FMQ - Kimmo Pohjonen Articles

Kimmo Pohjonen: 60th Anniversary Concert and interview at the Helsinki Festival

Kimmo Pohjonen: 60th Anniversary Concert and interview at the Helsinki Festival

Kimmo Pohjonen: 60th Anniversary Concert and interview at the Helsinki Festival

One of Finland’s most adventurous accordionists celebrated his 60th birthday with a concert at the Helsinki Festival in August. In this article, Pohjonen reflects on his past and shares his current pursuits.

Simon Broughton

September 6, 2024

From runo roots to the UZone lair

From runo roots to the UZone lair

From runo roots to the UZone lair

"The JuuriJuhla-RotFest (Roots Festival) takes place in Espoo each year and says it has its own roots in the pelimanni folk dance music, although most of the concerts range much wider. It featured top names on the Finnish roots music scene."

Simon Broughton

April 14, 2021

Alive and adventurous – Finnish traditional accordion in today’s world

Alive and adventurous – Finnish traditional accordion in today’s world

Alive and adventurous – Finnish traditional accordion in today’s world

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?

Fiona Talkington

September 30, 2019

Go your own way! Artistic freedom is at the heart of vibrant contemporary Finnish folk music

Go your own way! Artistic freedom is at the heart of vibrant contemporary Finnish folk music

Go your own way! Artistic freedom is at the heart of vibrant contemporary Finnish folk music

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.

Mika Kauhanen

September 30, 2019

Accordion anthems for our times

Accordion anthems for our times

Accordion anthems for our times

"What is supremely attractive is the earthiness, the urgency, the absolute conviction of voice meeting accordion."

Fiona Talkington

September 6, 2019

Avanto adventures with Kimmo Pohjonen

Avanto adventures with Kimmo Pohjonen

Avanto adventures with Kimmo Pohjonen

"When accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen invited me to join him at his sauna society in January I couldn’t resist. But I was afraid. I’ve been courageous enough to attend many Kimmo shows and survived. But here was a challenge."

Simon Broughton

February 21, 2019

Innovative noise box

Innovative noise box

Innovative noise box

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.

Amanda Kauranne

August 24, 2017

Shared roots

Shared roots

Shared roots

The nature of folk music has always included the shameless borrowing of refreshing material from elsewhere – right now Baltic Finnish influences are rising to the top in Finland.

Amanda Kauranne

June 4, 2016

Picture this!

Picture this!

Picture this!

Concert promoter, journalist and music export researcher Dr Greg Goldenzwaig takes a look at the import-export of rock and pop music between Finland and Russia. Some things have changed for sure in the past ten years.

Greg Goldenzwaig

June 4, 2016

The accordion in Finland – an instrument of contradictions

The accordion in Finland – an instrument of contradictions

The accordion in Finland – an instrument of contradictions

Edited by Vesa Kurkela and Marko Tikka and released in late 2014, a new book about the Finnish accordion covers, among other things, the early stages of the instrument and the most significant players, as well as going through the Finnish accordion repertoire. In the following article, based on the book’s introduction, the two editors contemplate the status of the accordion in Finnish music.

Vesa Kurkela

February 7, 2015

Heikki Laitinen & Kimmo Pohjonen: Murhaballadeja – Murder Ballads

Heikki Laitinen & Kimmo Pohjonen: Murhaballadeja – Murder Ballads

Heikki Laitinen & Kimmo Pohjonen: Murhaballadeja – Murder Ballads

"Laitinen flexes his vocals to varied roles, portraying the whole spectrum of emotions: humour, jealousy, love, sadness, smugness, weakness, cruelty and the feeling of abandonment. As the ballads open a window into humanity, you forget the theme of murder...

Tanja Tiekso

January 12, 2012

New directions with a firm basis in tradition

New directions with a firm basis in tradition

New directions with a firm basis in tradition

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.

Mika Kauhanen

January 12, 2005

Kimmo Pohjonen and vanguard accordion

Kimmo Pohjonen and vanguard accordion

Kimmo Pohjonen and vanguard accordion

Kimmo Pohjonen represents that rare breed of musicians who seem to be born to redefine the genres and recalibrate the metres. Such is the force of his vision and commitment that even though his solo career is a mere five years old, the whole world seems to want in on the action. Without the shadow of a doubt, Pohjonen is one of the harbingers of the music of the 22nd century.

Petri Silas

January 12, 2001

A cornucopia of Pohjonen

A cornucopia of Pohjonen

A cornucopia of Pohjonen

"Northern by name and Northern by nature, Kimmo is a totally unique, open artist with an illustrious career ahead of him. Based on Sensitive Skin, the future’s so bright he’d better start wearing shades."

Petri Silas

January 8, 1985