Pyhä Unplugged, sweet tones swirling towards the August sky

Here in the north we make sure to enjoy the summer months in as many ways as possible. We enjoy the great outdoors so much, that we bring life outdoors, do everything outdoors – eat, play and sleep. Culture is brought outdoors too.

This summer I was invited to Pyhä Unplugged, it is a half-acoustic music festival held in the great landscapes of Pyhätunturi fell. The event is organized by Pyhä Ski Resort and every year a great selection of best Finnish artists to Pyhä is gathered. So I was truly looking forward to a fun and relaxing weekend with good music!

The main attraction is the concerts in Aittakuru gorge, an open-air amphitheathre amidst magnificent nature. The second day of my stay in Pyhä I went to the afternoon concert which was started by Johanna Rusanen, a Finnish Opera singer. She entertained us with a potpourri of movie music. Her first song was a tender, tender love song “Sua vain yli kaiken mä rakastan” (I love you above everything). The acoustics in Aitakuru is incredible. As Johanna’s magnificent voice filled the gorge I got the chills and was totally absorbed by the moment. The setting in the midst of nature that is as tender as the song, yet rough and rocky as love and life can be. The fresh air, the sunshine of an August afternoon, the beautiful music – words are not enough to describe this experience. Tears, smiles, you truly stop to listen, to see and understand the beauty of nature, love and life.

Johanna continued taking us through the decades of movie music, mostly domestic, but some international tones too. In the middle of the concert, as I was sitting there gazing up towards the ridge of the gorge I saw some reindeer strolling up there. Wonder if they were there for the music too…

Applause brought on an encore and there could not have been a more perfect encore. The beautiful tones of the Titanic swirled up towards the August sky, dissolving into the grand nature, spreading emotions and pleasure on their way. How will I manage one whole year until the next time in Aittakuru? Luckily, I learnt that there is a Pyhä Unplugged Winter too.