Orpheum Theater to host Finn Hall -- Finnish music night -- July 16

Dance to Finnish music at an old time Finn Hall Thursday, July 16, at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock. (Photo courtesy Orpheum Theater)

HANCOCK -- Ralph Tuttila has put together an all star cast of Finnish musicians from all over the Midwest to entertain at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock Thursday, July 16, for your dancing pleasure! He also called up his good friends in FinnFolk from Detroit to add to the night.*

Oren Tikkanen says, "Hei, Toverit (comrades) -- some of the Midwest's best and favorite players of traditional Finnish music will be gathering at the Orpheum-Studio Pizza in Hancock at 8:30 p.m. this Thursday, July 16, in an evening of old-time Finnish music for dancing and listening. The line-up includes Don Reinholm, Carol Reinholm (Towhead and Papu), Roger Juntunen Hewlett, Kristen Kreiner, Ron Karvonen, Steve Niemi, Ralph and Jaana Tuttila, Carl Rahkonen, Oren Tikkanen, and who knows who else?

"Kyllä, ystävät! The Orpheum will be the old-time Finn Hall on Thursday, so come on over to 426 Quincy Street in Hancock. NIINPÄ!!"

Ralph Tuttila was exposed very early to Finnish music at home and in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan Finnish community where he grew up. He was a member of the Finnish Kantele ensemble "Koivun Kaiku" for 13 years playing a variety of traditional Finnish instruments While with that group, he travelled to Finland and performed at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival in 1993. Koivun Kauku was awarded performers of the year in 1996 by the Finlandia Foundation National. This involved considerable performances throughout the USA. During that time, Koivun Kaiku produced four recordings.

Ralph has learned his music and instruments almost exclusively in the folk tradition. He is also a dancer and musician with the Kisarit Finnish folkdancers and teaches various types of dance -- Finnish and other couple social dances including tango.

Music starts at 8:30 p.m., doors open for socializing at 7:30 p.m. Adults $10, Senior Citizens and Students $7. Don't forget your dancin' shoes!

* FinnFolk will also perform on the dock outside the Portage Library from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, preceding the Orpheum concert. Click here for info.

Portage Library to host music events July 16, 17

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library will host two music events this week.

FinnFolk to perform July 16

Some of the best players of traditional Finnish Music will be performing at the Portage Lake District Library from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, on the dock outside the library.

FinnFolk hails from Farmington Hills in lower Michigan and features Roger Hewlett, Don Reinholm and Carol Reinholm on accordion, Steve Niemi on guitar, Ron Karvonen on mandolin, and Kristen Kreiner on flute. Their music includes Finnish, Slovenian, and other folk tunes.

"Music on the Menu": Trio Tumpelot -- July 17

On Friday, July 17, the Portage Lake District Library invites everyone to bring a lunch and enjoy "Music on the Menu," an outdoor series of events held on the dock outside the library.

Trio Tumpelot will perform from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday. The trio consists of Pasi Lautala playing a 5-row accordion, Anna Gawboy playing a concertina, and Meghan Pachmayer performing on a stand-up base. The group plays a mixture of old and newer folk and dance hall tunes that are mainly from Finland, but their music also includes tunes from Ukraine, France, and other countries.

Everyone is invited to eat, relax, and enjoy the lunch hour while listening to some great music. In the event of bad weather, the program will be held in the community room.

Library programs are free and open to all. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.