Riihisaari Blues 2026

Riihisaari Blues—one of Finland’s most distinctive music events—has established itself as an important part of the autumn cultural calendar in eastern Finland. The festival’s main venue is Riihisaari’s historic brick granary, built in 1852 and located in the stunning national landscape surrounding Olavinlinna Castle. Inside the building, the exhibition hall of Savonlinna Museum will be transformed into a laid-back club with the cosy atmosphere of a living room. This much-anticipated blues festival will spread beyond the museum this year, bringing music to other venues across Savonlinna as well. The event is part of the Savonlinna Cultural Dream Year programme.

The festival kicks off on Wednesday, when Jantso Jokelin takes the stage at the Nälkälinnanmäki Cultural Centre. A master of harmonica, resonator guitar and beatboxing, Jokelin is also an expressive singer and storyteller who sees blues as a form of intimate poetry. Last year, he made Finnish roots music history by winning the special award for Best Solo Performer at the European Blues Challenge in Croatia.

On Thursday, Aija Puurtinen & Brooklynin satu perform at restaurant Savonlinnan Kulttuurikellari, taking the audience on a musical journey through time into Finnish-American immigration and the emotional landscapes of the immigrant experience. Long-time musicians Aija Puurtinen and Esa Kuloniemi, together with their fellow performers, bring this long-awaited performance to Riihisaari Blues. Their music is presented in acoustic and semi-acoustic arrangements, drawing heavily on both Finnish and American folk traditions. Folk, blues and even Jamaican influences add extra flavour to this evocative musical portrait of a bygone era.

Friday evening at Riihisaari Museum opens with Tri Tolvanen & Matt Beardson, serving up piano blues in the spirit of New Orleans, with a dash of Chicago—both American and Finnish. The duo’s repertoire ranges from ragtime and boogie-woogie rhythms to earthy barrelhouse blues, country and rock ’n’ roll. Expect the unmistakable sounds of New Orleans and Chicago, seasoned with Caribbean flavours and jazz influences.

The Fabulous Jefes brings together long-time blues and roots musicians who have admired the American band The Fabulous Thunderbirds for years. Leading the group on vocals and guitar is none other than co-founder and leading figure of Riihisaari Blues, Ismo Haavisto.

The Saturday programme at Riihisaari begins with a musical journey particularly fitting for Father’s Day weekend: a father-and-son duo diving deep into the muddy waters of the Mississippi and the soulful depths of Black gospel. Jarkka & Kalle Rissanen Electric Duo brings together two generations of musicians. Jarkka Rissanen’s musical journey has lasted half a century, and the age difference is no obstacle when joined by his son Kalle Rissanen, a young, versatile drummer with groove in his DNA, currently completing his musical studies.

Saturday’s programme at the museum reaches its climax with Hoedown, a true rolling stone of the Finnish roots music scene. Founded in 2002, this band plays blues, country and rock—and keeps on rolling, refusing to gather any moss. The line-up features some of the finest names in Finnish popular music: Mika Kuokkanen, Jere Ijäs, Jarmo Nikku, Olli Haavisto, Masa Maijanen and Topi Kurki.

The programme for the Father’s Day Blues Afternoon on Sunday will be announced later.

RIIHISAARI BLUES 2026 PROGRAMME

WEDNESDAY 4 NOVEMBER
Nälkälinnanmäki Cultural Centre at 7 pm
JANTSO JOKELIN
Free admission!

THURSDAY 5 NOVEMBER
Restaurant Savonlinnan Kulttuurikellari at 7 pm
AIJA PUURTINEN & BROOKLYNIN SATU
Tickets: €35

FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER
Riihisaari – Savonlinna Museum at 7 pm
TRI TOLVANEN & MATT BEARDSON
THE FABULOUS JEFES
Tickets: €35
Combined ticket for Friday + Saturday: €60

SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER
Riihisaari – Savonlinna Museum at 7 pm
JARKKA & KALLE RISSANEN ELECTRIC DUO
HOEDOWN
Tickets: €35
Combined ticket for Friday + Saturday: €60

SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER
The programme for the Father’s Day Blues Afternoon will be announced at a later date.

TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased in advance from the Riihisaari Museum information desk, Tue–Sun, 10 am–5 pm, or at the door from one hour before the concert begins.

Ticket reservations and enquiries: by email at riihisaari@savonlinna.fi or by phone at +358 44 417 4466.

Unfortunately, the Museum Card is not valid as a payment method at Riihisaari Blues.

PLEASE NOTE!
Whether you are attending Riihisaari Blues for the first time or are a seasoned festivalgoer, it is worth familiarising yourself with the special characteristics of the museum hall at Riihisaari Museum, which serves as the festival’s concert venue. The conditions in this intimate space do not entirely correspond to those of a conventional concert hall. Compared with traditional concert venues, performances here may involve audience members responding enthusiastically to the music, dancing, lively conversation and other forms of relaxed socialising.

We warmly welcome you to Savonlinna and Riihisaari this autumn to enjoy and experience outstanding blues music!