Petri Hakala

I have been involved in the Finnish folk music scene for 20+ years playing mandolin family instruments, guitar and fiddle. My musical career started with guitar playing at the age of 11. Towards the end of the 1970s I got interested in American old-time music and bluegrass and started the my long journey with mandolin. After that, Irish music was a natural choice. I was a member of a band called Korkkijalka, a pioneer in the Irish music scene in Finland, formed in the early 1980s. Soon after this, I also took an interest in Finnish folk music. Since 1989 I’ve been teaching mandolins and guitar at the Folk Music Department of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. At this time i added an octave mandolin, mando-cello and fiddle to my repertoire of instruments.Have been part of the several folk music bands in Finland, among them: Helsinki Mandoliners, Freshet, Markku Lepistö Band, Duo with Markku Lepistö, Erik Hokkanen & Lumisudet, Maria Kalaniemi & Aldargaz, Ottopasuuna, Värttinä,Korkkijalka.Concerts with the abovementioned groups have taken me all over Europe and USA quite frequently as well.Also worked as a studio musician (over 50 records) and occasional mandolin player at the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki.My solo album Kirjo was released in 1999. The album features my own compositions, traditional Finnish pieces and couple of Brazilian choros. Choro music is a big favorite of mine among the musical styles, natural mandolin music.One of the exciting things involved in recent years ( playing mostly guitar ) has been various projects of composer Timo Alakotila, among them : Tango Orchestra Unto , The Folk-Baroque ensemble Sama with The Dance Theater ERI, The Accordion Concerto and a recent duo recording of Timo and Johanna Juhola : Vapaassa Tilassa. That recording also gave me a chance to play with Roger Tallroth from Sweden whom i’ve admired for a long time.I have worked with folk musicians from abroad, particularly with several American bluegrass performers in Finland, Peter Rowan, Dudley Connell, Tony Trischka and Laurie Lewis to name few, not forgetting Erik Hokkanen from Texas. Lumisudet group has been quite active for the past few years. We also recorded a new cd this summer.One of the projects in recent history, is a group Freshet which, besides me, involves Ruthie Dornfield, John Miller form Seattle and Tapani Varis. Freshet plays mostly original instrumental music with various international influences. The cd was released in 2005.Bluegrass gigs with J. Karjalainen were fun, also occasional gigs with Lännen Jukka String Band.New cd "Trad." JUST RELEASED. It's a collection of traditional Finnish fiddle tunes arranged for various mandolin and guitar based groups.Everything from solo pieces to a couple of mandolin quartet arrangements.. The transcription book will follow early next year.Cheers, Petri Hakala