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Finland’s Most Prestigious Jazz Awards Presented in Tampere – The Finnish Jazz Federation’s Yrjö Award to Vocalist Aili Ikonen

The most esteemed recognitions in Finnish jazz were presented in Tampere on Friday, 31 October. The Finnish Jazz Federation awarded the Yrjö Award to vocalist Aili Ikonen, the Andania Lifetime Achievement Award to Bosse Mellberg, Chair of Korppoo Jazz Association, and the Taimi Award for a talented young musician to drummer Veikka Kajamies. The Varjo-Yrjö Award, given by Yle’s Jazzradio for contributions to Finnish jazz culture, was awarded to Juhamatti Kauppinen, the retiring artistic director and producer of the Tampere Jazz Happening.




Jazz-Espa showcases the most exciting jazz artists from Finland

The annual Jazz-Espa festival will take place in Helsinki’s Esplanade Park from July 28 to August 2, 2025. The free concerts will feature fifteen of Finland’s most exciting contemporary jazz ensembles, including Maja Mannila Trio, Iro Haarla Ouranos Ensemble, Aurora Hentunen Quintet, Roope Kantonen 3 and Kalima–Lötjönen–Ounaskari. The opening day’s panel discussion takes a look ahead to next year’s Jazz in Finland 100 anniversary celebrations. Jazz-Espa’s Children’s Saturday will entertain the whole family with performances by Jazzkamelit and Django Collective Helsinki.




Ilkka Arola Sound Tagine Embarks on a Jazz Federation Tour with Their New Album

Blending jazz, Middle Eastern music, and global folk traditions, Ilkka Arola Sound Tagine will perform across Finland on the Jazz Federation Tour this April. The band will present their newly released fourth album, Adventures in the Now, bringing energetic and vividly colorful music to audiences. The tour kicks off on April 8th in Lahti, followed by stops in Jyväskylä, Savonlinna, Raahe, and Espoo.