ENKEL, BFP, Akkajee

ENKEL

ENKEL is a powerful and captivating folk music band from Finland, made up of two melodeons, kantele, viola and four voices. Four distinctive and charismatic musicians draw on tradition, the force of creativity, and each other – in ENKEL, everyone is a superhero in their own style. Their unusual instrumentation and vocal harmonies open up a wide range of possibilities: a driving polka shifts seamlessly into powerful songs inspired by past human destinies, and into rustic romance.

“In Finland’s folk music circles too, [ENKEL] has been regarded as a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and the life of the party.”
– Niko Peltonen, Levyhyllyt 2025

Leija Lautamaja - melodeon, voice
Miia Palomäki - melodeon, voice
Maija Pokela - kantele, voice
Iida Savolainen - viola, voice

www.enkelband.com

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BFP

BFP (Bergå Folk Project) brings together four acclaimed Finnish folk musicians whose music defies easy categorization. Singing in eight languages and performing on twelve instruments, the group bridges world and folk traditions with bold arrangements, deep-rooted groove and vibrant energy. What began as a reimagining of Luciano Berio’s Folk Songs grew into an ongoing exploration of tradition, creativity and joyful collaboration. BFP’s debut album earned the 2023 Etno-Emma Award (Finnish Grammys), and their Encore EP (2024) draws from Finnish cultural heritage, blending past and present.

”They don’t play rock, but they rock”
- Lasse from Finland

Aili Järvelä - vocals, violin, pump organ
Esko Grundström - double bass, accordion, kantele, pump organ, vocals
Iida Savolainen - viola, vocals, violin, jouhikko, pump organ
Topi Korhonen - guitar, mandolin, vocals, pump organ
​​+ featuring: Abdissa “Mamba” Assefa: percussion

https://www.bergafolkproject.com

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Akkajee

From the decaying roots of Finnish folk tradition, Akkajee channels echoes of danger and ecstasy. With an unconventional lineup of string instruments, wires and junk, they offer powerful visuals for the inner eye and stimuli for the sixth sense. The music ranges from whispers to howls, causing goosebumps that leave the listener unsure whether it's fear or delight. Akkajee, chosen as the Folk Music Creator of the Year 2022, has performed on various stages in Finland and abroad over its more than a decade-long history. The band's second album 'Lastenkerääjä' was released in 2021 and has received praise internationally. Currently, the duo is preparing a new album set to be released in 2025.
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"Unique, exciting and adventurous folk that goes in all directions, and also sides that you absolutely do not expect."
- Holly Moors / moors magazine

Meriheini Luoto – nyckelharpa, vocals, toys & electronics
Iida Savolainen – viola, vocals, odds and ends & electronics

https://www.akkajee.com

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Intergalactic Folk Music

Intergalactic Folk Music is a concert, a theatre piece, and a performance that hurtles through the space–time continuum. Musician and composer Iida Savolainen appears as her alter ego Adonina Se-La-Vii, an interstellar music enthusiast, inviting the audience on a journey across galaxies.

Her antennas: (C.O.N.E. - Cosmic Omniversal Nexus Engine), a star instrument, a ’90s synth, a viola — and a handful of other cosmic companions.