Pop & Jazz Festival 2025

Tribute to Steely Dan
Tribute to Steely Dan is a group of passionate music lovers who want to bring you the music of the phenomenal yacht rock band Steely Dan.
Steely Dan is an American rock band from the 70s, led by the duo Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band’s stunning work featured some of the leading studio musicians in the US, with few other regular members.
Welcome to witness the magic that is Steely Dan music!

Nella Voutilainen – Vocals
Silja Muttonen – Vocals
Elvis Rahka – Keyboards
Jussi “”Jugi”” Parkkonen – Guitar
Maija Nieminen – Bass
Emilio Jones – Drums
Waltteri “”Von Hyvinge”” Hirvonen – Saxophone

Photo: Nuppu Aries

TOTO-tribute
Toto-tribute features the work of the beloved American band Toto, with a focus on the band’s output from the 70s and 80s. Get tuned into the rock and come witness this spectacle live!

Suvi Kulmala, vocals
Saimi Räty, vocals
Lauri Outila, vocals
Nella Voutilainen, vocals and percussion
Aarni Tossavainen, guitar
Elli Astikainen, keyboards
Onni Salmenkivi, bass
Joel Järvensivu, drums
Thomas Aura, percussion

Photo by Silja Muttonen

A Night in Arabia Sextet
Our luminous orchestra has prepared a new programme for this spring’s concerts, with a fine collection of jazz evergreens and less-heard specialities. Come and enjoy improvised music with us!

Timo Tihtonen – drums
Joel Wikström – bass
Elvis Rahka – piano
Lenni Seebeck – guitar
Rebecca Ekman – trumpet
Waltteri Hirvonen – saxophone

Photo by Nella Voutilainen

Who could love me – mini musical
Emma (Venla Malinen) and Sophie (Meri Hellsten), who fell in love in high school, meet unexpectedly in a jazz bar, where their feelings from years ago bubble to the surface again. The disappointments of the past and the turbulent relationship patterns tear Emma and Sophie apart, making the duo wonder what they really want. Will courage overcome insecurity, and will Emma and Sophie find each other again?

“Who could love me” is a mini-musical that deals with feelings of inadequacy and alienation through two main characters. The stage is accompanied by an orchestra of over 20 musicians who play well-known musical songs that tie the story together. Designed, written and directed by students from the Helsinki Pop&Jazz Conservatory, the work highlights themes such as discrimination, insecurity and loneliness, and reminds us that each of us fundamentally hopes to be loved just as we are.

Meri Hellsten – vocals
Venla Malinen – vocals
Onni Koivisto – drums
Sofía Kaipainen – bass and vocals
Aukusti Koskinen – guitar
Kim Jalonen – guitar
Helmi Ketola – keyboards
Pessi Heiskanen – keyboards and ensemble
Joel Mäntyvaara – percussion
Olavi Miettinen – ensemble
Hanna Riikonen – ensemble
Aino Kallio – ensemble
Hanna Mikkanen – ensemble
Tuuli Piltonen – ensemble
Siiri Toiviainen – saxophone
Jenna Mikkanen – trumpet
Veera Aliska – trombone
Anniina Tuomaala – flute
Elisa Wang – violin
Felix Sorainen – violin
Elena Rusakova – viola
Nicola Wilkman – cello
Photo by Hene Ketoharju

Comfort songs: long live the Finnish Indie!
This project is a love letter to Finnish indie pop. During the show you will enjoy an electronic soundscape and melancholic lyrics. We play music from all over the world, including Ruusut, Vesta, Yona and Vesala. We’ll have songs from newer names and old favourites, whose unique music we want to pay tribute to. We’ve created an ensemble that dances, sensualises and challenges the extreme boundaries of the genre. We warmly welcome you to <3

Hanna Riikonen – vocals
Silja Muttonen – backing vocals
Hanna Mikkanen – backing vocals
Thomas Aura – drums
Sofia Kaipainen – bass and synabass
Elli Astikainen – keyboards
Saimi Räty – syna
Jere Perta – guitar
Nella Voutilainen – cello
Sanni Rämö – violin
Anna Smedjebacka – violin

NLO – The Nordic Latin Orchestra
NLO – The Nordic Latin Orchestra interprets and performs the gems of Latin and African-American music with an indulgent attitude. Playfulness, rhythmicity and interaction are at the heart of the music performed by the NLO. The orchestra brings its groovy sound to your soul!

Kamilla Kujala – vocals
Siiri Toiviainen – saxophone
Patrik Fonsén – guitar
Margit Urantowka – piano
Olavi Miettinen – bass
Kalle Rissanen – drums
Joel Mäntyvaara – percussion

Soul for Sale
Welcome to a time travel
to the heart of soul music! We offer the best classics and modern gems from the 50s to today. Come and treat yourself to soul-stirring music and the best vibes!

Oskari Ojajärvi – Drums
Jouko Kokko – Bass
Jesse Paunonen – Guitar
Onni Laine – Guitar
Pessi Lehtinen – Keyboard
Saimi Räty – Vocals
Suvi Kulmala – Vocals

Photo by Hietamäki Petteri

Images And Words Plays: Dream Theater
Images And Words Plays: Dream Theater is a metal-loving tribute band that wants to share Dream Theater’s music and experiences with the audience.
Crazy solos are driven by Tuomas Glad and Saku Nikkanen on guitar and keyboards, complex rhythms are guided by our drummer Arttu Korpinen, our scintillating bassist Maija Nieminen shows all bassists how it’s done and Elizabeth Krause is banging loud and high on vocals.
Welcome to enjoy Dream Theater’s great works with us!

