Elephantasy ’25

Elephant Stage:
Vodou Fusion (at 20:30 hs)
Michael Bleu (at 18:30 hs)
Bromans (at 16:45 hs)
Julye Blom (at 15:00 hs)

Funky Amigos dj´s

Gorilla Stage:
Kalabaliikki (at 19:30 hs)
DPB in Dub feat. Pirata Boing (at 17:45 hs)
Hoki & Tipe (at 16:00 hs)
Improv group Ilopilleriosasto (show at 14:30 hs)

SoulCirco SirkusSielu (show at 20:20 hs, workshops at 15 & 16:45 hs)

Hosted by Bunuel

OTHER STUFF TO ENJOY:

Kids’ Area & Circus Action
Improvisation theater workshop
Park Bazaar
World Street Food
Park Bar

Info
Contact

Facebook event page >>

All rights reserved. Programme subject to changes.

Elephantasy has is well-known for its colorful programme, where ears are turned to all corners of the planet and the wonderful world of music. This year, the highlight of the evening arrives from the direction of Africa to Alppipuisto in the form of Vodou Fusion. The musicians in the band, led by Beninese-born Gildas Houessou, have backgrounds in Finland, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Cuba. And to top it all, Vodou Fusion is a true international collaboration for the well-being of our dancing feet!

The band spices up traditional West African voodoo rhythms with modern elements, adding a touch of afrobeat, a pinch of funk, a few buds of reggae and a handful of afropop to the juicy stew. As a result, the band serves up a truly tasty pot of rhythmic food that you just can’t help but dance to, and where could it be more lovely than on the green grass of Elephantasy’s main stage and in the company of wonderful people!

The band, renowned for their energetic and engaging live shows, is working on their debut album, but it seems we’ll still have to wait for that. Until then, the only way to discover this charming and diverse rhythm orchestra is to come and witness them on stage, so don’t let the opportunity pass you by!

This year, Elephantasy is delighted and honored to have Michael Bleu and his band coloring the beautiful summer evening! His show, dripping with psychedelia and glowing in technicolor colors as well as combining Finnsoul, funk, pop and indie, may well remain in the memories in the idyllic Alppipuisto, if not permanently, at least for a long time.

The artist, formerly known as Afromikko, has made a staggeringly productive career after his hit “Oi Oi” released in 2016. After performing under that name in 2019 at Elephantasy, he came up with his current artist name and released his first solo album Michael Bleu Presents Uusi Analogia the same year. In the following years, his second and third albums Michael Bleu Presents American Graffiti and Auringonlaskun ratstastajat were released. Additionally, he also managed to produce the Kesäyön romanssi album, which pays homage to the Finnish schlager of the 1960’s, in 2022.

The latest album, released last September, only took everything even further. The album also received a whole lotta love in the Funky Awards organized last winter. The artist’s creative frenzy seems unquenchable, and last February, the lovely EP release Varjomaat, a piano-accompanied mood, also saw the sunlight.

Michael Bleu is also known as a producer, whose latest masterpiece is Ina Forsman’s excellent After Dark Hour, released in March. In addition, his list of achievements includes three books, television appearances, songs on the soundtrack of the film Lapua 1976… so there’s of different kind of stuff to talk about! On Saturday 12th of July, a live gig on the main stage of Elephantasy will also finally be added to the list. Join in for the unique experience!

Bromans is a fresh piano & drums duo from Helsinki with a relationship somewhere between friendship and brotherhood. Although they have often already been witnessed live with other musicians and guest soloists at their gigs, the journey has really only just begun.

Bromans play their own songs as well as the most danceable hits of the last few decades – but they do it in their own personal and gentle way, where the deep roots of acid jazz, the glitter of future funk and the soft heart of soul meet in fascinating way.

Santeri “Sandelicious” Panula, also nominated as the Funkiest Dude in the City 2024, glides his fingers over the keyboards like a summer breeze on the waves of Hietalahti. Mikko Neimo, who also laid the beats in Maria Gasolina, keeps the rhythm alive on drums – combining a 70s beach holiday, 90s VHS aesthetics and eternal loyalty to groove. Neimo does not necessarily talk too much, but he lets the snare drum do the talking.

Together they are Bromans – a friendship that resonates. Or as SoulllJay recently described them: “The reality expanded version of Hansson & Karlsson in the space age.”

The main stage audience of Elephantasy will also be blessed and inspired by Julye Blom this year! Actually it is not the first time the talented soul singer has been at our Alppipuisto party. Julye Blom took over the second stage at Elephantasy in 2022 and already put on a great show back then. She grew up listening to roots music, such as soul, blues and rock’n’roll, and in her songs she brings all of this to the present day in the spirit of Motown and vintage pop. In early November, she released her debut album Painting It Blue, and now we have the real pleasure of inviting her back giving the big stage and the entire park for her to take care of.

