Stories by

"Mainly using a guitar and an array of effects, Jarmo Saari masterfully creates atmospheres and meticulous architecture – with a taste for bombastic melodrama."

"Mostly a cappella, Signe's sound mingles folk, pop, barbershop and choral singing. The result is utterly original, uncategorisable art – unlike anything else you’ll hear this year."

"While the melodies appear timeless and uncomplicated, the performances are pure Ilmiliekki – that is, contemporary jazz with a Nordic twist."

"Rögnvaldsson’s team has grown into a thoroughbred band with a highly developed collaborative consciousness."

"The main attraction of this album is the capricious songs, reflecting ten years of evolution. Rather than focusing on solos, Herd distils the music into a collective endeavour."

"The band definitely has ideas of their own and the chops to execute them. The music has a spontaneous feel."

"When accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen invited me to join him at his sauna society in January I couldn’t resist. But I was afraid. I’ve been courageous enough to attend many Kimmo shows and survived. But here was a challenge."

This year, the Musica nova Helsinki 2019 festival presented a trans-Atlantic menu. The programme plumbed deep waters and explored lovely landscapes on a sea that knows no bounds. All this begs the question: are we driftwood, or are we actively charting a course to the future?

Watch the video of the concert featuring Helvi Leiviskä’s chamber music. The concert is part of Mirka Malmi's Women and Violin concert series.