Northern Finnish city of Oulu offers magical mix of tech and culture
As Oulu steps into the spotlight as the European Capital of Culture, the city is blending cutting-edge technology with its famously offbeat cultural spirit.
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.
Kaustinen, a small Finnish town renowned for its rich folk music traditions, welcomes festival-goers with a unique night hike through rain-soaked forests and magical cliffs. As fiddles echo in the dusk, hikers from across the globe gather to experience music and nature under the northern summer sky that never goes dark.
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