Full news in more depth can be found at www.fimic.fi
1. Finland sends Kuunkuiskaajat to Eurovision Song Contest
Kuunkuiskaajat (Moon whispers), a duo of Susan Aho and Johanna Virtanen, will represent Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo in May 2010. Their song, Työlki ellää, is a brisk Finnish-language schlager, rooted in the Finnish folk tradition but strongly influenced by gypsy music. The song is written by Timo Kiiskinen, and it is included in the duo's self-titled debut album released last December in Finland. Susan Aho and Johanna Virtanen are best known as singers of the flagship of the Finnish world music export, Värttinä. Read more at www.fimic.fi.
2. Finnish accordion virtuosi conquer Holland and Germany
Master of the free bass button accordion Maria Kalaniemi and double bass / accordion duo Lepistö&Lehti will play in the Nordic Music series of the RASA Centre in Utrecht and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. The double bill concert takes place at Concertgebouw on 7 April 2010 and at RASA two days later, on 9 April. See www.fimic.fi for more information.
Also the German Akkordeonale 2010 tour will feature a Finn, as Johanna Juhola joins in. The international all-star band initiated by a Dutch accordion player Servais Haanen will do an extensive tour of 21 concerts in Germany during 8-29 April. More information on the tour at www.fimic.fi.
3. Kimmo Pohjonen and Ritva Koistinen play with Kronos Quartet
The accordion-sampler duo Kimmo Pohjonen and Samuli Kosminen, as well as kantele player Ritva Koistinen will perform with Kronos Quartet on 13 March at Carnegie Hall, New York. The concert, titled "Tundra Songs", will focus on the music of the Northern cultures. The multifaceted programme of the evening features classical works by Finnish and Swedish composers, for example, but also Kimmo Pohjonen´s own experimental compositions. Read more at www.fimic.fi.
4. Fimic expands to cover the whole Finnish music field
The Finnish Music Information Centre Fimic has started functioning as an independent organization in the beginning of 2010, after being part of Finnish Composers´ Copyright Society Teosto since 1995. Along with the new structures Fimic will expand its functions to cover the Finnish music field wider than before.
As of January 2010 Fimic operates in the subordination of the Finnish Music Information Centre Fimic Association. The new Fimic Association aggregates the Finnish music field in its entirety: the interest groups of composers and musicians in all genres as well as publishers and record industry are members of Fimic.
SHORT CUTS
- The entire catalogue of Rockadillo Records has been licensed to Shanghai Synergy, the biggest music corporation in China. The deal is the first of its kind for a Finnish record company. The deal covers the entire catalogue of Rockadillo, including the prominent sub labels Pohjola and Aani. The license covers the territories of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao.
- Music pedagogue, folk musician Mauno Järvelä has been awarded by the King of Sweden. Kaustinen-born Mauno Järvelä got the award for his pedagogical credits in maintaining the common folk music heritage of Finland and Sweden.
NEW RELEASES
- Wimme´s long-awaited album Mún is out on Rockadillo Records. The internationally renowned joik artist has a new line-up: Tapani Rinne (clarinets), Juuso Hannukainen (percussion), Matti Wallenius (acoustic string instruments) and Tuomas Norvio (electronics).
- Accordionist Johanna Juhola's second solo album Fantasiatango (Texicalli) will be released on 24 February. The album features two of her bands, Johanna Juhola Reaktori and Johanna Juhola Trio, and is spiced with electronics by Tuomas Norvio.
- Vilma Timonen Quartet's new album Forward received the Emma Award for the year's best Finnish folk music album in February. The awarded album, making an elegant fusion of kantele tradition and jazz tones, was released by Ääniä Records. VtQ features Ape Anttila (bass), Mikko Hassinen (percussions) and Topi Korhonen (guitar) in addition to the singing and kantele playing of Vilma Timonen herself.
- The self-titled debut by Ruuti came out last fall on Ääniä Records. The skillful trio, playing their own powerful music based on the Finnish "pelimanni" tradition, features Ilkka Heinonen (double bass), Kukka Lehto (violin) and Topi Korhonen (guitar).
- Tuomas Rounakari's exciting debut album Shamanviolin is now available also through iTunes.
More new recordings will be updated to Fimic web site, www.fimic.fi > Recordings
TOUR NEWS
- Folk Baltica Festival, taking place 21-25 April in the German town of Flensburg and its surroundings, features Frigg and kantele player Vilma Timonen.
- Kimmo Pohjonen will take stages in Mexico City, Shanghai and European cities alike during the spring 2010. After the concert with Kronos Quartet (New York, 13 Mar) he will play with Proton String Quartet in Germany (Potsdam, 26 Mar) and Turkey (Istanbul, 27 Apr). His solo performances will be seen in France (Illkirch, 25 Mar), Mexico (Mexico City, 1-2 May), Iceland (Reykjavik, 21 May) and China (Shanghai Expo, 27 May).
- Maria Kalaniemi´s spring is busy: she gives concerts in Switzerland with Accordion Tribe (19-20 February), visits the Vienna Accordion Festival with harmonium player Eero Grundström (5 March), tours Sweden with Timo Alakotila (harmonium) on 13-21 March and goes to Switzerland (1-2 April) and Tokyo, Japan (April 24-25) with guitarist Olli Varis.
- The legendary JPP will give concerts in Switzerland in 15-16 April.
- The Finnish-Swedish all-star folk trio Nordik Tree tour in Sweden (Göteborg 23 April and Jönköping 24 April) and Finland (28 Apr - 1 May). Their new cd will be released in the spring.
- The harmonica quartet Sväng are conquering France (16 March), Belgium (8-10 April), Germany (24 April) and Austria (30 April).
For more tour news around the world, see www.fimic.fi > Event Calendar
NEW ON FIMIC WEB SITE
A collection of new profile articles have been added to Fimic web site - read more on Jouhiorkesteri, Alamaailman Vasarat, Tsuumi Sound System and numerous other topical folk & world artists! See www.fimic.fi > Articles for the new additions.
