Johanna Juhola

"The tunes are close to traditional danceable folk music (from different regions) but always with personal twists and turns."

The accordion belongs to a huge worldwide family: the Basque country’s trikitixa, the Malagasy sound of the late Régis Gizavo, the bandoneón music of Astor Piazzolla, iconic French café music or American Cajun music – the list is endless. But isn’t the accordion also the voice of Finnish tradition? In this world of ever-developing technology, downloading and social media, does the accordion still have a place?

A small country must learn how to adapt, cooperate and innovate. Agility is key. Finland has a high degree of social equality, and in music this means that basically anyone can do anything. Creativity and curiosity are the wellspring of the vitality of contemporary Finnish folk music.

The very first sounds in the concert run a chill up the spine: the beautiful musical language of accordionist Johanna Juhola combined with a vibrant, lucid soundscape captivate the listener. As the title of the concert promises, they create space.

"Johanna Juhola is a confident accordion star who has created her own unique style. Despite shining the limelight on the accordion, her music portrays a strong vision beyond just one instrument."

Pull or push? Diatonal or microtonal? Traditional bear hunting celebration or reflections of the cosmos? Antti Paalanen and Veli Kujala prove that the accordion can do it all.

"Fantasiatango 2 is like a never-ending road movie, where the surrounding sceneries change quickly and everything is characterised by enthusiasm and a free atmosphere."

"Playing together for all these years has made these ladies a stunning couple – you can almost see their hands intertwining. The rhythm is incredibly tight with all its stunning syncopation and swinging backbeats."

The world music market has seen a boom in Celtic, African and Latin American music. Many people believe that it is the turn of the Nordic countries next.