Two albums, Lakkautettu kylä (“A Closed-down Village”) by Anne-Mari Kivimäki as well as Liki (“Very Near”) by Freija received the recognition of the Best Folk Album of 2015. 

The annual poll is organized in co-operation by kansanmusiikki.fi and Kansanmusiikki magazine. Both the music professionals and the audience get to vote for the best Finnish folk and world music albums. This year the voting result was a tie between these two albums, thus the recognition was given to both. 

Accordionist, composer Anne-Mari Kivimäki’s album Lakkautettu kylä takes the listener from the village parties of the early 20^th century to this day. Kivimäki’s own modern Karelian-inspired music meets the sentimental wartime schlagers. Together with archive recordings featuring Karelian-language storytelling, this music forms unique soundscapes.

Liki is the third album by the 10-year old Freija ensemble. Stylishly combining traditional music to old dance and schlager music, this album features both updated Finnish evergreens and old ballads, as well as new tunes.