
Sometime in the early 1980s, a few young amateur musicians based in Turku, Finland, decided to put up a band. Inspired by South-East
European and Middle-East folk music styles, the name Balkanin Juhla (’Celebration of Balkan’) was settled by the end of
the decade. This name was renounced in 1995. And then, Transkaakko was born. During the years, a legion of talented musicians
has played in Transkaakko. Three original members, Jaakko Isojunno, Pekka Rappu, and Janne Mäkelä have remained.
The music style has changed, too. Balkanese rhythms and Finnish melodies accompany progressive rock, psychedelic folk
music and sound experiments. Or was it the other way around? We find playing songs in 7/8 or 9/8 as natural as delivering
them in 4/4 rhythms. We respect music traditions but the main thing for us is to seek the spirit of excitement and originality.
In the end, our aim is to keep up the fire of true alternative music!
Release of the new album Kulo: August 1, 2009, Faces Etnofestival! More information: transkaakko (at) gmail.com
Kulo cd is available on Presence Distribution.
Purchase Kulo online at equal dreams.
You can check our Discography and Media Downloads as well as
leave your message in our Guest Book (click uusi viesti = new message).

photo by Matti Frisk
From left:
Janne Mäkelä: electric bouzouki & backing vocals, Pekka Rappu: bass & backing vocals,
Jaakko Isojunno: oboe & tenor recorder, Daniela Fogelholm: lead vocals, Johanna Schwela: violin,
Jaakko Tolvi: drums, Pasi Nurmi: guitars, various string intsruments
transkaakko {at} gmail.com or janne.makela {at} helsinki.fi
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