Viapori Jazz Festival is operating this year with a completely new concept. The festival takes its audience to Suomenlinna's closed places through "secret concert videos". The videos reveal the history of each location through stories and music from Viapori Jazz.
"It is hoped that the secret concert videos will deepen the audience's understanding of the significance of Suomenlinna and bring new friends to the musical offerings typical of Viapori Jazz," says the festival's artistic director Jukka Perko.
Suomenlinna has several sites closed to the general public which are, however, part of Helsinki's enchanting history. “People who lived in a different time feel real when you move around in spaces that have been running the same chores for up to 250 years without major interruptions,” says event producer Lassi Ikäheimo.
Tue 25.8. Secret Concert Video No.1
The opening of the Charlie Parker 100th anniversary week took place in the Old Dock Hall, where the Finnish Air Force began building aircrafts in 1921. The musicians were Jukka Perko, Panu Savolainen, Tuomas Timonen and JPP aka Järvelän pikkupelimannit.
The first concert video has now been released on YouTube.
Sat 29.8. Secret Concert Video No.2
Happy birthday to Charlie Parker 100 years. Saxophone quartet Mikko Innanen, Eero Koivistoinen, Timo Lassy and Max Zenger play at the bottom of the pool of the Suomenlinna dry dock, which has operated on the same principle since 1756.
Fri 4.9. Secret Concert Video No.3
Bread for thousands from the center of Suomenlinna. Musicians Ona Kamu (sound bowls) and Jusu Berghäll (bass clarinet) vibrate in a bakery built in 1775.
Fri 11.9. Secret Concert Video No.4
Saxophonist Adele Sauros goes inside the wall. We will get acquainted with the principle of use and acoustics of rifle gallery.
Fri 18.9. Secret Concert Video No.5
We get to see a completely unused but 100-year-old direct current main switchboard. Samuli Kosminen plays with 230 volts and 50 hertz alternating current.
Fri 25.9. Secret Concert Video No.5
Jukka Perko and Jusu Berghäll find another tower inside the Suomenlinna church tower and play and evening hymn to the whole city.