Maija Pokela | Melkutus Party - Etno-Espa

The meeting of contemporary folk music and electronic dance energy at Etno-Espa: on stage, Maija Pokela and Melkutus Party.

16.00 | Maija Pokela

Maija Pokela is a kantele player and singer whose music blends Finnish kantele and vocal traditions with modern songwriting. As a member of the bands Kardemimmit and ENKEL, she has established her place in the contemporary folk music scene, and in 2025 she released her debut solo album Lohdun sanoja - a work whose themes spring from the emotional world familiar to folk songs: longing, comfort and dreams.

The concert features vocal harmonies, fiddler-style violin and kantele holding it all together.

Maija Pokela - kantele, vocals
Veera Kuisma - violin
Onni Rajaniemi - vocals, guitar

17.15 | Melkutus Party

Melkutus Party combines Karelian kantele melodies with electronic music. The kantele accompanied celebrations a couple of hundred years ago - why not do the same today.

The project began as Jenni Venäläinen's solo work and debut album (Melkutus Party, Nordic Notes, 2023), after which Janne Storm (live electronics, setara) and Tatu Viitala (live electronics, percussion) joined. The trio has performed in Finland since 2023 and made their international debut in autumn 2024 on a tour of the United States. Since then, the band has played in Latvia, Lithuania and performed as a showcase artist in Sweden at Nordic Folk Alliance. In summer 2026, the band performs as a showcase artist at the Kaustinen folk music festival.

In autumn 2026, the trio's first joint album will be released, whose themes move through the afterworld journeys of humanity and explore the feelings of joy, sorrow and frustration as well as personal power.

Jenni Venäläinen - kantele, vocals
Janne Storm - live electronics, setara
Tatu Viitala - electronics, percussion