The festival events take place on both sides of the Torne River, which marks the boarder between Finland and Sweden. The listed times are local times of each country, notice the one hour time-difference between the two countries. Events and ticket prices are listed below.
CONCERT
The Northern Song, June 21, 7 p.m., The Tornion Church (Finland)
Petri Pussila, bass-baritone & Outi Nissi, piano
The opera singer Petri Pussila and pianist Outi Nissi open the 2018 Väyläfestival in the historic Tornio Church with a recital titled The Northern Song. The program features a selection of spirituals, songs inspired water, as well as a bravura number of the bass-baritone Pussila, the monologue of Paavo Ruotsalainen from Joonas Kokkonen’s opera The Last Temptations. Between the songs, Outi Nissi offers a selection of Choral Preludes Johannes Brahms.
Experience the touching beginning of The Väyläfestival–a ten-day long arts journey–along the Torne River in the sacred historic venue on the island of Tornio.
Tickets: 20/12€
CONCERT
The Midsummer Fest, June 23, 3 p.m. The Aavasaksa Crown Stage (Finland)
Ulla Pirttijärvi & Ulda
Free entry
ART EXHIBITION
The opening of the retrospective of Leena and Juho Karjalainen’s works, June 26, 7 p.m., Jieris Gallery, Muonio (Finland)
The works Juho Karjalainen presented at the Väyläfestival exhibition include a selection of the artist’s fabled depictions of “man and the boat”. Leena Karjalainen, in her paintings, captures the hardship and conflicting beauty of the indigenous Ingerian people’s journey of exile.
Free entry
CONCERT
The Northern Hymn I, June 27, 7 p.m., The Muodoslompolo Church (Sweden)
The Northern Hymn II, June 28, 7 p.m., The Lannavaara Memorial Church (Sweden)
Jukka Perko Avara, cr Sampo Linkoneva
Jukka Perko, saksophone – Teemu Viinikainen, acoustic guitar – Jarmo Saari, electric guitar
The Northern Hymn concerts introduce to the festival audience a unique combination, a saxophone and two guitars. The saxophonist Jukka Perko has for years traversed across the hymn repertoire with various ensembles, including symphony orchestras. Perko’s hymn arrangements and the scope of hundreds of church performances have bestowed his Avara Trio its truly original sound as well as a place in their audiences’ hearts. Confronting fundamental questions of existence while searching beauty and truth through music, the three men often find themselves lost in dimensions where one can only arrive first going astray from ones way.
Tickets: 20/12€
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE ESSI KORVA – OPEN DOORS
June 28–29. 3–6 p.m., Kristallen i Lannavaara (Sweden)
The sculptor Essi Korva speaks about her art
Doors open into creativity in Lannavaara when 2018 Väyläfestival’s artist-in-residence, the sculptor Essi Korva opens her atelier to public on June 28–29. Korva’s entire work period at Väyläfestival lasts a full week. The artist works intuitively on natural materials and takes advantage of the inspirational nordic environment. The audience can follow her work during two days, during which she also invites audience members to take part in actual creation of art. The event suits people of all ages.
Essi Korva is known for founding her work on subjective experiences and for her aspiration to capture personal emotions in her art. She thrives on human being’s inner world and humanity at large. Korva uses a wealth of materials including wood, plaster, cement, clay, and hair.
Free entry
CONCERT
Möte I, June 29, 8 p.m., Aurora Mountain Lodge, Lannavaara (Sweden)
Jukka Perko & Duo Arvvas
The Finnish saxophonist Jukka Perko and the Norwegian Duo Arvvas perform the Möte I concert in Lannavaara’s Aurora Mountain Lodge on June 29. “Möte” is concept created the Väyläfestival that presents artists from different genres and traditions creating a spontaneous joint performance. Jukka Perko is among the most celebrated nordic saxophone players, his career was launched when the jazz-legend Dizzy Gillespie invited the young virtuoso into his ensemble. Duo Arvvas is a collaboration of the bass-player Steinar Raknes and the yoikare Sara Marielle Gaup. Their music is a fusion of traditional Sami music and Americana.
Tickets: 25/15€
CONCERT
Möte II, June 30, 7 p.m., Kilpisjärvi School, Kilpisjärvi (Finland)
JORD, cr Elisabeth Gustavsson / Johan Sara Jr, cr Knut Åserud
The Swedish folk-group JORD and yoikare Johan Sara Jr perform the Möte II concert in Kilpisjärvi on June 30. JORD is arguably the famous Swedish group singing in the Meän-language, an official language of the northern part of the country. Living and working in Norway’s Maze, Johan Sara Jr is one of the most well-known and versatile musicians of the Samiland.
“Möte” is concept created the Väyläfestival that presents artists from different genres and traditions creating a spontaneous joint performance. Taking place in the shadow of the two ancient giants, Saana and Malla, frozen once upon a time into mountains, the performance of a fabled folk-group and a truly original Sami artist is an event not to miss!
Tickets: 25/15€
CONCLUDING SERVICE
July 1, 11 a.m., The Three-Country Cairn, Kilpisjärvi (Finland)
Dean Vilho Vähäsarja
Yoik performance: Juha Tornensis
Free entry
The M/S Malla departs from the Hikingcenter shore at 10 a.m. The ferry returns to Kilpisjärvi at 3 p.m.
A two-way ticket for M/S Malla reserved through Väyläfestival: 15/10€
Book June 29: info@vaylafestival com