The ”Polka Chicks” is an energetic folk music duo from Finland. Fiddler Kukka Lehto and accordionist Teija Niku revel in picking through the dusty shelves of folk tune archives to find hidden musical gems and then polish them anew in a uniquely Polka Chick way. They also compose their own music. Kukka and Teija enjoy the extremes in music – they share a love for dynamic, almost impossibly fast polkas but they do have a tender side as well, which they're not afraid to show in songs filled with emotion and experiences from everyday life.
Since 2010, Kukka and Teija have continued their work as the Polka Chicks duo, playing successful concerts in Finland, Germany, Croatia, Sweden and the USA. The Polka Chicks are Kukka Lehto on 5-string fiddle, mandola, and voice and Teija Niku on 2- and 5-row accordion and voice.
The Polka Chicks are on Myspace
Jepokryddona
Jepokryddona är en finlandssvensk folkmusikgrupp som spelat tillsammans sedan 1994. Gruppen spelar och sjunger huvudsakligen gammal bröllopsmusik i Jeppotradition. Flickorna har turnerat i Norden, Ryssland, Kanada, USA, Tyskland och Australien. Under årens lopp har de lärt känna varandra väldigt bra och haft otroligt många roliga stunder. Trots att det tagit upp en stor del av flickornas tid att vara medlemmar i gruppen, har spelandet varit en hobby, och alla har även studerat/jobbat.
Christine Julin-Häggman är gruppens ledare. När flickorna först började spela fungerade hon som lärare i klassisk violin för fyra av dem. Senare bildades en musikgrupp där flickorna kom med, och tack vare Christines passion för folkmusik och det att flickorna lät sig inspireras, kom gruppen att spela främst just folkmusik. Christine är väldigt skicklig och ambitiös och ansvarar för största delen av så väl det musikaliska som praktiska inom gruppen.
Jepokryddona (formed in 1994) is a folk group made up of Swedish speaking Finns who, for the most part, play traditional wedding music from Jeppo. The girls have toured in the Nordic countries, Russia, Canada, USA, Germany and Australia. Most speak both Swedish and Finnish as well as some English. Jepo is a village in Finland and Jepokryddona means “Jepo Spices.” When the group visited Iceland in 1998 the Spice girls were very popular so the group took a similar name and changed it to Swedish.
Jepokryddona usually performs traditional music from Jeppo; the main pieces are minuets and polskas, but also waltzes, schottis and polkas. Jepokryddona’s folk music is very rhythmical, fast, happy and will be played with much energy. Christine Julin-Häggman is the leader of the group. Christine teaches the old pieces by heart so the right feeling and style will go on to the next generation. There is lots of tremendous music in the area of Jeppo and the repertoire is big.
Christine was awarded the Master Fiddler Title in Kaustinen 2011 and is the fourth Master Fiddler in Jeppo. Hear Jepokryddona’s music online at: www.myspace.com/jepokryddona.
See you Here!
The Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival has been a tradition on the North Coast of Oregon for over forty years. This year’s festival takes place Friday through Sunday, June 22, 23, and 24, 2012
The festival embodies the rich cultural heritage that was transplanted to the Astoria, Oregon region by emigrating Scandinavians. In the pacific northwest they found the same bounteous seas and forests as in their native lands and the demand for their skills at managing them.
During the three days of the festival over a dozen Scandinavian musical, dance, and theater groups are scheduled to entertain . The 2012 headline act is The Polka Chicks from Finland
Retail booths will offer handcrafts, Scandinavian import items, and traditional Scandinavian foods. Local community groups will offer full Scandinavian-themed meals
All events except for the parade take place at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds, three miles east of Astoria.