Aanaar Jazz Revival
Aanaar Jazz Revival is a fresh band from Inari, breathing new life into the jazz and funk music scene of the region after a long winter slumber. Their diverse repertoire features jazz and funk classics, such as the music of Herbie Hancock and The Meters, alongside their own original compositions.
The soulful lineup includes seasoned musicians from two generations of the Inari Swing Band: Rodney Francett (saxophone), Heikki Nikula (keyboards), Mika Vähärautio (trumpet), Samuli Arrela (guitar), Nicholas Francett (bass), and Kevin Francett (drums).
Aanaar Jazz Revival doesn’t merely replicate classics from the past but offers a fresh and personal interpretation of them. Every performance is a unique experience, blending the joy of playing, the spontaneity of improvisation, and irresistible rhythms.
Arttu Nieminen
Photo: Roosa Nevala
A media artist who has accompanied numerous performers with visuals, his work often draws inspiration from symmetry, the horizon, and a playful mix of Arctic nature with the vibrant energy of city life and monumental brutalism. The visuals frequently include elements that resemble omens or visions tied to current events. Bold and raw montages that break the overall harmony are also a key part of his style.
Nieminen captures footage during travels and in rhythm with the cycles of nature. A lightweight kit that travels with him enables spontaneous and intuitive creativity, always responding to the moment. He also uses imagery filtered from collective online streams to create energetic mashup collages, where snapshots of modern life blend seamlessly with metaphors, flowing into the viewer’s mind.
“Isolated, mystic, and flowing are the words that shape my work.”
DJ Hulluella
Photo: Jouni Porsanger
Glittering like a disco bunny, DJ Hulluella blends indigenous rhythms sprinkled with stardust into electronic dance music and strong basslines with house and techno twists. Her soundscape pays homage to music on a planetary scale, taking the dance floor on a cosmic audio journey to galaxies of joy and liberation. DJ Hulluella’s work has been heard at events such as the Arctic Pride closing party and Night of the Arts in Rovaniemi, as well as the Silence Festival and Arctic Weekend. She is also one of the four members of the Rovaniemi-based Sula Collective.
