concert place is easily accessible by bus and train from Helsinki city centre (Busses 154, 154T, 156, 213, 270; Commuter trains E, L, S, U).

Espa Stage, Helsinki

In Esplanade Park, by “Espa Stage”, you have the possibility to enjoy music free of charge. Each summer around 200 artists and groups from Finland and abroad perform on the stage. The performers include young artists at the beginning of their careers, as well as well-known and established artists. The rhythms of jazz, blues, folk music and rock can often be heard coming from the stage. Performances usually start at 4.30 p.m. Monday–Thursday, and at 10.30 a.m. on Saturday. On weekdays during the lunch hour, the stage is also a popular place to perform. During EAHIL 2008 Helsinki for example following performances has already been announced to take place at Espa Stage:

- Wednesday 25 June, 16.30: Kindly Ink
- Thursday 26 June, 18.30: Blueintheface

Further information about Finnish music and Finnish festivals

Finnish Music in a nutshell
Written for Virtual Finland by Pekka Hako; music researcher, author

Finnish Popular Music
Tero Valkonen, Finnish Music Information Centre (FIMIC)

Finnish Contemporary Music
Finnish Music Information Centre (FIMIC)

Finnish Folk and World Music
Pirkko Kotirinta, Finnish Music Information Centre (FIMIC)

Finnish Jazz
Petri Silas, Finnish Music Information Centre (FIMIC)

Finnish Music Information Centre (FIMIC)
Includes “Fimic player”, where you can listen to samples of Finnish folk, rock, pop, jazz and contemporary music

Music Export Finland
Includes “Musex player”, where you can also listen to samples of Finnish music.

Finland Festivals
Information about festivals in all over Finland