OMJ Jazz & Etno: Julien Tassin & Heikki Ruokangas

Информация: OMJ Jazz & Etno: Julien Tassin & Heikki Ruokangas Wed 7.10.2026 at 20:00 AaltoSiilo Alvar Aallon katu 5, 90520 Oulu Duration approx. 1 h (no intermission) Out of a mutual love of spontaneousness and raw emotions, Belgian guitarist Julien Tassin and Finnish guitarist Heikki Ruokangas decided to start creating music together. As two guitars aiming to sound like one. The two guitarists met while they were both signed to the Australian avant-garde label Ramble Records. As they talked on Instagram, they wanted to play music together, so they travelled --- Julien to Finland and Heikki to Belgium --- bringing different cultures and influences together while also realizing they had a lot in common. Both studied classical music and traditional jazz before entering the improvisational music world, and both share a similar musical vision. In their music, the concrete and the abstract can co-exist at any moment. Melodic lines are combined with atonal sounds, creating an organic and exploratory approach to the acoustic guitar. Just like life itself, the music of this duo contains both beauty and beast. And, like the musicians themselves, it also carries a playful sense of humor. Their travels led to the composition of a new repertoire, which was recorded somewhere between Belgium and Finland. This material became the duo's debut album, Behind The Mask, released in August 2025. To celebrate the release, the duo embarked on a 17-concert tour across five countries. The final concert of the tour was recorded and will be released as Live In Brussels in May 2026 on the American label zOaR, run by Elliott Sharp. The tour also expanded the duo's musical language into new territory. Their performances began incorporating additional instruments such as mandolin and bells, along with various sonic accessories. The result captures a moment of rare intensity, where the two musicians push both their instruments and repertoire further than ever before. Their distinctive approach to the guitar duo format reaches new heights through the raw energy and immediacy of live performance. Heikki Ruokangas is a guitarist and composer from Oulu, Finland. He has appeared on more than twenty albums and compilation recordings and has performed extensively in Finland, the United States, and throughout Europe. He is considered one of the most prolific and internationally active Finnish guitarists of his generation, with releases published worldwide by several record labels. The dialogue between beauty and ugliness in melody lies at the heart of Ruokangas's musical expression, with melodicism always at its center. His musical storytelling combines the longing of the Finnish waltz, the starkness of delta blues, the deep echoes of Western-style twang guitar, and the ecstasy of jazz. Together, these elements form Ruokangas's vision of a slightly askew, distinctly Finnish sonic landscape. Ruokangas also challenges preconceived attitudes toward contemporary art by breaking down the elitist and inaccessible image often associated with it. With a unique and unmistakable approach to music and his instrument, Julien Tassin is a truly distinctive guitarist. Using unconventional techniques and original tunings, he creates music that blends elements of blues, jazz, classical, Oriental, and African traditions. The result is music born from openness and freedom. To date, Tassin has released twelve albums under his own name, exploring formats ranging from intimate solo performances to dynamic quartet settings. Over the years, he has built a substantial and coherent body of work shaped by spontaneity, natural expression, and a constant search for what feels essential. This immediacy is present in both his compositions and improvisations, where instinct and depth unfold with clarity and restraint. He has brought these various projects to some of Belgium's most renowned venues and toured extensively across Europe. In recent years, his creative path has continued to expand through collaborations with international musicians from diverse musical backgrounds, further enriching and broadening his artistic voice. Learn more about the Jazz & Ethno concert series of Oulu Music Festival at omj.fi. Tickets 24 € Regular / 15 € Pensioner / 10 € Discount groups Available through Ticketmaster Finland nationwide. Prices include handling fees. Tickets without handling fees are available from the Valve ticket office. A service fee of €3 per order will be charged for purchases from the Ticketmaster ticket shop, or €1.50 per order when purchasing from the Ticketmaster online store. A limited number of Kaikukortti-tickets are available. Ticket Sales Locations Ticketmaster Finland nationwide. Oulu Sinfonia ticket shop, Leevi Madetojan katu 1-3. Cultural Centre Valve ticket office, Hallituskatu 7. At the door one hour before the concert. Accessibility AaltoSiilo is fully accessible. Organizer reserves the right to make changes.