ROCKWORKS: Ismo Alanko Teholla, J. Karjalainen & the Polkabilly Rebels, Lenni-Kalle Taipale & Sami Pitkämö
FinnFest 2011 ROCKWORKS proudly presents top stars from Finland:
Lenni-Kalle Taipale and Sami Pitkämö
J. Karjalainen & Polkabilly Rebels
Ismo Alanko Teholla
These bands, directly from Finland, bring on a fantastic lineup of Finnish Rock & Roll and Pop, even rockabilly music melded with polka! This rich variety of music takes you on a trip to a Finnish rock festival in the middle of San Diego.
Ismo Alanko
Ismo Alanko was born and raised in the backwoods of Europe, and descended from a line of bards and poets of the eastern Karelian region of Finland. He is a songwriter and performer of Finnish rock music and has been cross-cultural all of his life, long before multiculturalism became hip. Ismo broke into music-scene stardom in 1980 after his band HASSISEN KONE won the annual Rock Championship in Finland and cut a hit album. Ismo Alanko is meaningful and influential as a composer and a poet and a must-see entertainer as well.
J. Karjalainen and the Polkabilly Rebels
J. Karjalainen: Guitar, Banjo, Vocals
Veli-Matti Järvenpää: Accordion
Tommi Viksten: Guitar
Mitja Tuurala: Contrabass
Lenni-Kalle Taipale
Lenni-Kalle Taipale is a Finnish jazz pianist and composer. He established his own trio in 1995, and has also performed with a variety of other bands and in many tv-shows.
Sami Pitkämö
Sami Pitkämö is a Finnish singer, songwriter, bandleader and producer. Sami has performed in several bands, such as UMO, Jean S., Lenni-Kalle Taipale and Boston Promenade. He also has his own big band which plays at the Finnish Dancing With The Stars tv-program. In Spring 2011, he served as one of the judges at the Finnish version of the American Idol singing competition.
Videos
