The regenerated Lahden Jazztori Festival spreads to different locations this September. Lahti Big Band continues to hold the rights of the festival.
Organised annually since 1989, the Lahti Jazztori Festival turns a new page. Instead of one concert arena, the festival will now be held in various locations around the city. The festival has also been rescheduled to the last week of September.
The new programme includes other activities, too, besides music. Cinema Kino Iris has agreed to screen a jazz-themed film, while the city library will host a jazz record panel. There will also be a pub quiz on jazz, a jazzy church service, jazz karaoke, swing/blues ball and activities for children.
Lahti Big Band continues to hold the rights of the festival and has the main marketing responsibility. The orchestra will also co-organise a big band camp with the Lahti Music School and perform at the festival.
The programme will be released in its entirety by early autumn. Players interested in contributing to the programme are still welcome to join. While producers will be joining at their own risk, Lahti Big Band will offer assistance in marketing and creating partnerships. The first artist bookings are being made at the moment, and at least the venues of Möysä, Kalevi Aho Hall and Tirra will host festival concerts.
Antti Puhakka of Mössö music club is one of the people behind the new concept of Lahti Jazztori. “This sort of working toward a festival together is in keeping with the spirit of today. We have been eager to be involved from the outset. Bassist Lauri Porra’s Flyover Ensemble will perform at Hämeenkatu, and he has been very excited about the upcoming show. He has suggested that the festival could even go bigger with the addition of visuals and cinematic elements.”
RoHi Oy and its partners are keen to contribute to the programme, too, by seeking to book artists for the festival Saturday. “The Kalevi Aho Hall of the Lahti Music School has just the capacity and acoustics to act as a festival venue,” says Timo Hiipakka of RoHi. “We are currently negotiating with a bunch of artists and will release further information in good time.”
Hannu Kilkki of Tirra and Torvi finds the idea of a homemade shared venture of many players appealing. “This is a good start. We definitely want to be involved in building the future of the Lahti Jazztori.” Inkeri Määttä of the City of Lahti has been present in the planning sessions of the new festival. “It is not always easy to get people excited about ventures like these. However, Lahti Big Band managed to win lots of people over.”
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