In the summer of 2019, I raked in many miles, performing in Finland, Estonia, England, and Germany.
I was glad to return to Germany, this time at Rudolstadt Festival with Sibelius Academy Folk Big Band. We played main stage streamed on NRK Radio as well as multiple performances in the packed dance tent. I found helping teach at our dance workshop especially fun!
You can listen to the performance on NRK Radio by clicking here.
Our next gig was Main stage Saturday night at Kaustinen Folk Music Festival. It was my first time at the festival following a wish to go for many years. I also played in semi-finals of the Konsta Jylha competition with Eva Valjaots. The theme was to play traditional tunes played or written by Konsta Jylha a great fiddler and leader of Purppuripelimannit from Kaustinen. After studying pelimanni music from the area with Esko Jarvela, it was a great feeling to be a semi-finalists despite being both being foreigners.
Folk Big Band performing at Kaustinen Folk Music Festival.
This year also marked my first Viljandi Folk Music Festival, Estonia, where I performed with Eva Väljaots. The festival site was spectacular and our performances were on Viljandi’s Song Festival Grounds where there was plenty of space for dancing in the sunshine. A few weeks later we were back in Helsinki performing in Musiikkitalo’s Summer Concert series.
The summer also brought journeys around Finland including two weddings in Porvoo and Nurmes whereat I played for ceilidh dancing. The first was with guitarist Sakari Keipi from Luomaduo and the second with Helsinki Ceilidh band. Both were great fun and best wishes to both families! My next booking with the Helsinki Ceilidh Band is for the already sold out Finnish Scottish Society St Andrew’s day ceilidh.
Eva Väljaots & Robbie Sherratt performing at Viljandi Folk Music Festival.