Estimated duration
2 h, incl. intermission
Organizer
Folk Extreme
Top names in experimental folk music in one concert.
The concert at the Music Hall is part of Folk Extreme’s Unified project (OKM). The Unified project 2025 supports the promotion of equality and the realization of equality in the music industry and folk music. The project organizer, Folk Extreme, is a non-profit art company of experimental folk music based in Tampere. During its operations, Folk Extreme has organized several successful projects, influential in the music industry, and in addition, Folk Extreme has good international connections.
Anne-Mari Kivimäki Ensemble
Anne-Mari Kivimäki Ensemble is an impressive sound mix with stories, archive recordings, kantele, nars juh (West Siberian lyre), vocals and accordion. Anne-Mari Kivimäki ́s music has a hypnotic pulse and it ́s made for the love of old Karelian culture, stories and melodies. Kivimäki has gathered her trio from the musicians on her successful Lakkautettu Kylä album.
Anne-Mari Kivimäki released a well-received album Kotiin (Homewards) in February 2025 and is currently touring with new compositions, both in Finland and on international stages. Anne-Mari Kivimäki was awarded Artist of The Year in the first Finnish Etnogaala in 2017. Her album Lakkautettu kylä (2015) won several awards and nominations in Finland and Germany.
The concert kicks off Kivimäki’s 20th anniversary as a freelance musician.
Anne-Mari Kivimäki accordion, vocals, stomp box
Silja Palomäki kantele, clarinet, vocals
Timo Väänänen kantele, nars juh, vocals
Pelkkä Poutanen
Pelkkä Poutanen is an experimental musician who mixes folk traditions and classical, live electronics and roots, art pop, noise and vocal music into one fascinating concoction. Pelkkä Poutanen’s solo debut album “Pyhä veri vuotaa” (Eclipse Music, 2022) was nominated for an Etno Emma and also nominated for the 2023 Teosto Prize.
The music has been inspired by different parts of the world, but all in all, it is folk music with a very modern twist. The British magazine Songlines selected the album among the 10 best new albums in April 2022: “It is captivating, haunting, enchanting, spiritual and hypnotic.”
Pelkkä Poutanen has been described as an earthquake, a big bang, hypnotic and insightful. Her background in music is extensive, and her music speaks to her. She is known for her acrobatic vocal technique that ranges from Scandinavian and Finno-Ugric singing styles to throat singing techniques. She is inspired by new perspectives and sees genres as tools.
“When an artist can do almost anything with their voice, the listener can only imagine all the possibilities. When you stop wondering about the use of the voice, you can only marvel at the rich soundscape.”
– FMQ, Amanda Kauranne, Feb 2022
Emilia Lajunen (5-string fiddle, kontrabasharpa, nyckelharpa, voice)
”Plays like a village full of haunted fiddlers”, wrote the leading Finnish newspaper about Emilia Lajunen.
Emilia Lajunen (born 1979) is a well-known professional Finnish folk musician, known for her personal, strong, and modern style of playing the violin. Her style of playing claims its origins in archaic heritage and fiddler music. Lajunen’s instruments are the 5-string fiddle, kontrabasharpa, nyckelharpa and voice. She is a member in such groups as Emilia Lajunen & Eero Grundström, Suo, Spontaani Vire, Juuri & Juuri and folk music metal band Ritva Nero. She also duets with Suvi Oskala and performs solo as well. Lajunen has performed at various stages in Finland and abroad in the Nordic countries, India, USA, Canada, China and South Korea. She has released two solo albums, Turkoosi Polkupyörä (Texicalli Records 2012) and Legacy of the Dead: Deep in the Dregs (Nordic Notes 2023) which raises a whole village full of possessed fiddlers from their archival graves.
Tickets to Musiikkitalo concerts and other events are available to purchase on our website, by telephone and at our physical box office.
Book tickets for 10–20 or more people is by contacting group sales service by email at ryhmat@musiikkitalo.fi or by telephone on 0600 411 101 (Monday to Friday, 9:00–15:00).
How about a cup of coffee, a bite to eat or a glass of bubbly during the interval? Order your drinks in advance to beat the queues and make the most of your concert visit.
Our location could not be more central or easier to get to. Almost all forms of Helsinki public transport stop right outside our doors, cycle parking is provided at all our entrances, and Aimo Park Finlandia, our nearest multi-storey car park, offers lift access directly to our main foyer.
At Helsinki Music Centre we are proud to be an accessible and welcoming place for everyone. Tactile handrails and signage have been fitted across the building, and there are tactile indicator strips on the floor too to guide partially sighted and blind visitors. Induction loops are always available, and guide or companion dogs are of course permitted within the building.
Concert Hall
The route to your seat is always printed on your ticket. Check the door number to find out which entrance to take. The seating areas are marked with letters. There is level access to all wheelchair seats from the main entrances. Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with our venue – our staff are always on hand to help you find your seat.
Black Box, Camerata and Sonore
Use the row number printed on your ticket to find your seat. Wheelchair seats are situated on the same level as the entrance. Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with our venue – our staff area always on hand to help you find your seat.
Unallocated seating
Please choose your seat on the day.
Floor plans
You can view our floor plans before your visit.
Cloakroom
We ask you to leave your coat and any larger items in the cloakroom. The cloakroom is free of charge.
Latecomers
Latecomers will be asked to wait until a suitable break in the performance or admitted after the interval.
Photography
You are not permitted to record concert performances at Helsinki Music Centre. However, you may take photographs before and after the concert and during applause. Individual concert organisers may have their own, more detail guidance regarding recording and photography.
Dress code
We’re happy to say we have no dress code at Helsinki Music Centre, and we positively encourage you to come as you are. However, we would be grateful if you could avoid wearing strong perfume during your visit so that people with asthma and fragrance sensitivity can enjoy our concerts symptom free.
