In the Flame Jazz Summer Live concert series, the most current names in the Finnish jazz scene will perform in the idyllic park by the Cathedral every Wednesday until the end of August.
The diverse lineup of Flame Jazz Summer Live offers everything from more traditional jazz to bold new genre-crossing innovations in the Finnish music scene.
Flame Jazz Summer Live especially highlights emerging new talents in Finnish jazz. The July program includes, among others, the young piano prodigy Pauli Halonen making his first appearance in Turku with his trio, as well as New3, a fresh trio formed by the talented Helmi Antila, Siina Suutarinen, and Oona Mattsson. In August, the album release concert of Kasper Halttunen 5tet will bring drummer-composer Kasper Halttunen’s new genre-fusing modern jazz creations to Kirkkopuisto Terrace. The concert series concludes on August 26 with the young jazz ensemble Kanvas, which blends jazz with a more pop-oriented expression.
At the opening evening of the sixth annual Turku Sea Jazz summer festival on July 29, New York vibes will sweep through the park stage as guitar virtuoso Olli Soikkeli performs together with bassist Antti Lötjönen and drummer Teppo Mäkynen. During the concert intermission, there will be a Baltic Sea-themed discussion event hosted by the John Nurminen Foundation, where Olli Soikkeli and other topical guests will reflect on the relationship between music and the sea.
The arrangements for the Flame Jazz Summer Live concert series are managed by Jazz City Turku’s new summer producer Tuula Musakka, who hopes to attract a diverse audience to the jazz performances:
“Free park concerts in the heart of Turku are an essential part of the city’s summer live music offering. Wednesday jazz evenings provide an excellent selection of fresh compositions, amazing improvisation, and beloved jazz standards in the spirit of the Jazz Finland 100 anniversary year. Welcome to enjoy the music and the atmospheric surroundings at Kirkkopuisto Terrace, a shared gathering place for everyone!”
The concerts are free of charge and open to all ages. Performances begin on Wednesdays at 6 PM and include an intermission. Events are weather permitting. Since the Flame Jazz Summer Live concerts take place outdoors, performances may be rescheduled in case of rain. Any changes will be announced on the social media channels and websites of Kirkkopuisto Terrace and Flame Jazz.
Flame Jazz Summer Live – PROGRAM 2026
- 20.5. Jazz Jkl Collective feat. Markku Rinta-Pollari
- 27.5. Max Zenger 3 plays Jimmy Giuffre 3
- 3.6. Chicollective
- 10.6. Joonas Tuuri Quartet
- 17.6. Aninkaisten Sävel – Jazz Finland 100
- 24.6. Helmi
- 1.7. J TIKKA
- 8.7. Pauli Halonen Trio
- 15.7. Tuomas Talvi Quintet
- 22.7. New3
- 29.7. Turku Sea Jazz Opening: Olli Soikkeli NYC Trio + Baltic Sea discussion event by the John Nurminen Foundation
- 5.8. Lauri Kallio Ensemble
- 12.8. Kasper Halttunen 5tet
- 19.8. Arttu Huopainen South-East Corner
- 26.8. Kanvas
Chicollective, photo: Linda Lehtovaara