Marianne Maans and Juulia Salonen, experts in Finnish-Swedish tradition, will visit the Byar och skär - from Villages and Islets. The concert features a wide range of Finnish-Swedish folk song traditions from the entire Swedish-speaking area from Ostrobothnia to Eastern Uusimaa. The programme includes fun and fast-paced ring-a-rosy songs, narrative ballads, lyrical love songs and humorous songs as well as a few fiddler instrumentals.
Marianne Maans and Juulia Salonen have been cooperating for several years, presenting and teaching the Finnish-Swedish singing tradition. Maans, who comes from Ähtävä, has a long-standing professional career in folk music. She has worked extensively on musical and pedagogical projects, performing as a soloist and in various ensembles, and leading workshops and courses. She has arranged music for instance for choirs, created teaching materials, served as artistic director of music projects and has also released both solo and ensemble albums.
The bilingual Juulia Salonen, who grew up in Espoo, is an expressive and captivating storyteller and a sensitive and heartfelt singer. She performs both alone and in various ensembles, such as the storytelling music group Eppel & Peppel, and also works in a variety of ways, composing, teaching and doing projects in Finnish, Swedish and English. The EP album of Juulia Salonen Trio Kylmillä vesillä (In Cold Waters), directed by Juulia Salonen, was released in April 2018.