KAUSTINEN FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL IS UTTERLY OUT OF BOUNDS!
The slogan for the 2013 Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, 'Out of Bounds!' is well descriptive of this year's programme and the festival's young organizers. Intriguing crossover projects and multinational groups await the festival visitor, as well as folk musicians, dance groups and artists boldly redefining various genre borders. Musical styles from different centuries go together like socks and shoes in the programme and there's also lots of it, this time over all the 7 days of the week.
The week starts off with a colorful opening ceremony and continues with a Slavic theme when the Keskipohjanmaa arena fills up with songs by Vladimir Vysotsky, performed by Martti Suosalo and Jarkko Lahti. The week also starts off with Russian folk music group Otava Yo and Polish Janusz Prusinowski and his trio. Strong eastern European influences can also be detected in the group of the year, Orkestar Bordurka.
The some of the many international groups at the festival include Froggy Mountain Boys (DE/US), Pelios (FI/SE), Nordik Tree (FI/SE), the Grammy-nominated Casey Driessen (US), Septentrio (SE/FI), The Chipolatas (UK), Sweden's finest folk party band Folk All-in Band (SE) and the Slovenian folk dance group FS Emona (SI).
Some of this year's mind-boggling pop & folk-crossover projects include Jesse Kaikuranta & Snekka, Timo Rautiainen Folk Band, Boom Shakalaka DJs, Jari Rättyä & Käärmekeitto, the hypnotic singer-songwriter Mirel Wagner, Anna Puu, Topi Saha, New Better Spring Band, Esko Elomaa, Pekko Käppi & Juhana Nyrhinen, the original country & hip hop sensationStig and Eva & Manu (FI/FR).
The sharp end of Finnish folk music is represented by Saaga Ensemble, Tsuumi Sound System, Esko Järvelä Epic Male Band, Laitakaupungin Orkesteri and Kardemimmit. Bringing the latest and greatest of world music on stage we have Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble (FI/BJ), The World Mänkeri Orchestra and Ashimba (FI/TZ). Celebrating full decades of their musical journeys are Kaustisen Hääkuoro with their 50th anniversary, and MeNaiset and Bill Hota & The Pulvers with their 20-year milestones. The Kaustinen Cavalcade goes back to 1963 and the early days of the festival. Representing local talent in the programme are also JPP and Kaustisen Salonkiorkesteri, while Pelmakat, Livakat, Ripakat and Kiepukat offer the joy and elation of folk dance.
The children's programme is evenly distributed over the 7-day week and the Children's tent is open every day. The new Kaustinen for Kids theme adds Orffit, Loiskis, Freija ja Tallari to the concert offering, not forgetting the ever-popular Kids' matinees on Tuesday.
The nation's own Jukka Kuoppamäki celebrates his 70-year artist artist anniversary, and climbs on stage on Saturday at the immensely popular Saturday Sauna concert. The festival ends with a family friendly Sunday and a feel-good performance from Satu Sopanen & Loiskis.
The full festival programme is announced at the end of May. Check the daily schedule here!
To perform at Kaustinen ?
Would you or your group like to perform at this year's Kaustinen Folk Music Festival?
Performers' Application Form Artist proposals
Performers' Application Form is intended for performers who wish to come and perform at the festival and enjoy the unique atmosphere of the festival without financial repayment.
Performing groups can apply using this online form (NB! The form is only for those performers who wish to come and perform at Kaustinen without financial repayment!). The registration takes place in two parts. The first registration period is between 15th November 2012 and 31st January 2013. For those who have sent their application forms by the end of January, we aim to offer better visibility in marketing materials, such as the programme preview. The second registration period is from 1st February to 31st March, adding to the final performer lineup for this year's festival.
We're happy to accept a great majority of the musicians and groups who have filled out this form as registered performers to the festival. However, we occasionally have to decline some applications due, for instance, to insufficient sound system resources. The festival's programme committee carefully considers each application, and each group or musician is individually informed of their decision.
Artists & agencies: Contact artists(at)kaustinen.net
Please notice that we can't reply to every email we get. But we read them all!
For a swift reply, please include the following information to your artist proposal: possible requests for performance dates, request for repayment, detailed travel expenses, technical rider, accommodation needs and any other requests.
Note! Unfortunately we cannot offer a hotel style accommodation at Kaustinen. Most types of accommodation are organised in rooms for 2 people. Local private family accommodation is highly recommended, please ask for more details.
KAUSTINEN BAND OF THE YEAR 2012: SIBA FOLK BIG BAND
The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival Band of the Year 2012 is the Sibelius Academy Folk Big Band. They are a folk music band consisting of 35 musicians, each of whom play an important role as the composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, soloist and a band member. Their instrument repertoire includes violins, kanteles, accordions, guitars, wind instruments and harmoniums. A wide array of instruments and indisputably strong folk singing skills give the band a distinct and unequalled sound.
Kaustinen for the 45th time from 9th to 15th July 2012
Themes for the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival this year are Scandinavia, the kantele and the historical province of Tavastia (Häme) in southern Finland. Finnish folk music and its various related phenomena are proudly represented at the core of the festival. You can also expect to see a wide selection of folk dance, singer-songwriters, international atmosphere and mind-boggling crossovers. A record-breaking number of over 300 folk music groups, from amateurs to professionals, are expected to arrive at the festival.
As this year's ambassadors of modern Nordic folk music, Kaustinen proudly presents Frigg, duo Hazelius Hedin and Magnus Holmström, a triple world champion of nyckelharpa. The hilarious New Rope String Band adds further international color to the festival. Tuure Kilpeläinen and Nikolai Blad are both singer-songwriters with very unique styles and they are prime examples of the lineup of singer-songwriters present at the festival.
The programme for Kaustinen Folk Music Festival is scheduled to come out on 9th March 2012. The festival is organised by Pro Kaustinen ry, the association that also produced last year's programme.
Kaustinen Folk Music Festival | 8.-14.7.2013 | www.kaustinen.net | info(at)kaustinen.net