dialoguing@rts in Oulu, European Capital of Culture 2026
Two evenings exploring intercultural dialogue through immersive sound and living musical traditions.
22 June 2026 19:30-21:00 Oulu Music Center
CONNECTION – A Spatial Sound Concert, Meditation Journey and Finnish Sonic Ritual
CONNECTION is an immersive event that brings together spatial sound performance, meditative listening practices, and inspiration drawn from Finnish sonic traditions. Through deep listening, intuitive improvisation, and immersive sound environments, the audience is invited into a shared experience where music becomes a vehicle for contemplation, presence, and expanded states of awareness.
At the heart of the evening is a dialogue between tradition and innovation. Spanish world jazz musician Javier Sánchez Pérez (Cuejero), enters into dialogue with the Finnish duo hakosalo_tuohino, whose work centres on the kantele – the national instrument of Finland – and its transformation into immersive spatial sound environments. Jazz improvisation on double bass interacts with Finnish folk textures and electroacoustic soundscapes.
A special dimension of CONNECTION lies in the story behind the collaboration itself. The participating artists first met through the Horizon Europe project dialoguing@rts that explores artistic dialogues and intercultural exchanges through collaborative practices. Over the past weeks, they have developed their artistic relationship through the project’s digital playground, sharing ideas, sonic experiments, and creative processes across geographical distances.
CONNECTION marks the first time that Javier Sanchez Perez and the duo hakosalo_tuohino meet and perform together in person. This premiere collaboration takes place at the Oulu Music Center, where their virtual exchanges are transformed into a live, immersive experience. The performance itself becomes an embodiment of the project’s vision: connecting artists, traditions, technologies, and audiences across borders through shared creative exploration.
Artists:
- Javier Sánchez Pérez (Cuejero) is a musician whose artistic work focuses on the dialogue between flamenco and Nordic jazz. He graduated from Berklee College of Music and holds a Master’s degree from the Sibelius Academy in Finland and the Royal Academy of Music in Denmark. Javier is currently a PhD researcher at the University of Helsinki, his research focuses on transcultural pedagogies and collaborative learning in music education. His teaching and artistic practice emphasise intercultural collaboration, communication across disciplines, and the creative potential of musical dialogue.javiersanchezperez.com
- hakosalo_tuohino is an electroacoustic duo of Osmo Hakosalo (kantele) and Jussi Tuohino (computer). Using the kantele as their sole sound source, they combine extended playing techniques with real-time digital processing to create immersive, evolving soundscapes that reveal new dimensions of the instrument.Drawing on backgrounds in folk, classical, jazz, and electronic music, the duo performs through free improvisation, allowing each performance to emerge in response to the moment. Their work often incorporates surround sound and site-specific sonic environments, including field recordings from Arctic landscapes.
Founded in Oulu, Finland, in 2024, hakosalo_tuohino has performed internationally at festivals including Gothenburg Fringe Festival, Guelph Jazz Festival Colloquium, Jauna Muzika Festival, and Tallinn Music Week. In 2025, they released their debut album, Live at Muhos, documenting their spontaneous and immersive approach to sound.
24 June 2026 19:00-21:00 Oulu Music Center
Frode Fjellheim: Yoik, Memory and Contemporary Sound
An intimate concert with Norwegian composer, musician and Southern Sámi yoiker Frode Fjellheim at Oulu Music Centre. Internationally known for bringing yoik to new audiences, including through Vuelie, the opening music of Disney’s Frozen, Fjellheim creates a powerful meeting place between Sámi tradition, contemporary soundscapes and cultural memory.
The concert will be followed by a conversation with Frode and other experts from the d@rts project on the transmission of indigenous artistic traditions across generations while being aware of ownership, authority, context and responsibility.
Artist: Frode Fjellheim