Helsinki Festival’s Huvila turns 30 – the programme includes Wasia Project, Jalen Ngonda, Bryce Dessner and many others
Helsinki Festival’s iconic concert venue celebrates its 30-year run with a special concert, where the likes of Pepe Willberg, Mirella and Arppa perform their interpretations of significant songs from Huvila’s history. The anniversary year also includes Anoushka Shankar’s, Kruder & Dorfmeister’s, Hector’s and Pehmoaino’s concerts.
The heart of Helsinki Festival and an atmospheric landmark, Huvila will be erected in August in Tokoinranta for the 30th time to symbolise the close of the summer festival season and arrival of darkening nights. The big year will be celebrated with a comprehensive programme – for two and a half weeks, the Huvila stage will feature the latest and most sought-after international and domestic artists.
At Huvila’s anniversary concert, Pepe Willberg, Arppa, Emilia Sisco, Hassan Maikal and Mirella perform their interpretations of important songs from Huvila’s history accompanied by a festival orchestra led by drummer Risto Niinikoski, familiar from, for example, Vain elämää. The concert is curated and hosted by Karri “Paleface” Miettinen.
International artists include several stars visiting Finland for the first time
Helsinki Festival brings several international artists to Finland for the first time – as well as stars making much-wanted comebacks to Huvila.
Very popular among the young generation, the London sibling duo Wasia Project comes to Finland for the first time. Consisting of William Gao and Olivia Hardy, the group’s hits have become social media phenomena in the wake of the popular series Heartstopper, of which Gao is also a cast member.
Composer, guitarist, founding member of The National and producer for, for example, Taylor Swift, Bryce Dessner brings to Huvila a unique classical music concert, in which the American artist performs his solo catalogue with the Australian String Quartet, top cellist Anastasia Kobekina and mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron. This Huvila concert is linked to an international dance visit at Helsinki Festival – Sydney Dance Company’s performance at Dance House Helsinki, where a Dessner composition will be played by the Australian String Quartet.
Jalen Ngonda, the American soul comet praised by Snoop Dogg, Jill Scott and Elton John, leads the Helsinki Festival audience to the nostalgia of the golden age of R&B and soul with his nuanced interpretation, and 11-time Grammy Award nominee Anoushka Shankar’s virtuoso playing can be enjoyed at Huvila as part of the tour celebrating her 30-year career as a performer.
The Austrian DJ and producer duo Kruder & Dorfmeister will perform their cult album The K&D Sessions (1998) at Huvila. Combining trip hop, dub and jazz influences, the remix album became a landmark piece of 90s electronic music.
Finnish comeback concerts and celebrations of significant careers
The Helsinki Festival opening night at Huvila is hosted by Sami Sykkö and Jorma Uotinen. The pair delights with a show full of frank speech, surprising guests and Uotinen’s unforgettable songs, accompanied by UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. After an intermission, UMO celebrates its 50-year run with the Sauna palaa! concert, bringing back to life the massive jazz composition collection, commissioned to honour Aleksis Kivi, after 20 years.
Finnish music legends Hector and Ismo Alanko provide unique concert experiences at Huvila. Alanko plays a two-part concert: first an intimate Yksin solo performance and then an energetic band gig with his group El Mosquito. Hector plays his only gig of the summer at Huvila – the concert is a jumpstart for next year’s 60-year artist anniversary.
As usual, other Finnish music milestones will also be celebrated at Huvila. Having found international success, the metal group Swallow The Sun’s 25th anniversary culminates at Huvila, and Dallapé, the crown jewel of Finnish pop orchestras, celebrates its 100 years of operation, with Maria Ylipää and the Ikonen sister trio as soloists.
Returning to concert stages in its original line-up after a decade-long hiatus, Regina performs the album Soita mulle in its entirety at Huvila. During the first half of the concert, Litku Klemetti plays a selection of the most significant songs of their career
The final Helsinki Festival weekend at Huvila is dedicated to reformers of Finnish pop music. Emma Award-winning interpreter of intense emotions Pehmoaino and Finnish rap cult figure Melo both perform during a rare shared evening. Known for her artistically ambitious catalogue, Vesta makes a much-wanted return to Helsinki Festival. The star of the festival-ending concert at Huvila is Arppa, backed up by his Summer Sextet band enriched with a saxophonist and a jazz pianist.
Previously announced concerts to the Huvila programme include Luz Casal, one of the most renowned singers of the Spanish-speaking world, and Finnish guest stars Olavi Uusivirta and Auri.
Families can celebrate together at the ten year anniversary of Skidit discoHelsinki Festival invites children to Huvila for the ten-year anniversary of Skidit disco, a highly-popular children’s event that combines different art genres. This action-packed event full of dancing, singing and all sorts of happenings will be celebrated in the company of surprise guests.
Image: Wasia Project