When a Northern Finnish child picked up a kantele mostly to annoy her sister, no one imagined she would become one of the instrument’s boldest contemporary voices.
Hear Tytti Metsä play an ancient Finnish instrument with a timeless voice: the jouhikko
Few Finns play the bowed lyre, or jouhikko, an instrument whose roots stretch back thousands of years. For Tytti Metsä, its breath-like, singing tone has become the centre of her musical expression.
Staying playful: A Finnish artist combines fatherhood with creative freedom
Everyone’s an artist in Teemu Keisteri’s family, no matter if they’re four or almost 40. Father and son get creative together and explore Finland’s vibrant children’s culture scene.
Spotlight on Vörå, Finland: the local impact of KAJ’s Eurovision success
The Swedish-speaking Finnish trio KAJ represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest with a cheerful sauna song that was the hot favourite to win the final last May. In the end, they came in fourth – but they went from local heroes to viral international phenomenon, transforming their home village in the process.
Tracing the rise of Finland’s folk music from village roots to global acclaim
Folk music in Finland has evolved from postwar silence to a vibrant, internationally respected art form. As Womex (Worldwide Music Expo) 2025 approaches, Music Finland traces that journey.
Rising stars Erkki Virkkala and Iikka Huntus: These young fiddlers carry on Finland’s pelimanni folk music tradition
In the small town of Kaustinen, a hotspot for Finnish folk music, two young musicians are making waves. Erkki Virkkala and Iikka Huntus are part of a new generation keeping the pelimanni (folk music) tradition vibrant, blending skill, creativity and a love of playing together.
Make air, not war: The joyfully absurd World Championships in Oulu
Ever dreamed of witnessing something wildly fun and just a little bit bonkers? Picture people of all ages rocking out on stage with instruments only they can see. Dancing like nobody’s watching, fully immersed in the moment. This is air guitar at its most serious. And most glorious.
Quirky ’90s band Ultra Bra stages a stylish comeback at 30
Ultra Bra, one of the most beloved Finnish bands of the 1990s, has released new songs after more than two decades and reunited for shows at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium and summer festivals.
Newsletter subscription
Hear the latest news from finland.fi by subscribing to our newsletter.
ThisisFINLAND.fi is produced within the
communications department of Finland’s
Ministry for Foreign Affairs. For more
about the ministry’s data protection
policies, see its data protection info page.
