In July Jyväskylä Festival puts on a comprehensive spread of world music superstars.
Israel's Yasmin Levy is the true star guest at this year's Jyväskylä Festival. The music performed by this lady with the spectacular voice reveals the influences of two old musical traditions. With her flamenco and rare ladino music Levy has risen to become a front-row ethnomusician.
Yasmin Levy's concert constitutes an excellent example of the way this urban festival with long, long traditions has always brought top names in world music to Jyväskylä. According to Festival Manager Tanja Rasi this year the festival's international offering is exceptionally generous. She also makes special mention of the young, multitalented Cedric Watson, who is one of the most famous creole-influenced musical artists of recent years. Watson was nominated for a Grammy award immediately his first solo album appeared.
Another enthusiastically awaited guest is America's Linda Tillery, who brings her Cultural Heritage Choir to Jyväskylä. The choir, renowned for its performances of original Afro-American music, will also give a concert with Finland's Rajattomat a cappella ensemble. A Nordic flavour to this year's festival is provided by Farmers Market from Norway. This fun-loving, boisterous ensemble rejoices in producing new versions of classics such as Abba's hits.
"This group's music can't be put in any particular category. It can change in an instant from jazz to rock. They are hilarious, but take what they do seriously," Tanja Rasi explains.
Jyväskylä Festival, which celebrates its 55th birthday this year, is the oldest urban arts festival in the Nordic countries. Nowadays the festival treats its visitors to concerts of a high international standard and an exceptionally broad spectrum of non-verbal theatre. Finnish performers can be encountered chiefly in the club concerts, the children's programme and the various courses on offer.
The festival programme comprises almost a hundred events, of which as many as half are free events in the city's streets and parks. Last summer Jyväskylä Arts Festival achieved its target of 40 000 visitors, which is the festival's all-time record. By Pia Tervoja
55th Jyväskylä Arts Festival 13.18.7.
Photo: New circus troupe Circo Aereo entertained people in the pedestrian precinct at the opening of the 2009 Jyväskylä Festival with a performance entitled "Rust and Circus".
Photo: World music star Yasmin Levy skilfully combines two old musical traditions; rarely performed ladino music and the more familiar flamenco.
Photo: Cedric Watson has attracted international attention and praise for his cajun and creole-influenced music.
