Juurakko

Suon sylissä [In the bosom of the bog] is a concert that takes us through wonderful, witty and weird experiences of nature and scientific observation. The Juurakko ensemble and marine biologist and sound designer Myyri Sysivesi have packed the production with multi-part blues singing, deep delta kantele sounds, narratives and everyday objects elevated to musical instruments.

The concert features the wisdom of folktales presented in a modern, impactful and thought-provoking form. Juurakko, performing roots music with a brisk skiffle approach, has selected songs about waterway protection, climate change and human actions in a variety of contexts inextricably intertwined with nature. The stories in the songs take us from the archipelago of the Gulf of Finland through the rapids of central Finland to the plains of Ostrobothnia and the fells of Lapland. The blues played by Juurakko evokes hints of the bayou and dancing onboard a ship.

Sound designer Myyri Sysivesi has a day job as a biologist and scientific diver, studying freshwater pearl mussels. She takes us to river soundscapes in a magnificent exploration of the underwater worlds and streams of the North.

There is an interval in the concert.

Combining powerful narratives, roots music and ensemble singing, Juurakko is a powerhouse of community and earthiness. Awarded Artist of the Year at the Etnogaala in 2020, Juurakko have released four studio albums and a podcast series titled Juurimultaa. The ensemble tours internationally and has been commended for its original musical style and positively energetic stage presence.