Odysseus Festival, dedicated to adventurous music, moves to a new environment at the Culture Factory Korjaamo, where the event will take place over two days on July 19–20. The event will not feature "alternative music," "marginal music," or "world music."
The Odysseus Festival, which has quickly risen to become one of Helsinki's key summer music events, will be held for the first time at the Culture Factory Korjaamo on July 19–20, 2024. The event will spread across all of Korjaamo's indoor spaces and its atmospheric summer courtyard. At the heart of the Odysseus Festival is the desire to present inspiring music and challenge the value structures entrenched in the music world.
Have you ever wondered why people generally talk about "alternative music" or "marginal music"? The capitalist structure of the music industry is built around the consumption habits of popular culture, and event communication often does not question who defines how and what is talked about in music. Nor does it question why some performers are listed in larger fonts on festival posters while others are in smaller fonts. The click-based logic of modern media drives the focus on well-known names, causing marginalized music (read: music with less commercial potential or with a distinctive style) to shrink into a curiosity. This is problematic because many creators and supporters of so-called "alternative music" do not recognize the value hierarchy and replicate the existing power structure in their own communication.
The term "world music" has recently come under critical scrutiny – and rightly so. This colonialist categorization pushes non-Western music forms into an exotic niche, accepting only those performers who fit well into the structures of the Western music world. Often, there is a Western record label or agency involved, whose marketing strategy may not include deconstructing exotic otherness, as mainstream festivals may have a "world music slot" that a performer could fit into.
It is challenging to talk about music in a way that allows the art itself to be its own entity. We do not claim to be immune to media pressure. The Odysseus Festival has decided to take the first step towards more meaningful communication by staying outside certain terminological frameworks. We do not talk about "alternative music," "marginal music," or "world music." Nor do we claim to have a ready answer on how to replace the established, distorting terms in the field. This time, we are simply creating a new space and opening a discussion that we hope will continue. We welcome suggestions and new ideas. The way forward lies in openness and curiosity.
Odysseus is committed to non-hierarchical performer marketing. We place all performers on an equal footing, not identifying anyone as a "headliner." Font sizes remain the same across the performer lineup, and listings are presented either alphabetically or chronologically based on the schedule. All participating artists are equally important, thus "headliners." This concept also includes avoiding "country codes." All artists have their backgrounds and musical and cultural influences. These are revealed through the music itself and by engaging with each artist's story, not by emphasizing nationality. The natural diversity of music is a richness that fosters surprises.
The performance schedules for the Odysseus Festival are now published on the event website. Media accreditation for the event is also open, with the form available on the website.
"There is a certain exclusivity and luxury to the festival, but fortunately, elitism is absent. The small scale is appealing." – Rumba
"Odysseus Festival's programming is admirably non-hierarchical." – The Wire
Odysseus Festival
Helsinki 19.–20.7.2024
Instagram: @odysseusfestival
#odysseus2024
Tickets: Tiketti
Event on Facebook
odysseusfestival.fi
Announced performers and day schedule:
FRIDAY 19.7.
AINON
Dan Nicholls
Heta Bilaletdin
Islaja
Janne Westerlund
Jonathan Bäckström Quartet
Lost Girls
Olli Ahvenlahti New Quintet
Oren Ambarchi
Superposition
Varropas
Verneri Pohjola: Monkey Mind
Ville Leinonen
Willberg + Pekkola + Toivonen
Y-OTIS
SATURDAY 20.7.
Aino Juutilainen
Enji
Ensemble Nist-Nah
Ghosted
Grande Mahogany
Hatis Noit
Horse Lords
Juho Toivonen
Kamilya Jubran
KMRU
Laihonen & Salmi
Matinmikko + Koho
Mikko Joensuu
Otto Willberg
Pop Up Koma
The Stance Brothers
Ustad Noor Bakhsh
Victor Herrero
Yam Ha
AINON © Olli-Pekka Jauhiainen