The Odysseus Festival, dedicated to adventurous music, will take place next summer as a two-day event at Helsinki’s Kulttuuritehdas Korjaamo on July 18–19. The first performers have now been announced, and early-bird tickets are on sale via Tiketti.
Quickly rising to prominence among Helsinki’s key summer music events, the Odysseus Festival will be held at Kulttuuritehdas Korjaamo in 2025 on July 18–19. The event will span all of Korjaamo’s indoor spaces and its atmospheric summer courtyard. At the heart of the Odysseus Festival is a desire to showcase inspiring music and challenge the value structures embedded in the music world.
The first artists have now been announced. The festival will feature the Moroccan gnawa band Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timboktou, Finnish classic Circle, Swedish neo-psychedelia giant Dungen,critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Henna Emilia Hietamäki, the exploratory rock band Olimpia Splendid, and Pietu Arvola, whose widely praised new ambient release has garnered international recognition. Arvola will debut a new audiovisual concert concept at Odysseus.
In addition to their performance, Circle will serve as a co-curator of the event and take over one of Korjaamo’s halls for the evening with their Interventio concept. This multifaceted band will open their year-long Piste exhibition at the Pori Art Museum at the end of January 2025, and the comprehensive concept showcased at Odysseus will extend the exhibition's themes to Helsinki. What exactly will be presented will only become clear during the festival weekend.
"Odysseus bends, stretches, reflects, shakes, and shimmers in new shades again next summer," promises the festival’s artistic director Matti Nives. "The first artist confirmations are just a starting point, and our goal is once again to surprise everyone—including ourselves—with Helsinki's most adventurous music experience. The event is inherently communal, and everyone is welcome."
Odysseus is committed to non-hierarchical artist marketing. The event places all performers on an equal footing, without identifying anyone as the “headliner.” Font sizes remain the same across all promotional materials, and listings are presented either alphabetically or chronologically according to the schedule. Every artist involved is equally important, making them all “headliners.” This philosophy also includes avoiding “country codes.” All artists have their backgrounds and unique musical and cultural influences. These are expressed through their music and stories, not by emphasizing nationality. The natural diversity of music is a richness that fosters surprise. Part of the event’s philosophy is also to remain age-inclusive, aiming to give children and young people the opportunity to experience new kinds of music. A separate ticket for children and youth will go on sale after the early bird ticket sales phase, in early February.
The Super Early Bird tickets for Odysseus sold out in November, and the Next Early Bird tickets are now on sale until the end of the year (or until capacity is reached).
The Odysseus Festival is a genre-free, adventurous music festival produced by Helsinki-based We Jazz Oy, now being held for the fifth time. The event began on Lonna Island in 2021 and moved to its new home at Kulttuuritehdas Korjaamo in the summer of 2024.
"The festival has a certain exclusivity and luxury, but happily lacks elitism. Its small scale is charming."
– Rumba
"Odysseus Festival's programming is admirably non-hierarchical."
– The Wire
Odysseus Festival
In Helsinki July 18–19, 2025
Instagram: @odysseusfestival
#odysseus2025
Tickets: Tiketti
Event on Facebook
http://odysseusfestival.fi
First announced performers:
Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timboktou
Circle
Circle – Interventio
Dungen
Henna Emilia Hietamäki
Olimpia Splendid
Pietu Arvola
Photo: Asmâa Hamzaoui © Tim Van Veen