Tuhatkauno in English

Tuhatkauno at the Popkatu happening, Joensuu, July 2002. (Photo by Jouni Mielonen)

Tuhatkauno comes from North Karelia, Finland's Eastern region that has produced world class music acts such as Eläkeläiset, Nightwish and Värttinä, as well as a good deal of best Finnish rock bands ever, from Ismo Alanko's Hassisen kone to Neljä ruusua, Mana Mana to Kumikameli.

The band was founded in the town of Joensuu in 1999 with an aim to revive folk rock / pub folk scene in Eastern Finland. Although based mostly on original material, clear audible influences of Tuhatkauno's music come from Finnish, Russian and American traditional music, as well as from singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel or Crosby Stills Nash & Young - and classic folk rock groups á la Lindisfarne or Russia's famed Aquarium.

Tuhatkauno features two lead singers, Suonna Kononen and Jyri Martiskainen, and its music is flavored by Markus Torniainen's five-row Giulietti accordion, Saana Kähkönen's violin and Pertti Komu's lyrically moaning fretless bass guitar. The members of the band were born in between 1963-84 and have a big row of bands behind them: Korpraali Kukkakaali, Melkutus, Folkswagen, Beduiinin sandaalit, Hyperit, Suuri silmä, Rampant, Joensuu University's choir...

Tuhatkauno sings in Finnish. The name of the band is Finnish as well, literally meaning the flower 'daisy' or 'English daisy' (Bellis perennis). Furthermore, 'Tuhatkauno' refers to professor Cuthbert Calculus' character in Hergé's Tin Tin comics, 'professori Tuhatkauno' in Finnish.

So far, Tuhatkauno has recorded one album, the 2002 'Aavaranta' ("Open Beach", referring to Aavaranta district in the band's hometown Joensuu), and two 2003 ep's: 'Painokoneet seis!' ("Stop The Press!") and 'Minä rakastan...' ("I Love..."), published by Joensuu-based Pilfink Records and PKSY. International distribution has yet to be organized, but you can order the cd's directly from the band: tuhatkauno@apertuura.fi. 'Aavaranta' costs 17 euros / US dollars (& P&P), 'Painokoneet seis!' 9 euros / US dollars (& P&P) and 'Minä rakastan...' 7 euros / US dollars (& P&P).

These official releases were precursored by two home-brewed DIY-cdr's, 'Vettä saappaissa' ("Water In The Boots") and 'Kylmää kyytiä' ("Cold Ride"), both released in 2001. The reaction was very encouraging. "Tuhatkauno knows how to make it... So comfortable to listen to truly honest stuff like this that doesn't try to flatter you in any way," wrote Raimo Eurasto of Finnish prog rock magazine Colossus.

Ever since 1999, Tuhatkauno has been giving more and more gigs in Eastern Finland, for example at the Kihaus Folk Music Festival 2002 in Rääkkylä which was headlined by acts such as Fliflet & Hamre and Värttinä.

Return back to Tuhatkauno's front page, laden with photo gallery ('Galleria'), free mp3 samples ('Musiikkia'), etc. You may need a Finnish dictionary, though.

And how about dropping a line to our guestbook?

Please read 'Kylmää kyytiä' and 'Aavaranta' reviews in English on The Scourger's record review pages.

See Tuhatkauno discography in English in Lazer's Guide To Finnish Progressive Rock.

- Mikko Meriläinen & Suonna Kononen, Joensuu, June 2003