Finnish musicians set to perform at Johnson Park

The Finnish-American Folk Festival of Naselle will host musicians Pekka Pentikäinen and Perttu Paappanen from Finland, for a pre-festival concert. The event will be held June 22, 7 p.m., at Johnson Park in Rosburg.

Pentikkäinen, who has played for the Finnish-American Folk Festival of Naselle several times plays two-row and chromatic accordion, while Paappanen plays both accordion and fiddle. Both graduated from the folk music department of the Sibelius Music Academy. After graduation Pentikäinen began working for the Katrilli dance group as its musical director and also composed and played for many theater and opera productions. He founded the folk groups Pirnales and duo Mr. Mäläskä with Antti Soininen on violin. Pentikäinen travels widely and often; he has performed on all the continents of the world. Currently he works for the Finnish Folk Music Association teaching, giving concerts, and developing folk music activities in and around Helsinki, especially in schools.

Paappanen has studied and taught classical and folk music in schools ever since he began playing accordion at age nine. He has performed with a variety of musical groups, including The Progmatics and Koinurit — with the latter he won the folk music band competition in 1991. He arranges and performs music, including Finnish tangos, for plays. He also tunes, repairs, and imports accordions.

Both Paappanen and Pentikäinen play minuets, polskas, schottisches, waltzes, and polkas as well as world music. Both also arrange and compose the music they play.

Admission is free but donations are welcomed.Visitors are invited to bring socks so they can join in on dancing for some part of the evening.