WOMEX – the World Music Expo 2019 starts tomorrow in Tampere, Finland. Here you will find information on Finnish showcase acts, trade fair participants and other things concerning WOMEX 19!

Tampere is the 3rd largest city in Finland and a versatile music hub: it is the home for numerous high-quality festivals, events and music companies. Together with Piranha Arts, WOMEX 19 will be brought to Finland by Rockadillo Production Oy, with Music Finland as strategic partner.

The WOMEX 19 conference 

and trade fair will take place at the newly-renovated TampereHall, which also hosts part of the showcase program. Further, close by venues Tullikamari, Klubi and Paja Kongressi will serve as showcase stages.
 
WOMEX is the most international music meeting in the world and the biggest conference of the global music scene, featuring a trade fair, talks, films and a showcase festival. There is plenty of excellent Finnish music to hear and professionals to meet at WOMEX – this year even more than usually!

Finnish showcase acts

Opening concert: Arctic Fire – Pohjoiset tulet

Showtime: Wed Oct 23 at 19:30

To commemorate the Opening of the 25th-anniversary edition of WOMEX, this year four top-notch Finnish acts will be performing at the Arctic Fire - Pohjoiset tulet opening concert: Vildá, Pauanne, Pekko Käppi and Suistamon Sähkö. Read more here.

Suistamon Sähkö

Uncompromising folktronica act inspired by crossing points of modern day and the history of Karelian villages – combined with rap and manic dance moves

Vildá

Sámi yoik – the ancient vocal tradition of the indigenous Northern people – encounters rhythmic accordion dexterity

Pauanne

Spells and curses, dreams of a shepherd, 17th century witch hunts and cattle calls – modern folk sound with archive tapes and enchanting stories

Pekko Käppi

Swamp blues grooves and hard rock riffs, archaic chants, polyrhythmic psychedelic incantations and shamanistic interventions with jouhikko (the Finnish bowed lyre) – Read our feature article on Pekko Käppi!

Northern Connections showcase

MA Rouf

Showtime: Sat Oct 26 at 00:45

Fusion of the mystical Persia and the luring cool of the North, traveling the paths of international jazz while remaining true to Middle Eastern maqams

Tuuletar

Showtime: Thu Oct 24 at 00:45

Influenced by hip hop and Finnish tradition, this vocal performance group builds rich harmonies with beats and fierce energy

Wimme & Rinne

Showtime: Fri Oct 25 at 23:15

Sámi yoik tradition invokes the spirits of nature, uniting with current-day bass clarinet and electronic soundscapes

Read more about the Northern Connections showcase.

Official showcase

Duo Emilia Lajunen & Suvi Oskala

Showtime: Fri Oct 25 at 13:00

Two five-string fiddle masters saving unique tunes from archives and expanding their own energy-laden chamber folk style. Get acquainted with all the acts on WOMEX 2019 official showcase.

Finnish stand no 3.1 and Nordic lounge

You can find Music Finland and Finnish companies at the Finnish stand, next to the Nordic area on the third floor of the trade fair centre Tampere-talo.

The Finnish organisations present at the stand are the following:

Aino & Miihkali
Anette Åkerlund
Anna Dantchev – Bulgarian voice from Finland
Anna Murtola, Flamenco Singer
Antti Paalanen
Art Prevolution
Bafe's Factory
Creative Europe Desk Finland
Eclipse Music
Emmi Kujanpää
ENKEL
FINtango
Folk Extreme
Frigg
G Livelab Tampere
Global Music Centre
Haapavesi Folk Music Festival
Helsinki Festival
J-P Piirainen – Nordic Guitar Music
Johanna Juhola Music
Joonas Widenius
Kaustinen Folk Music Festival
KordAva Production
La Riippa Group
Maetka
MiklagardArts
Mimmit Music Oy
Minnamurra Music Management & Agency
Raitala Music Ltd
Saura Booking Agency
Savoy Theatre
Seaside Sounds from Finland
Sublime Music Agency
Sväng
Tampere Region Festivals
Timo Lassy
Tsuumi Sound System
Tuuletar
Tuupa Records
World Village Festival
Zäpämmät

Finnish speakers at WOMEX Conference

Expertise from the Finnish cultural life will be present on WOMEX's multifaceted Conference Program. Speakers include Kimmo Aulake (Ministry of Education and Culture), Paulina Ahokas (Tampere-talo), Kristiina Ilmonen (Sibelius Academy), Henna Salo (Music Finland), Han Zhang (MusicInfo) and many others. See the whole conference program here.