folk

Kimmo Pohjonen (b. 1964) is one of the most respected and in-demand musicians and performers in Finland. An accordionist of exceptional ability and imagination, Kimmo's musical history goes back more than twenty years in rock, folk, avant-garde, improvisation, classical, dance and theatre music projects. In 1996 he embarked on a solo career with his solo 5-row accordion project, featuring extreme and original compositions, live loops and effects, a dynamic and animated stage performance, orchestrated lights and surround sound.

A young band with five primary players scattered around East London making some d.i.y. folkpop music. Formed in late 2006 as a duo to explore open-mic night hotspots with guitars in hand, they have gone on to acquire a drummer, flugelhornist/flautist and bassist. What you can hear here is their recorded music to date - four collections of songs: 'A house and everything in it', 'Supermalt EP', 'Will it grow back? EP' and the latest offering 'Stranger Than The Weather'. The latter shows the band testing out their fullest sound yet and is replete with big harmonies and a string-section.

Kan Mikami (三上寛) takes much of his inspiration from the school of singer/songwriters and blues vocalists. From the rural district of Tsugaru, Mikami's parched voice and plaintive electric guitar (sometimes the only backing) reveals the true spirit of the folkish sad blues, even though he sings in Japanese. Of course, comparisons to Muddy Waters or Howlin' Wolf are just as far from the truth as Bertolt Brecht or Jacques Brel, but the guitarist weaves elements of all three to create an undeniably unique style.