The summer’s event season in Tampere region starts this weekend and continues lively throughout July.
Iron Age Birckala (previously known as Pirkkala Viking Fair) invities us to the Viking era this upcoming weekend, and in the Aitoo village in Pälkäne, the legendary Aitoon Kirkastusjuhlat Music Festival entertains the summer crowd.
In Tampere, the upcoming week is filled with dance and music, as Fest Afrika spreads around the city, and the town of Virrat echoes with the sounds of KesäVirratSoi Music Festival.
Near the end July, we can enjoy historical music in Sastamala and world-class piano concertos in Mänttä-Vilppula. Festival summer’s highlights also include the most famous festival of the region, Tammerfest, as well as the Workers’ Music Festival, held once again in the industrial scenery of Valkeakoski.
The exhibitions of Finlayson Art Area and Mänttä Art Festival also remain open throughout July.
Iron Age Birckala 6–7 July
On the first weekend of July, in the scenic Reippi area of Pirkkala, take a trip to the era of Vikings. Iron Age Birckala festival draws its inspiration from the pre-historic age of Pirkkala and the archaeological discoveries made in the Tursiannotko area.
During the two-day event, pre-historic musical performances, battleshows, expert lectures, traditional crafts and guided tours invite you to explore iron age themes and the ancient way of life.
Children may take part in their own Viking tour, get to know the work of archaeologists in an excavation, make their own Viking jewelry and enjoy magic and puppetry.
Iron Age Birckala is a free event, and free transport to the event is available from Suupantori in the Pirkkala center.
For more information: www.birckala.fi
Aitoon Kirkastusjuhlat Music Festival 6–8 July
Aitoon Kirkastusjuhlat Music Festival draws the summer crowds to Pälkäne to enjoy music and great festival atmosphere. Held since 1882, Kirkastusjuhlat provides three days of entertainment at the Aitoo village, from Saturday to Monday. At the stages of Rokkiliiteri and Juhlatalo Honkala we can enjoy the music of Behm, Samuli Putro, Don Huonot and Windows95man, among others, with Apulanta as the headliner.
Aitoon Kirkastusjuhlat Music Festival stands out among the summer music festivals by welcoming under 18-year-olds with a special youth ticket.
For more information: www.kirkkarit.com
Fest Afrika 8–15 July
Fest Afrika is the biggest and oldest celebration of African culture in Finland, and once again it brings to Tampere the styles of the dance and music of African countries through workshops, concerts and dance performances.
This year’s brightest star is the Gambian artist and a sensation in the world of Kora music Sona Jobarteh, making her debut performance in Finland. In the West African tradition, the Kora was played by male members of the Griot families, which makes Jobarteh first of her kind as a female Kora virtuoso. Also known as an activist, she has traveled around the globe and performed to sold-out audiences in London and Paris.
For more information: http://festafrika.net
KesäVirratSoi Music Festival 11–14 July
KesäVirratSoi Music Festival offers a colourful combination of light and classical music from tens of artists from around Finland and abroad. This year the festival has many landmarks to celebrate: One of the central scenes of the festival, the wooden Church of Virrat built in the 18th century, is celebrating its 250th anniversary. Not only that, but KesäVirratSoi festival itself turns 10 years old, and the opener of the festival, Total Cello Ensemble, is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
In addition to celebrating the cellists, the festival also brings to us Brazilian rhythms and the exceptional stylings on kantele by Ida Elina. Free programme is available at the Raitilla Raikaa event, which includes variety of music and dance.
For more information: www.kesavirratsoi.fi
Sastamala Gregoriana 17–21 July
This year’s Sastamala Greogriana takes us on a musical journey to the palaces of Roman nobility, to marvel at the heavenly treasures of the Vatican and to the secret gardens of Rome.
During the five-day festival, we are offered 14 separate events. For example, Alon Sariel, dubbed as the world’s greatest mandolin player, performs together with the cembalo player Paola Erdas.
In their concert, Ensemble Aspiratio, led by Anna-Maaria Oramo, searches an answer to a secret ‘Pandora’s box’ hidden in a nunnery, the so-called Carlo G manuscript.
In the concert for rising stars, we are treated to the works of a less know maestro, Giovanni Antonio Pandolfi Mealli, performed by the Polish duo OWCZAREK | ŁOBODA.
For more information: www.sastamalagregoriana.fi
Tammerfest 18–20 July
The biggest city festival in Finland and one of the highlights of festival summer of Tampere region, Tammerfest bring live music to Ratinanniemi Festival Park, where we can enjoy three days of festival atmosphere, from Thursday to Saturday. Taking the stage are some of the biggest names in Finnish music, like Haloo Helsinki!, Kuumaa and Vesterinen yhtyeineen.
Tammerfest makes the whole city come alive. The summer festival vibes and a variety of entertainment is found all around Tampere in addition to the Festival Park: in the clubs, terraces and cultural venues. The programme includes concerts, pre-parties, after parties and an evening of stand-up comedy.
For more information: www.tammerfest.fi
Workers’ Music Festival 25–28 July
The city festival Workers’ Music Festival once again takes over the UPM paper factory at Tervasaari, in Valkeakoski, and the unique milieu of Myllysaari museum at the canal. As per tradition, the last weekend of July brings a wide-ranging and high-quality offering of Finnish music, from artists such as Arppa, Kotiteollisuus, Suistamon Sähkö, Leavings & Timo Rautiainen, Saimaa, Isac Elliot, Salla Flinkman, Atomirotta, and Lenni-Kalle Taipale & Osmo Ikonen.
Workers’ Music Festival is a mix of working-class culture, top artists, alternative music and free events for people of different ages. One attraction for the whole family is the amazing and fun-filled Finnish National Air Guitar Championship. And Singalongs are also one of the traditions at the festival.
For more information: www.musarit.fi/
Mänttä Music Festival 30 July – 3 August
Specialised in world-class piano recitals, the Mänttä Music Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The festival is held from 30 July to 3 August at Mänttä-Vilppula, at Serlachius Manor’s Kivijärvi Hall, surrounded by art and nature.
The festival has grown to be both intimate and close to nature, an annual meeting place for fans, enthusiasts and professionals of piano music. The anniversary programme includes nine paid concerts and additional free concerts. In the spirit of Mänttä Music Festival, the progamme includes some of the corner stones of piano literature as well as rarely heard gems of piano music.
The festival’s international performers include famous piano stars, such as Yeol Eum Son from South Korea, Laura Mikkola from Finland, Severin von Eckardstein from Germany, Javier Perianes from Spain and Pierre-Laurent Aimard from France.
For more information: mantanmusiikkijuhlat.fi
Upcoming Events in August
Tapsan Tahdit, Nokia 1–3 August
Pentinkulman päivät, Urjala 2–3 August
Tampere Theatre Festival, Tampere 5–11 August
Blockfest, Tampere 16–17 August
Photo / Mänttä Music Festival: Marco Borggreve
