Eastern Helsinki Culture Week: Sound images and ringing words

One of Finland’s most important figures in modern poetry, award-winning Saila Susiluoto and versatile saxophonist, flautist and composer Hepa Halme meet at a concert during the Eastern Helsinki Culture Week programme.

Saila Susiluoto is known as a writer and developer of poetic concepts of experimental forms, in addition to which she is also known as a charismatic performer of her own texts.

The Halme Prospekt band, led by Hepa Halme, has been active for more than twenty years. In addition to their own releases, the band is also known for literary records with Hannu Salama.

The cooperation between Halme and Susiluoto started with the performances of her texts from Huoneiden kirja in 2003, and it has continued, rarely but regularly, ever since. The concert will feature the sound journey built around Susiluoto's newest prosaic poem, Akheron (Otava 2024), whose words, which flow like a river, gain an additional dimension with the soundscape created by Halme Prospekt and improvised interludes.

The other line-up at the concert, Antero Priha and Asko Keränen’s duo, who have already released two albums, are currently preparing their third album release. It involves multi-artist Oliver Whitehead, whose texts expand the expression of the composition in the direction of spoken word. This material is what will be heard at the concert.

Halme Prospekt:
Hepa Halme – saxophone, flute
Eero Savela – trumpet
Esa Onttonen – guitar, bass
Arttu Tolonen – synthesizer and effects
Tapani Varis – bass
Alf Forsman – drums

Asko Keränen – keyboards and electronic gadgets
Antero Priha – trumpet
Oliver Whitehead – vocals and words