Linnajazz boldly spotlights young composers and soloists this year in honor of the Jazz Suomi 100 anniversary. The festival kicks off at the Market Square with a sing-along, and the lineup also features international artists!
This year the festival runs for five days, and the traditional free park concert will be held on both Saturday and Sunday! Thanks to the renovated park, there will also be a side stage—so the music plays almost nonstop!
The artist lineup is nearly complete: the stunning-voiced Helena May (UK) arrives at Castle Park to entertain audiences on Saturday, August 1. Saturday evening, the party continues at Suisto with Sami Saari & Jazzpojat and The Blassics. On Sunday, internationally acclaimed MISHA takes the park stage alongside charismatic soul master Heini Ikonen. On Thursday, Teemu Viinikainen sets the mood at Häme Castle. Be sure to set aside the whole week for entertainment!
The festival opens with a Market Square concert on Wednesday, where jazz standards become familiar through a sing-along. Young soloists fronting top-tier bands take over the Town Hall: Olli Virtanen (Virtanen/Niittynen Quartet), Aarni Häkkinen Quintet, and the winning trio from the young composers' competition—Eelis Elomaa and Nuutti Vartiainen with their bands, plus Carla Aakre solo.
Internationally successful producer MISHA arrives at Castle Park on Sunday, August 2, with Heini Ikonen and a live band. MISHA is a Helsinki-based R&B and hip-hop producer best known for collaborations with American and British artists. His tracks have been streamed over 100 million times on Spotify. The ensemble creates contemporary international music fusing nu-funk, hip-hop, and soul.
The stunning-voiced Helena May (UK) entertains audiences on Saturday. Helena May is a British soul and pop artist bringing her band to Finland for the first time.
More seasoned domestic acts include Teemu Viinikainen, Sami Saari & Jazzpojat, and Juhani Aaltonen & Heikki Sarmanto.
Representing the younger generation is Indie Awards–winning Aurora Hentunen Quintet, who have collaborated with Grammy-winning bassist Linda May Han Oh, among others.
Kanvas is a rising next-generation ensemble that seamlessly blends pop and jazz elements.
On the traditional side, Hämeenlinna Big Band brings in promising vocalist Jenna Sofia, arriving almost directly from New York.
The youth Linnajazz camp begins on Wednesday and culminates in a performance at the Market Square. Local young talents and surprises will also take the stage, along with the Pauli Halonen Trio, led by 15-year-old multi-instrumentalist Pauli Halonen.
The Linnajazz Festival is part of the Jazz Suomi 100 anniversary program.
More information: www.linnajazz.fi
Photo of Helena May © Martin Steiger