Summer just flies by with all the events in Tampere region. And while autumn is fast approaching, the festival summer still keeps heating up. In August, it’s time for literature, music and the performing arts to take the stage.
Late summer’s highlights include the music festival Tapsan Tahdit held at Nokia, the literary event Pentinkulma Literature Festival, the week-long spectacular of dramatic arts, Tampere Theatre Festival, and the biggest hip hop festival in the Nordics, Blockfest.
The summer’s art exhibitions, Finlayson Art Area and Mänttä Art Festival, are also open until the last weeks of August.
Tapsan Tahdit 1–3 August
Nokia’s traditional summer festival Tapsan Tahdit offers three days of singing, dancing and concerts. It also includes many free events.
Once again, the festival is kicked off by awarding the Iskelmä-Finlandia Prize, after which the evening continues with the sounds of A. Aallon Rytmiorkesteri.
The evening shows at Tahtiteltta feature Laura Voutilainen and Erika Vikman on Friday, followed on Saturday by Robin Packalen and, last but not least, Kolmas Nainen, who have the honor of closing the festival.
Saturday morning on the festival is dedicated to children’s programme, and the rest of the day features dance shows at Torilava for the whole family.
For more information: https://www.tapsantahdit.fi
Pentinkulma Literature Festival 2–3 August
The literary event Pentinkulma Literature Festival is held at writer Väinö Linna’s birthplace in Urjala. Organised now for the 46th time, the festival brings together thousands of enthusiasts of literature and culture.
This year’s theme for the festival is Truth. The writers, scholars and readers at the event are searching for answers on how ‘truth’ can be understood in literature.
Pentinkulma Literature Festival spreads itself all over Urjala. Interviews feature writers Päivi Alasalmi, Tommi Kinnunen, Matti Rönkä and Miina Supinen, and poetry is recited by loved performers Pekka Heikkinen and Kirsi-Kaisa Sinisalo. Pelle Romantique, aka. Toni Lahtinen, performs together with Kielo Kärkkäinen poetry that radiates with real feelings of the 2020s. Also, the poets Raisa Jäntti and Kati Hiltunen perform their latest works.
At the Kirjan Juhla celebration, we hear from Olli Rehn, Anna-Riikka Carlson and Juha Hurme, who contemplates in his topical book Kenen Kalevala?, is the Finnish national epic Kaleva actually stolen cultural heritage. The celebration ends with Vihreä Sali Soi performance, in which the performance of Seela Sella and musical parts take us to the world of Sirpa Kähkönen’s novels.
The festival also includes events for children: the outdoor theater performance Neiti Kesäheinän ja Taikuri Äkkiväärän kesäsirkus and cheerful musical performance by Mimi ja Kuku. The event also features a Truth-themed escape room, that offers puzzles for young people. At the municipal hall, attendees can also take part in creative writing workshops that investigate the borders of fact and fiction.
For more information: https://pentinkulmanpaivat.fi
Tampere Theatre Festival 5–11 August
Held now for the 55th time, Tampere Theatre Festival once again brings the jewels of the dramatic arts to Tampere. The biggest theatre event in the Nordics features performers from Sweden, Portugal, Belgium and Netherlands: we are treated to a Portuguese play and Swedish contemporary circus, as well as the masters of physical and documentary theatre.
In addition to the international programme, Tampere also welcomes a host of Finnish performers. The Main Programme features shows from Q-teatteri and the city theatres of Kajaani, Jyväskylä, Turku and Kotka. The festival also features co-productions, group projects and freelance ensembles, such as Carl Knif Company and KokoTeatteri.
Aside from the Main Programme, Tampere Theatre Festival also includes the Telttalab performances held at Tampere’s G Livelab. These performances mix together the northern atmosphere with fiery flamenco, offer the boldly emotional songs of Antti Autio and make us laugh out loud with a murder mystery, among other things.
In Tuulensuu Palace, singer and actor Samuli Edelmann is the star of the brunch concert Thalian taikaa, and Tampere Theatre Festival’s OFF programme includes nearly 40 productions. The festival also includes the multi-artistic Nocturnal Happening, which spreads around the city on Thursday, 8 August. Multitudes of panel discussions, workshops and industry events complete the festival programme.
For more information: www.teatterikesa.fi
Blockfest 16–17 August
Blockfest brings the stars of urban hip hop, rap and r’n’b to Tampere now for the 15th time. Held at Tampere Stadium, the biggest hip hop festival in the Nordics brings on stage several international superstars, as well as over 40 Finnish performers. The programme is headlined on Friday 16 August by Chief Keef, hailed as the biggest hip hop star of the new generation, and Lil Gnar, known for successful releases and collaborations.
The final progamme also features the highlights of Finnish rap music, william and Korelon, the most interesting duo in Finnish rap Jore & Zpoppa, the trailblazer of trap wave TIPPA, and Yrjänä, who is currently working on his new album. Vitunleija®️, on the other hand, brings to Blockfest completely a unique stage show, curated especially for the festival and featuring many surprise performers. The festival also includes a host of first-time performers, like r’n’b and pop artists Mirella and Alina Burnet, and rising stars Röge ja Sliki.
For more information: www.blockfest.fi
Upcoming Events in Autumn
September 11–15 MUKAMAS – International Puppet Theatre Festival, Tampere
October 2–4 Lost in Music, Tampere
October 31 – November 2 Tampere Jazz Happening, Tampere
November 4–10 Kirjalitta Children’s Literature and Literary Art Festival, Tampere
