Nordic Banjo

Nordic Banjo is a duo formed by two Finnish banjoists, whose repertoire consists of well-known pieces of Nordic folk music arranged for the five-string bluegrass banjo and guitar.

The goal of the duo is to bring the American banjo into the Nordic fiddle-driven folk culture and on the other hand to increase the recognition of Finnish traditional music worldwide.

The hand-picked Nordic Banjo collection mixes together several Northern European traditions originating from the smoky saunas of Forest Finns and the shared longhouses of Norsemen. The work respectfully extends the melodic and rhythmic textures passed down through families, relatives and neighbors over hundreds of years.

Narrated by the Afro-American five-string, the Nordic Banjo melange settles itself in the core of what is known as World Music. The rolls and drones which are idiomatic to the banjo combined with the boreal sound climate create a mystical atmosphere where a myriad of archaic story layers are being told concurrently in different languages and dialects. This spirit of Nordic Banjo is aptly captured by the Finnish word viisikielinen, which refers to both five-stringed and pentalingual: A universal voice that speaks to people across the continents.

Lauri Häme is a musician and songwriter from Helsinki, Finland. Since 2004 he has been performing with the indie folk band Rautakoura on banjo and vocals. As an instrumentalist he is constantly experimenting with new combinations of traditional and contemporary sounds.

Miihkali Jaatinen is a versatile music professional and one of the most respected banjo pickers in Finland. Whether he is working as a guitarist, banjoist or producer, he is known for both ambitious work ethics and unprejudiced creativity.

Paula Wolski will be performing as a special guest in the concert. Wolski's music is a fusion of Finnish traditional music and American roots music.

Line up
Lauri Häme – banjo
Miihkali Jaatinen - guitar and banjo