The Association

Suomen Kansanmusiikkiliitto (Finnish Folk Music Association) is the organisation of folk music enthusiasts, professionals and friends, active in Finland since 1968. Regional activities are run by 23 member associations around Finland. The association organises events and training and advances the folk music field through various projects, working with the whole folk music community. It also maintains international contacts, among others through the Nordic Folk Council, the NORDLEK council and the Centre for the Promotion of Folk Music and Folk Dance.

Become a member

Events and courses

The main event of Suomen Kansanmusiikkiliitto is Samuelin Poloneesi, held every year in March in different parts of Finland. The association also co-organises the JuuriJuhla-RotFest festival in Espoo. In addition, the member associations run other folk music events of various sizes.

Since 2009 the association has also organised national folk music tours, eight tours a year. In 2017-2019 the association produced the Kukushka festival in Vyborg together with Russian folk music organisations.

The association organises training for its members; the largest events are the Orivesi folk music courses between Christmas and New Year, KAMU - the folk music camp for children and young people, and Ethno Finland in the summer. The member associations also run their own courses and training events.

Kansanmusiikki magazine

Kansanmusiikki is the only Finnish-language folk music magazine. Suomen Kansanmusiikkiliitto publishes it together with the Folk Music Institute. The magazine comes out twice a year; it is included in the association's membership fee but can also be subscribed to separately.

Go to the website

Sales

Suomen Kansanmusiikkiliitto runs the widest sales service for Finnish folk music recordings and sheet music books, by mail order and at events in the field. Browse the catalogue in the online shop. You can also contact the association if you need information about the folk music field.

Our office is on Hämeentie in Helsinki, where we are neighbours with the Global Music Centre and Kanteleliitto.

Event photo from the Folk Music Association

Administration

Chair

Risto Kupari, Rauma
risto.kupari@rauma.fi

Board members 2026

Tony Wallius, Uusimaa
deputy: Anja Hinkkanen, Uusimaa

Heidi Kenttälä, Lappi
deputy: Mari Piirainen, Pohjois-Karjala

Sampsa Kujala, Kaustinen
deputy: Eija Kaarela, Vieska Folk

Riitta Reijonen, Keski-Suomi
deputy: Katja Lampinen, Keski-Suomi

Sirpa Olkinuora, Häme
deputy: Veli-Jussi Lietsala, Huuliharpistit

Juha-Matti Kurra, Pohjois-Pohjanmaa
deputy: Minna Raskinen, Kymenlaakso

Timo Saarimäki, Etelä-Pohjanmaa
deputy: Esa Märijärvi, Etelä-Pohjanmaa

Sirkka Kosonen, Itä-Savo
deputy: Markku Vuori, Pohjois-Savo

Sami Tupala, Sahansoittajat
deputy: Kari Auvinen, Ylä-Savo

Ilmari Hunsa, Varsinais-Suomi
deputy: Kirsi Viitala, Satakunta

Statutory general meetings

The association holds two general meetings a year: the annual meeting in March-April, usually during Samuelin Poloneesi, and the autumn meeting in September-October.

SKaL strategy 2025-2029

SKAL annual report 2024

Rules of Suomen Kansanmusiikkiliitto (updated 2017)

Fiddler illustrating the administration section

Member associations

Would your association like to join Suomen Kansanmusiikkiliitto? Ask Executive Director Jaana Kari for more information, tel. 044 776 7182 / toiminnanjohtaja@kansanmusiikkiliitto.fi

List of all member associations and their contact persons