Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Increasingly though, young people in Finland are listening to local hip-hop, known as
Suomirap. Artists like Elastinen and Pyhimys have taken the airwaves by storm in recent
years, and there's always some new underground project.
But there is lighter music, such as surf-rockers French Films, pop-rockers Sunrise Aven-
ue, the Von Hertzen Brothers, indie band Disco Ensemble, emo-punks Poets of the Fall
and melodic Husky Rescue. Past legends (still going in some cases) include Hanoi Rocks,
the Hurriganes and, of course, the unicorn-quiffed Leningrad Cowboys. While singing in
English appeals to an international audience, several groups sing in Finnish, including Ep-
pu Normaali, Zen Café, Kotiteollisuus, Apulanta and mellow folk rockers Scandinavian
Music Group. There's also a huge number of staggeringly popular solo artists; you'll hear
their lovelorn tunes at karaoke sessions in bars and pubs around the country.
Jazz is also very big in Finland, with huge festivals at Pori and Espoo among other
places. Finns have created humppa, a jazz-based music that's synonymous with social
dances. One of the biggest names in humppa is the Eläkeläiset, whose regular albums are
dotted with tongue-in-cheek covers of famous rock songs.
MODERN SÁMI MUSIC
Several Finnish Sámi groups and artists have created excellent modern music with the
traditional yoik (chant; alsojoiksorjuoiggus) form. The yoik is traditionally sung a
capella, often invoking a person or place with immense spiritual importance in Sámi cul-
ture. Wimme is a big name in this sphere, and Angelit produce popular, dancefloor-style
Sámi music. One of their former members, Ulla Pirttijärvi, releases particularly haunting
solo albums, while Vilddas are on the trance-y side of Sámi music, combining it with other
influences. Look out too for rockier offerings from SomBy and Tiina Sanila.
Best Rock Festivals
Ruisrock, Turku
Provinssirock, Seinäjoki
Ilosaari Rock Festival, Joensuu
Tammerfest, Tampere