Elizabeth Krause – vocals
Tuomas Glad – guitar
Saku Nikkanen – keyboards
Arttu Korpinen – drums
Maija Nieminen – bass

Photo by Tia Marchenko

TOOTIME plays the 1975

TOOTIME plays The 1975 brings the music of British guitar indie band The 1975 to where you are. TOOTIME takes a diverse cross-section of the band’s output, with tracks from all five albums.

Aapo Siponen – drums
Mikko Pajukallio – guitar and backing vocals
Konsta Laaksonen – vocals
Matti Korhonen – bass
Thomas Aura – percussion

Our 21st Century Orchestrated – A Tribute To RAYE
Ladies and Gentlemen and those who sign neither.
We welcome you to the world famous 21st Century Blues Club. A very special guest has been booked for you direct from Helsinki, Finland, you know the place. With a little extra Pop & Jazz Conservatory magic, and a great band to boot.
Ladies and gentlemen, and those who sign neither:
Open your warm embraces to the heartbreaking line-up
Our 21st Century Orchestrated – A Tribute To RAYE

Hanna Mikkanen – vocals
Silja Muttonen -vocals
Thomas Aura – drums
Jere Perta – bass guitar
Jesse Paunonen – electric guitar
Kim Jalonen – electric guitar
Elli Astikainen – keyboards
Hanna Riikonen – background vocals
Jenna Mikkanen – background vocals
Meri Hellsten – background vocals
Aino Oikarinen – background vocals
The orchestra:
Valtteri Mönkö – conductor
Jemina Manssila – flute
Lume Himanen – flute
Aamu Maunuvaara – oboe
Emma Hyvärinen – clarinet
Pauliina Anttila – clarinet and bass clarinet
Siiri Toiviainen – saxophones
Waltteri Hirvonen – saxophones
Maria Kuivasaari – French horn
Aino Hahl – French horn
Hilma Rantala – trumpet
Joel Mäntyvaara – trumpet
Fransilda Koskinen – tuba

Photo by Nella Voutilainen

Popjazz-Tesseract plays Lume Himanen

We play songs! No singing, there are instruments.
Lume Himanen – Boy’s Flute
Rebecca Ekman – Trumpet
Jussi “”Jugi”” Parkkonen – Electric guitar
Matti Korhonen – Electric guitar
Onni Koivisto – Drums
Jouko Kokko – Bass
Pessi Heiskanen – Keyboard, Flyygeli

Photo: Matias Cukurs

Diegesis

Diegesis is a four-piece group life of jazz music that can be heard, experienced, from everywhere to everywhere, by everyone.
Lenni Seebeck – Guitar
Reetta Uusimaa – Vocals
Timo Tihtonen – Drums
Joel Wikström – Double Bass

Photo by Reetta Uusimaa

Popjazz tesseract
What happens when you combine five popjazz musicians from Helsinki with a four-dimensional hypercube? We don’t know either. But we do know that the Popjazz Tesseract performance may clarify the matter.
We play jazz (fusion). A record number of notes played in ever more unpredictable rhythms that will make even the most seasoned jazz diggers question their sense of hearing.

Jussi Parkkonen – guitar
Matti Korhonen – guitar
Lume Himanen – flute, saxophone
Jouko Kokko – bass
Onni Koivisto – drums

Photo by Mika Säily

Rapgod is not a man
A tribute to feminine energy. A tribute to those perspectives that need a stronger voice. And especially a tribute to everything but men.
Rapgod is not a man serves up livery from Ms. Lauryn Hill to Megan Thee Stallion to Sini Sabotage.

rap/vocals – Silja Muttonen
Background vocals – Hanna Riikonen, Nella Voutilainen and Suvi Kulmala
Drums/rap – Oskari Ojajärvi
Percussion – Santeri Saari
Bass – Olavi Miettinen
Guitar – Matti Korhonen
Keyboards – Elli Astikainen

Photo by Jaana Muttonen

Nella sings Ella
‘Nella sings Ella‘ is a tribute concert to the legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald.
Ella’s incredible interpretation, versatility, improvisation, and gentleness in her work touched, and still touches hearts to this day.
‘I often talk about how lucky I am that Ella is one of my biggest idols. She is a singer I can look up to with happiness and pride, and I couldn’t ask for a better role model.’ – Nella
This concert is a tribute both to Ella Fitzgerald’s unforgettable musical legacy, and to her heartfelt and unique self.

Nella Voutilainen – Vocals
Elvis Rahka – Piano
Olavi Miettinen – Bass
Jerry Uusi-Mikkola – Guitar
Timo Tihtonen – Drums
Joel Mäntyvaara – Percussion
Lume Himanen – Flute / Tenor Sax
Bongsu Jeong – Alto Sax
Joonia Marttio – Tenor Sax
Waltteri Hirvonen – Baritone Sax
Rebecca Ekman – Trumpet
Veera Aliska – Trombone
Pessi Heiskanen – Vocals

Photo: nellller

Flash Of Neon
We are Flash Of Neon; an explosively colourful party band!
At your party, we turn neon lights from colours into sound waves that will leave a bright, flashing memory for every listener! Our five-piece line-up delivers guaranteed party favourites with a rocking take, not forgetting new hits and banging stage energy. Our neon lights are energised by dance steps and will keep your party crackling with colour all night long!

Saimi Räty – vocals
Miika Saari – drums
Jussi “Jugi” Parkkonen – guitar
Jussipekka “JP” Jyväsjärvi – keyboards
Vilja Tabell – bass