The energy is all there, plus an excellent combination of Finnish fiddle music with a rock steady rhythm section." Michal Shapiro, Huffington Post

BIO ​

Tsuumi Sound System is one of Finland’s internationally most notable modern folk music bands. They started in the 1990's as a support band for the dance group Tsuumi with whom they continue to collaborate from time to time as individual musicians.

Rooted in Nordic folk traditions and innovative modern ideas, this seven-piece ensemble draws their strength from various influences. Fiona Talkington of BBC-Songlines describes them as a "A dangerously addictive roller coaster ride through Finnish folk, jazz, heart-wrenching ballad and unstoppable dance music, with a little Balkan edge" . The band is known for their multi-awarded compositions and very intense live performances.

Over the years, Tsuumi Sound System’s shows have gained wide popularity from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean and from the UK to the USA. They have also featured a live session on BBC’s World on 3 at Maida Vale Studios in London, and receivedvarious awards for their albums.

Since 2007, the band has released three albums: Floating Letters(2013), Growing Up (2009) and Hotas (2007). All these albums were co-produced by Swedish guitar-legend Roger Tallroth from Väsen,and have received bold reviews in the folk music circuits.

Twelve of TSS original songs have been re-arranged to be played together with orchestra. In this prospect, the band has collaborated with Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Concerts in Bremen were sold out in a minute.

​New album Blinking Light is out now in Nordic countries! (Worldwide release at March 2019)

LINE-UP​

Hannu Kella (accordion) | Jani Kivelä (guitars) | Joakim Berghäll (saxophones, percussion) | Jussi Nikula (drums, percussion) | Pilvi Jarvela (piano, harmonium) | Tarmo Anttila (double bass) | Tero Hyväluoma (fiddle)

HIGHLIGHTS

Guinness Irish Festival (CH); Lotus Festival, Arts Midwest Conference Showcase, International Accordion Festival (US); Sommer in Lesmona Festival w/ Die Deutsche Kammerphiharmonie Bremen, (DE); Shetland Folk Festival, BBC Live Sessions, LIFEM Festival (UK), Womex 2012 (GR), Tradit (NL); Nordjo, Folkalarm, North Norway, Vikedall Roots (NO), Emma Gala, Folklandia, Kaustinen, Faces, European People’s Festival, Haapavesi, Korpoo Jazz, Eurovision, Helsinki Music Center, World Village Festival (FI), Eurofonik, Musiques d’à Coté, Cooksound Festival (FR), Muziekpublique, Scottish W-E, Dranouter Festival, Gooikoorts Folk Festival (BE), Montelago Celtic Festival, Folkest, Touscouleurs, Itinerary Folk, Sentieri Acustici, Note di Notte, Classica & Dintorni, Castelfidardo (IT), Glatt & Verkerht (AU), Victoria Theater, Urkult, Eskiltuna, MOI Stockholm, (SE), Viljandi (EE); Odense Folk Fest, Tivoli, Global Copenhagen (DK) ; Malta World Music Festival (MA)

REVIEWS

Hotas album (2007)

“Bands about to embark on a recording take note: this is a lesson in how to make the perfect album.” Fiona Talkington, SONGLINES, - 2008

"This is a powerful and exciting album, which reminds at times of the Scandinavian greats of folk innovation - Hoven Droven, May Monday, Vä:sen and the likes. Based on this album, Tsuumi Sound System should have a rightful place in the top of the league of Scandinavian bands." Mike Moll, FOLKWORLD - 2008

”Varje låt på den här skivan är en pärla…” Roger Thorèn, Lira.-07

Growing Up album (2009)
"I remember describing Tsuumi Sound System's last album (reviewed in #49) as a work of genius: a lesson in how to make the perfect album. This eight-piece band from Finland have done it again, complementing their addictions to samba and tango with a little jazz, a hint of the Balkans and the undeniable delights of Finnish folk music." Fiona Talkington, SONGLINES/BBC3 - 2010

"Growing Up is fifty minutes of excellent entertainment."
Alex Monaghan, FOLKWORLD - 2009

Concerts
"-- the concert of Tsuumi Sound System was sold out, and the girls in the audience were screaming as to rock stars. Tsuumi Sound System actually is the rock band of folk music". Mari Koppinen, Helsingin Sanomat (2011)

'Traditional Scandinavian themes contemporarily composed, taken up with a huge amount of creativity and innovation.' Michael Moll. Folkworld (2009)

”Tsuumi Sound System has taken its place in the frontest row of Finnish world music.” Pirkko Kotirinta, Helsingin Sanomat (2008)

”It’s a very strong band indeed, as their storming show at this year’s Kaustinen festival showed” Andrew Cronshaw, fROOTS (2007)

” Tsuumi Sound System was simply the best band I saw live at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival in 2006!” Philip Page – Hoedown Management

​CONTACTS

Booking: MUSIC4YOU Eric E. van Monckhoven +39 3312068969 ericvm@tsuumi.com