Wongawilli in Denmark and Finland

Wongawilli in Denmark and Finland, June July 2006

A selection of pictures from the gigs, the places, the people, the music, new and old friends.

If you have any pictures of the band playing at these gigs, we would appreciate them. Please email to: desanti@bigpond.com

The tour:
29 June to 2 July - Skagen Festival, Denmark, right at the top, bordered by the North and Baltic Seas. The band's second visit.
3 July to 8 July - Kuopio International Wine Festival lakeside picturesque city in the middle of Finland, Surrounded by lakes and forests.
9 July to 12 July - Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, folk music capital of Finland, on eastern side
13 July - Tomtebo Folklore Centre, Helsinki

Skagen Festival, Denmark

Some of our favourite artists at the festival:

The Dubliners, David Munnelly Band (Ire), Dougie MacLean (Scot), Eric Bogle & John Munro (Aust), Genticoruim (Can), Les Chauffeurs a Pieds, The Chaps (NZ), Rolling Home (Neth), The Rooney Family (Ire), Et Encore (Belg), Kadril (Belg)

Most of these photographs are by Bjarne Hyldgaard from the Skagen Festival.

First gig at the Torvescenen	A rare chance to see the Dubliners play	Terrific seafood
The huge Harvescenen tent and stage	The mass finale at the Ceili at the Kultur Center, that's us in the shadows	It's Canada vs Australia with Pascal from Genticorum, David and Sam
The Sea ShantyConcert wtih Sam on the chair playing spoons to the delight of the audience

Kuopio International Wine Festival, Finland

The festival was established in 1997 and each year features a country and its wine.

Australia was it for 2006. We were joined by Jigzag and Junior to make up an Australian representation along with didgeridoo player Robin DeWan from Helsinki. Each night following the Australian performances, famous Finnish rock, pop, heavy metal, country performers followed! The gigs were crazy and the party atmosphere amazing - the sun doesn't go down!

Kiitos Vesa.

We also learnt how to say cheers in the local Finnish - 'Hurligan Gurligan', well that's what we think.. The other version is 'Kiipas' (spelling?).


happy Aussies in Kuopio	Us, notice Sam's orange Euro style trousers...	Aussie Finale - Down Under
Aussie Finale too	Kuopio beach and diving tower	The crowd
Tourist film-maker, notice beer	Greg from Jigzag really enjoying Finnish 'Aussie' tucker	Jigzag in action
Junior 5 in action	Kuopio from the lake, tower on hill	Finnish band rocking on!

Kaustinen Folk Festival, Finland

Kaustinen is Finlands home of folk music and the amazing fiddling sensation JPP ( JÄRVELÄN PIKKUPELIMANNIT) . The festival goes for a whole week with Finnish and a swag of international acts.

This year's feature country was Italy with groups from all over including Spakka Napoli, Actores Alidos & Orlando Mascia from Sardinia, Calicanto from Venice and Gruppo Sbandieratori San Quirico d´Orcia from Tuscany, Italy

Our gigs were at Cafe Mondo, the main stage Arena and the Dance Stage.

We played as the World Cup final was being decided between Italy and France and when we found out Italy had won we broke out into Tarantellas to the delight of the passing celebrating Italian contingent!

Highlights were watching the hundreds of young children and adults playing accordions, fiddles, harmoniums plus an array of other traditional folk instruments. Children's Day was also amazing and very inspiring.

Truly a wonderful event showcasing Finnish traditional music and a very welcoming attitude to international artists.

Sam and Tania dancing to the late dance band led by JPP's Mauno Järvelä	Some of the many buskers	And more accordions
Calicanto in action	The outdoor dance stage	Terrific Finnish group Hyperborea
Jane and Sam demonstrating the Heel & Toe Polka they like their waltzing and polkering though	The local pub sign.	Actores Alidos & Orlando Mascia from Sardinia
A Finnish lagerphone!	. Cafe Mondo venue	Old poster showing the Arena and surrounds
Actores Alidos & Orlando Mascia from Sardinia	Another session and more accordions	The flag wavers from Tuscany
The flags mixing colours with the Arena Tent	More cool young fiddlers led by Mauno Järvelä	The amazing Children's Day performance - they're al young and think its cool to play tradiitonal music