July 2026
SawoFolk at Kaustinen Folk Music Festival
Our ensemble of twenty-plus players filled the rag-rug stage with Savonian polskas over three festival evenings.
Northern Savonia · Since generations
The old tunes are still being played.
We are fiddlers, kantele players, accordionists, dancers and listeners keeping the living folk music of Savonia in hands, homes and village halls — and passing it to the next generation.
Open to all ages
PRO: 10666551
Official registration
340+
Members & players
60+
Events every year
1 200+
Tunes archived
Artistic partners: Kaustinen Folk Music Festival · regional music institutes · local village associations
Who we are
A guild of players, not a stage for stars.
Pohjois-Savon Kansanmusiikkiyhdistys ry gathers everyone who loves the folk music of Northern Savonia. Grandparents sit next to teenagers in our ensemble SawoFolk; beginners learn beside lifelong pelimannit. We value tradition passed hand to hand, youth education, fair support for local musicians and doors open to everyone.
Tradition
Tunes learned by ear, as they always were.
Youth
Free places for players under 18.
Community
Music at the heart of village life.
Openness
No auditions. Ever.
What we do, all year round
All programs →- 01
Folk music workshops
Weekly pelimanni sessions for fiddle, kantele, accordion and bass — by ear, the old way, open to every level.
- 02
Instrument preservation
Care, repair and lending of heritage kanteles, fiddles and pump organs held in trust for the region.
- 03
Regional concerts
Village halls, summer stages and festival appearances across Kuopio, Iisalmi, Siilinjärvi and beyond.
- 04
Archive of tunes
Transcribing and recording polskas, waltzes and runo songs passed down by Savonian players.
- 05
Community outreach
Music for schools, care homes and village celebrations — folk music belongs to everyone.
From the community
News & updates
June 2026
Midsummer dance at the old farmyard
Neighbours in folk costume and trainers alike joined the circle dances beside the red granary.
May 2026
Spring seminar: playing by ear
A weekend of teaching tunes the way they were always taught — one phrase at a time, from player to player.
Bring your fiddle. Or just bring yourself.
Musicians, dancers, listeners and supporters — the association is only as strong as the people in the circle.