This autumn, OMJ Jazz & Etno brings Northern musical heritage together with experimental contemporary expression. In collaboration with Oulu2026, the concerts explore Northern Ostrobothnian traditions and an international guitar encounter.
The autumn programme of the OMJ Jazz & Etno series features two concerts where Northern musical heritage meets bold contemporary expression. In September, the Pohjolan soiva aarreaitta concert at Oulun Lyseo takes audiences into the musical traditions of Northern Ostrobothnia from the 18th and 19th centuries. In October, AaltoSiilo hosts a unique meeting of two guitars, bringing together Oulu-based Heikki Ruokangas and Belgian guitarist Julien Tassin.
The concerts are presented in collaboration with Oulu2026 as part of the European Capital of Culture year programme. Buy tickets at Ticketmaster.fi.
Forgotten Northern Ostrobothnian melodies come to life
Pohjolan soiva aarreaitta brings audiences into the musical heritage of Northern Ostrobothnia on Wednesday, 16 September at Oulun Lyseo. The concert breathes new life into 18th- and 19th-century Finnish folk melodies and dance tunes from Northern Ostrobothnia through fresh and vibrant arrangements.
The historical melodies are brought together with today’s professional folk musicians, young traditional players and Orivesi All Stars from the Oulu region. Musical direction is led by folk music multi-talent Antti Järvelä, while stories about the history of the melodies and their musicians provide context throughout the concert.
The concert is part of the Village Anthems – Pohjolan soiva aarreaitta project by Kansanmusiikkiyhdistys Rällä ry. The project explores the musical heritage of the northern countryside and how melodies preserved in archives and historical sources can find new life in the hands of today’s musicians.
Pohjolan soiva aarreaitta offers an opportunity to discover the musical roots of Oulu and Northern Ostrobothnia – and to experience how music from past centuries can still sound fresh and vibrant today.
Pohjolan soiva aarreaitta
Wednesday, 16 September 2026 at 7 pm
Oulun Lyseo, Great Hall
Duration approximately one hour, no interval
In collaboration with Kansanmusiikkiyhdistys Rällä ry and Oulu2026.
Two Guitars, One Shared Soundscape
In October, Oulu2026’s music programme takes on an international dimension as Oulu-based guitarist and composer Heikki Ruokangas meets Belgian guitarist Julien Tassin. The concert takes place at AaltoSiilo on Wednesday, 7 October.
Ruokangas and Tassin first met through Australian record label Ramble Records. Both had released music on the label, and their shared musical interests led to a collaboration. The guitarists are united by a spontaneous and intense approach to music and a desire to develop a personal and distinctive sound.
In the duo’s music, the two guitars sometimes merge into a single, expansive instrument. Melodic lines meet atonal expression, creating a sound that combines sensitivity, experimentation, rawness and improvisation.
Ruokangas’ musical world echoes Finnish waltz, Delta blues, western-style guitar music and jazz. Tassin, meanwhile, draws inspiration from blues, rock, folk, jazz and free improvisation. The Belgian guitarist is also known for his use of unconventional tunings and various objects as part of his playing.
The duo’s collaboration has also evolved through touring. Mandolin, bells and various objects have expanded their instrumental palette, adding new textures to their shared sound. Their debut album Behind The Mask was released in 2025, followed in 2026 by Live In Brussels, recorded in Brussels.
For audiences in Oulu, the concert offers a particularly compelling encounter: a musician from the city performing alongside an internationally acclaimed Belgian guitarist, with music moving fluidly between jazz, blues, rock and free improvisation.
Julien Tassin & Heikki Ruokangas
Wednesday, 7 October 2026 at 8 pm
AaltoSiilo, Alvar Aallon katu 5, Oulu
Duration approximately one hour, no interval
In collaboration with Oulu2026.
Tradition and Experiment Meet in Oulu2026
The two concerts represent different yet complementary approaches to music. Pohjolan soiva aarreaitta looks to the past, bringing forgotten Northern Ostrobothnian melodies back into the living cultural heritage. Julien Tassin & Heikki Ruokangas, meanwhile, create new music through improvisation, experimentation and international collaboration.
Together, the concerts demonstrate the breadth of music within the Oulu2026 cultural programme – from local musical heritage to international contemporary expression.
Both concerts are part of the Oulu Music Festival’s OMJ Jazz & Etno series and are presented in collaboration with Oulu2026. Buy tickets at Ticketmaster!
