Fimic Folk Music News: WOMEX 2009 Special

Finland at Womex 2009

The new Nordic Club stage features top Finnish folk music acts

Finnish contemporary folk and world music will be prominently present at the WOMEX World Music Expo. Womex, taking place 28 October - 1 November 2009, has moved to a new destination: it is organized in Copenhagen, Denmark during the next three-year period. The new region brings focus on the musical traditions of the North.

The most significant new initiative is the Nordic Club, a showcase stage featuring artists from Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. The Finnish acts at the Nordic Club are Lepistö&Lehti - a critically acclaimed duo of Markku Lepistö (accordion) and Pekka Lehti (bass) - and a master of the Sámi chant style "joik", Wimme, who will perform with his 4-member band. Wimme´s showtime is Thursday 29 October at 10.30 pm, followed by Lepistö&Lehti on Friday 30 October at 10.30 pm.

Also the festive opening night of Womex, on Wednesday 28 October, will have a Nordic focus. An all-star Nordic band takes the stage, featuring more than twenty performers. Five Finnish top-class musicians will perform at the opening with accordionist Johanna Juhola and joik singer Wimme as soloists.

The Finnish stand at Womex expo is coordinated by the Finnish Music Information Centre Fimic. Altogether 17 Finnish organizations and companies are present at the stand. The national stands of the five Nordic countries are now joined into one big Nordic stand area, dubbed WOMEX Nordic. Displayed under a stylish, uniform design, WOMEX Nordic will be located right in the central hall of the trade fair centre. The five countries invite all Womexians for a Nordic Brunch on Friday 30 October at noon, offering selected pieces of Nordic folklore and gastronomy. Warmly welcome!


Finnish music and other events

Wednesday, 28 Oct, 8.00 pm: The Great Nordic Night - Womex opening concert
Thursday, 29 Oct, 10.30 pm: Wimme at Nordic Club stage
Friday, 30 Oct, 12.00 noon: Nordic Brunch at WOMEX Nordic (stands CH1-CH5)
Friday, 30 Oct, 10.30 pm: Lepistö&Lehti at Nordic Club stage


Participants at the Finnish stand (CH-4)

Ääniä Records
Aito Records
Finnish Folk Music Association / Folkmusic.fi
Finnish Kantele Association / Haapavesi Folk
Finnish Music Information Centre (Fimic)
Folk Music Institute
Frigg
Global Music Centre / Etnosoi! Festival
Helsinki Festival
Hoedown Arts
Kaustinen Folk Music Festival
Music Export Finland
Rockadillo Production / Rockadillo Records / Zen Master Publishing
Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department
Sommelo Festival 2010
Texicalli Records
Tsuumi Sound System


Links
http://www.womex.com
http://www.fimic.fi


For more information and photos, please contact:
Henna Salo, henna.salo(at)fimic.fi, tel. +358 9 68101315