As a singer-songwriter, Julye Blom has carried her personal style further and further so convincingly and decisively that this show will definitely touch your soul. More and more people have noticed this, which is why she was the big audience favorite in the Newcomer of the Year category at last winter’s Funky Awards. After Saturday 12th of July, Julye’s fan base will definitely be even bigger, and after hearing the concert, everyone will surely know and understand why.

Play album on Bandcamp >>

The ethno-fusion band Kalabaliikki, who released their debut album Leijonan kääntöpiiri in late May, plays fictional, retro-futuristic world music. According to our funky ambassador in Catalonia, Funky Ville, when listening to the album, the first thing that came to his mind was Knight Rider hanging out with the Janissaries of the elite forces of the Ottoman Empire at a street food stall, while a Cretan lute and a luscious synabasso are passing by and striding on their way to bathe in the hammam. And he said it seemed completely normal and natural.

Your experience of Kalabaliikki’s music will be probably something completely different, and that is certainly just as true. The band aims to awaken a feeling of nostalgia in the listener for things that have never existed.

The band is new, but the musicians have a strong background in many different projects. Greek laouto and Turkish baglama saz are played by ethnic and experimental music specialist Petri Lahtinen, and (synth)bassist Matti Pekonen and percussionist Janne “Aukka” Auvinen have been influential in bands such as Maria Gasolina and The Hypnomen. Santeri Kinnunen is the drummer of the bunch.

The band recently gave a fresh proof of their imaginative musical adventures at their record release gig. Our wild guess is that the wonderful audience and environment at Elephantasy will inspire them to take their flight even higher!

Play album on Bandcamp >>

Uruguayan-born Rodrigo Pereda is already an essential long-term player in the Finnish reggae scene with his Pirata Boing Band and as a solo artist. The artist and radio host, who actively tours around the world, has also lived in Brazil, Spain and Sweden until residing in Finland and basically collaborates wherever he goes. Musically, his reggae-based productions combine genres such as ska, cumbia, dub, candombe, folk and hip hop with an appreciation to the roots but also without a hesitation to include a more modern approach in the songs.

Currently, Pirata Boing is actively focusing on his dub project DPB In Dub, boasting deep bass and soothing echoes as will be heard at this year’s Elephantasy. Four years ago, Pirata Boing Band performed a truly sparkling show on the event’s smaller stage and melted the hearts of so many people in the audience. Something similar is likely to happen this time too, when DPB In Dub takes control and nurtures the speakers to glow with that temper and gentle reggae spirit.

Elephantasy’s smaller stage by the pond on the northern edge of the park is again a place for the more intimate encounters and dancing, slightly away from the crowd on the grassy field of the main stage. The rap duo Hoki & Tipe, founded in 2020 and hailing nowadays from Järvenpää, will bring their cheerful and inventive beats this year right there.

You will surely have fun watching them live and listening to their lyrics while enjoying the catchy beats produced by the legendary Kim “Kasio” Rantala as well as the beauty of their lyricism. Hoki & Tipe are an invigorating and fresh power shot for the most wonderful urban culture day of the summer guaranteed to leave you with a big smile on your face and a happy mind, ready to continue this year’s park party!

Nonstop programme between 14 and 19 hs

• Guided plays
• Hobby crafts and drawing
• Toys free to be used (inside the area)

SoulCirco’s circus workshops (duration 1 hour): 15 & 16:45 hs

SoulCirco SirkusSielu offers memorable and delightful experiences, magic and atmosphere in the Elephantasy children’s area. Circus artists bring an aerial acrobatics stand and other circus equipment and with their help children of all ages can safely practice various circus tricks. Join in!

SoulCirco offers creative exercise for all ages, a low-threshold circus performance point

and the opportunity to experience and learn aerial acrobatics, beautiful Flow art and expressive skills. 🙂

Workshops (1 hour) in the kids’ area:
15:00 hs
16:45 hs

Performance (10 mins) on main stage: 20:20 hs

Improv group Ilopilleriosasto arrives in Elephantasy this year to perform surprising improvised theatre scenes. Come along and throw in your lines, emotions and scenes for inspiration – they will make theatre out of them!

The theatre improvisation workshop will include fun and easy warm-up games. At the end, those who wish will have the opportunity to try improvising scenes. Also suitable for beginners.

The workshop will be at 4 pm, on the other side of the pond next to the children’s area.

Ilopilleriosasto will also perform on the Gorilla Stage at 2:30 pm!

The lovely park bazaar of Elephantasy includes local vendors offering you lovely wardrobe and handcraft to browse through. Perfect memories to buy home!

The list of the vendors will be published on the festival week.

Search, explore, admire, try, collect, buy and stay! Welcome to the Park Bazaar of Elephantasy!

Food:

• Awa Senegal (Instagram)
• Gauchori - Argentinian BBQ (Instagram)
• Pizza Italiana
• Rikiyaki (Instagram)
• WTfries (Instagram) 

Other treats:

• Ape Gelato (Instagram)
• Pau Brazil (Instagram) 

Enjoy!