The organisers of the Kihaus Folk Festival wish you a warm welcome to Rääkkylä. The Kihaus Folk Festival offers a whole range of music including rap, blues, folk music as well as traditional Nordic dance music, which is known as ‘pelimanni music’ in Finland. Visitors can be assured that they will experience virtuoso performances along with the rhythms and folk music from all over Finland.

As before there will a number of Rääkkylä’s own talents on the festival stages. Folk music has deep roots in Rääkkylä and is seen as a community asset. The organisers are proud to be able to introduce younger talent as well welcoming back musicians who have found fame outside Finland.

By joining us at the Kihaus Folk Festival you will also be able to enjoy the beautiful nature of Rääkkylä and its surroundings. Following numerous requests we will again enjoy Tupasoitot (Cabin music) in Perinnepiha (traditional courtyard). A bonfire will be lit in this idyllic setting. Music will also be performed in the Tsaiju tent and in the Concert restaurant until late. More peaceful selections of folk music can be heard in the beautiful wooden church of Rääkkylä.

Children will enjoy the Kihaus Folk Festival as well and families with young members will find plenty to occupy themselves. The activities are organised by Rääkkylä 4H Youth Organization and will be held in the courtyard.

So, do join us at the Kihaus Folk Festival in Rääkkylä this summer. You are warmly welcome!

With regards from the festival organisers
Rääkkylä Folk ry

KIHAUS FOLK

The meeting of Karelian and Finno-Ugric music with music from other parts of the world happens in early July and is unique amongst other Finnish folk music festivals. Our festival takes place in Northern Karelia, very close to the border with Russia. Therefore, our festival has been influenced by the Karelian and Finno-Ugrian people over the many years that the festival has taken place.

The home of Kihaus is Rääkkylä, which is a small municipality with about 2700 inhabitants in Eastern Finland, 450 km to northeast from Helsinki. The geographical situation links together the Karelia from the both sides of the border, i.e., Finnish Karelia and Russian Karelia.

THE LOCATION OF RÄÄKKYLÄ AND HOW TO GET THERE

Rääkkylä is located about 450 km northeast from Helsinki. By car, it is easiest to reach it by following the road signs on highway 6. The nearest railway station can be found in Kitee, 33 km from Rääkkylä. From Joensuu, the distance is about 60 km and from Joensuu airport, 70 km.

PROGRAMME 2012

Juha Tapio one of the most famous Finnish singers and Hohka, Champion of the Nordic Countries Folkmusic Bands will perform on Friday 6th July.

Families are specially welcome on Saturday 7th July. There will be a lot of programme for children: one of the permformers is Mimmit, know from MTV Junior tv-channel. Also Polka Chicks will perform on Saturday.

The whole programme of Kihaus Folk -festival 2012 will be published by 15th of April.

Information about the performing artists is only available in Finnish, but most have their own websites with information in English. Please check our Finnish site Esiintyjät 2012

Tsaiju tent (Tsaijuteltta)

Concert Restaurant (Konserttiravintola)

Traditional Courtyard (Perinnepiha)

TICKETS 2012 will be updated by 15th April.

Tickets 2011:

Friday 8th July

Festival ticket 5 pm – 2 am
- 22 € adults
- 17 € students, unemployed, pensioners
- 7 € children (7-16 years old)

Saturday 9th July

Festival ticket 11 am – 2 pm
- 27 € adults
- 22 € students, unemployed, pensioners
- 10 € children (7 -16 years old)
- 50 € family ticket (2 adults + max three 7-16 year old children)

Saturday Evening ticket 6 pm – 2 am
- 22 € adults
- 17 € students, unemployed, pensioners

Sunday 10th July 13

Final concert at Rääkkylä Church
- programme guide 7 €, available only at the door

Ticket in advance from www.lipputoimisto.fi.

Free entry for assistants of the physically and visually disabled

EATING & DRINKING

Don´t go hungry or thirsty during your stay! We will have excellent food and drink on offer including grilled sausages and a variety of beverages!

Both Tsaiju tent and the Concert restaurant will sell alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, coffee and tea. We also cater for vegetarians.

Additionally, the Kihaus Folk Cafe offers coffee, tea, soft drinks and local specialities as Karelian pies (very typical!)

ACCOMMODATION

How about a different way of spending your holiday? Stay overnight near the heart of the festival!

We can offer guests dormitory type accommodation, separate for women and men, at Rääkkylä upper school during the festival. Showers will be available. The nearest beach (and a chance to rent a sauna) is at Paksuniemi, 2 km away from the festival area.

Prices per night:
- bed + accommodation 12 €
- blanket and pillow 5 €
- bedsheets 5 €
- towel 2 €

Showers will of course be available. There is a beach (and a Finnish sauna to rent) at Paksuniemi, 2 km away from the festivalarea.

Additional information from majoitus(at)kihaus.fi or tel. +358 45 8830 442.

There are also several cottages fo hire in Rääkkylä or in the neighbourhood, please check our Finnish site: Majoitus

KIHAUS FOLK MARKET

Come and sell your goods at our market place! The market place is conveniently close the main festival area.

Sales time and place prices

Fri 17.00 – 01.30
Sat 11.00 – 01.30

One parking square:

• Fri 30 €
• Sat 35 €
• Fri + Sat 60 €

Two parking squares:

• Fri 45 €
• Sat 50 €
• Fri + Sat 85 €

More information majoitus(at)kihaus.fi or +358 45 8830 442

KIHAUS FOLK -PRODUCTS

We will be selling T-shirts and other Kihaus Folk products. Get yours from Kihauspuoti or in advance from Rääkkylä Folk ry office. More information www.kihaus.fi.

HISTORY

The history of Kihaus Folk Festival goes back to the beginning of 70’s. There was a local party called Heinähupa (something like the Rääkkylä Hayride), which was a village fair with dancing and amateur theatre. In the beginning of 1980′ folk music became a more central theme in Rääkkylä with courses held over the summer and new bands finding their feet – the most well-known is Värttinä (1983- ) whose music has deep roots in Northern Karelia. In the beginning of 1990’s people thought that “why shouldn’t we have a folk music festival?” And so the Kihaus Folk Music Festival was born.

Folk music and its compelling power at the Kihaus Folk Festival have produced local talent as well as providing never-ending encouragement to the folk music artists and performers who have joined us over the years. A good education combined with introducing folk music to the younger generation guarantees that the tradition of this type of music will continue in Rääkkylä. Rääkkylä sits at the border of eastern and western influences whilst its distinctly Karelian roots connect closely to other Finno-Ugrian performers, which has been a founding feature of our festival.

Kihaus has an important cultural duty and mission. The festival is organised by Rääkkylä Folk Association. It is a non-profit organisation, which organises also similar events and courses throughout the year.

CONTACTS

For more information, brochures, tickets etc. please contact Ms Leena Härkänen, folk-assistant.

Rääkkylä Folk ry
Kinnulantie 2 lh 7
FIN 82300 Rääkkylä
Finland

Mobile phone + 358 50 307 0539
e-mail: info(at)kihaus.fi

www.kihaus.fi

Supporters and partners

Please check our Finnish site.