ARTIST: Tsuumi Sound System
COUNTRY: Finland
GENRE: Contemporary Folk From Finland
MORE ABOUT: Their live energy has been praised as ”volcanic” or ”outrageous”, their musicians virtuosos and their records as ”dangerously addictive roller-coaster rides”. Besides the award-winning original compositions, this eight-piece Finnish contemporary world music ensemble draws their strength from an exceptionally wide range of tastefully and creatively combined influences. It might have something to do with the band having originated as a musical unit of a contemporary folk dance company, but their music is claimed – and proven by various audiences giving standing ovations all over Europe – highly danceable. It’s a big band with a big sound, unique in its instrumentation and ready to take the next leap forward into the spotlight!
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS:
- Growing Up was nominated for the best ethnic album of the year in 2010 (Emma Awards – Finnish Grammy Awards)
- The song Casino, composed by Hannu Kella, won 1st price in the Instrumental Jazz Song category in 2009 (Just Plain Folks Awards – the largest music awards in the world with over 560,000 songs submitted to the competition by JPF members)
- Hotas received a Teosto Award nomination in 2008 (Finnish Composers’ Copyright Society) and was selected as Top Of The World album by Songlines magazine
- The perfect rating of five stars was given to Hotas by German In Music magazine, as well as a nomination in the Folk & Folklore category of the German Music Critic’s Awards. (2008)
MUSICIANS:
- Hannu Kella: accordion
- Esko Järvelä: fiddle, viola
- Tommi Asplund: fiddle
- Pilvi Talvitie: piano, harmonium
- Jussi Nikula: drums, percussion
- Tarmo Anttila: double bass
- Joakim Berghäll: saxophones, additional percussion
- Jani Kivelä: guitar,cittern
SELECTED PRESS REVIEWS AND QUOTES:
“A dangerously addictive rollercoaster ride through Finnish folk, jazz, heart-wrenching ballad and unstoppable dance music, with a little Balkan edge.” (Fiona Talkington, Songlines/BBC)
“It’s fun, it’s funky, it’s fiddle-led, and it’s Finnish. Who else would it be? If you’ve never heard of Tsuumi Sound System before, join the club – but prepare to be impressed.” (Alex Monaghan, FolkWorld)
“This is a powerful and exciting band, which reminds at times of the Scandinavian greats of folk innovation” (Mike Moll, FolkWorld)
“It’s a very strong band indeed, as their storming show at this year’s Kaustinen festival showed” (Andrew Cronshaw, fRoots)
“Another of Finland’s finest. A storming live show.” (Andrew Cronshaw, fRoots)
SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:
- “Growing Up” (2009)
- “Hotas” (2007)
- “Rajaton Tapaus” (2004)
- “Avoin Kentt” (2002)
- “Risteys” (2000)
SELECTED VIDEOS:
SELECTED PERFORMANCES:
- Folkalarm
- Nordsjo (No)
- Kaustinen
- Haapavesi
- Etno Espa
- Faces
- European Peoples’ Festival
- Folklandia (Fi)
- TradIt (Nl)
- Glatt&Verkerht (at)
- Schots W-E (Be)
- Musiques d’à Coté (fr)
- International Accodion Festival of Castelfidardo
- Itinerary Folk
- Sentieri Acustici
- Touscouleurs
- Note di Notte
- Classica Dintorni (It)
SONGS:
FOR FURTHER INFO/BOOKINGS: email us
