Fascinating Northern Stories
The Oulu2026 region is filled with stories! Meaningful history, human fates, phenomena and revolutionary events. On this page, you can explore stories set by selecting a story route and following it on the map on your mobile device. If you wish, you can also read the stories directly on this website.
1. The Sound of the North
Tracing the origins of popular music
Ten nostalgic short stories tell about the phenomena, waves, places and people of popular music in Oulu. The stories were written and are narrated by musician Esa “Katz” Nissi from the band Radiopuhelimet. On the route’s map, the stories are placed close to their actual locations and can either be read or listened to.
The vivid stories of the Sound of the North route take you from Kuusrock to music video festivals and from Rauhala to NuKu’s discos. Rattori-Lupi, the city of metal, Leipätehdas, 45 Special, the Madetoja music school and the paska kaupunni (“shitty city”, misspelled) graffiti each also have their own stories.
In addition to Nissi’s stories, the route also includes interviews that take the listener even deeper into the world of northern popular music. Views and memories are shared by Kuusrock’s founder Markku Hänninen, Vesa Ranta from the band Sentenced, doorman legend Jorma Karhumaa, Jarno Mällinen from Radiopuhelimet, Petri Sirviö from Mieskuoro Huutajat, event expert Taina Ronkainen, youth work veteran Paula Kariniemi, 45 Special’s Ilpo and Roope Sulkala, student Ella Huttunen from Madetoja music school and Marlene Hyyppä, expert in Oulu’s underground culture.
The route can be followed from a map below. You can also find the route and stories by scanning the QR code on tiles found in the centre of Oulu. Each story is independent, and they can be experienced in any order.
“The sound of the north” route on the map
Can’t see the map?
If you can’t see the Sound of the North banner with tar barrels or the route map, it is most likely due to your browser’s cookie settings. You can change the cookie settings from the Cookiebot button that is visible at the bottom corner of this page. First select “Muuta hyväksyntääsi” (change consent) and then “Hyväksyn kaikki evästeet” (Consent to all cookies).
Alternatively, you can go to the atla.fi website and view the map there. Link to the map.
2. Welcome to the golden era of the tar trade!
Tales of Tar from Oulu
You can experience historical Oulu on the Tales of Tar route! The stories written by Katariina Vuori are based on real locations, events and persons from the golden era of the tar trade in Oulu. Use the digital map to discover ten tar-related locations in Oulu and follow the route on your mobile device. Plaques have also been placed at the locations: scan the QR code to read or listen to the stories. If you wish, you can also read or listen the stories on this page.
The Tales of Tar route starts from the boundary of Leveri and ends in Toppila harbour. However, each story is independent and can be experienced in any order. At the story points of Frigate Toivo and Tervahovi, it is possible to view the locations with augmented reality on your own mobile device. You can dive into the stories in Finnish, Easy Finnish, English and Swedish.
Tales of Tar from around the Oulujoki river
The Tales of Tar route continues along the Oulujoki river with three stories centred around the events that took place in Muhos, Utajärvi and Vaala. You can find the stories by following the digital map of the Tales of Tar route. You can also read or listen the stories on this website.
The Oulujoki river stories have been realised by Rokua UNESCO Global Geopark/Humanpolis Oy as part of the project “Geoparks – attractive sustainable travel destinations”, which is funded by the European Union’s Regional Development Fund and the Finnish Government.
Tales of Tar route and story points on the map
Can’t see the map?
If you can’t see the Tales of Tar banner with tar barrels or the route map, it is most likely due to your browser’s cookie settings. You can change the cookie settings from the Cookiebot button that is visible at the bottom corner of this page. First select “Muuta hyväksyntääsi” (change consent) and then “Hyväksyn kaikki evästeet” (Consent to all cookies).
Alternatively, you can go to the atla.fi website and view the map there. Link to the map.
Northern Stories project
“The Tales of Tar” and “The Sound of the North” routes are pilots in the Northern Stories project, implemented by Oulu Culture Foundation. The aim is to develop new ways of bringing stories to their authentic locations by creating several themed routes with user-friendly mobile technology in the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture area.
Highlighting the region’s cultural heritage and offering experiences free of charge strengthens residents’ local identity in everyday environments and creates tourist attractions. The stories have been mapped and collected with experts and local residents. The project came to an end in April 2024, but the routes will remain active.
Implementer of the project: Oulu Culture Foundation sr., main financier: Council of Oulu Region
Project implementation period: 1 March 2023–30 April 2024
