Concert: Aerial Roots
Maija Kauhanen’s one-woman orchestra meets Saxtronauts at the final concert of Aboagora!
In Tytti Arola’s Exobiology for saxophone quartet and live electronics, a tribute is paid to women who have traveled to space, saxophone yoga is practised, and strange creatures are encountered. Timo Alakotila’s Ilman lieto for voice, Saarijärvi kantele, and saxophone quartet draws on runosong traditions. The work tells about the wind and the places it may carry us. Strong themes of Maija Kauhanen’s music are gathering, herding call traditions and incantation. In the concert, these multifaceted musicians celebrate the power of collaboration and communality.
Tytti Arola (*1990): Exobiology (2020/22)
I Rise
II Float
III Encounter
Maija Kauhanen (*1986): Raivopyörä
Timo Alakotila (*1959): Ilman lieto (2026)
Maija Kauhanen & Saxtronauts: Metatyöt, Sisarueni (2026)
Saxtronauts: Anna-Sofia Anttonen, Nanna Ikonen, Nanako Lammi, Sikri Lehko
Maija Kauhanen, voice, kanteles, percussion
Tytti Arola, electronics
Mika Jokela, sound engineer
Photo: Anna-Maria Viksten
Saxtronauts
Saxtronauts are a Finnish saxophone ensemble with an appetite for discovery. Formed by Anna-Sofia Anttonen, Nanna Ikonen, Nanako Lammi and Sikri Lehko, the quartet explore the saxophones full spectrum, treating it as a vehicle for artistic and sonic exploration. Their performances bring contemporary music into unexpected spaces: from concert halls and festivals to observatories and science centres, where their acclaimed project Avaruusseikkailu has reimagined the saxophone as a cosmic instrument. They have appeared at hcmf//, Helsinki Festival, Flow Festival, Time of Music, among other festivals and will release their highly anticipated debut album in 2026.
Photo: Sofia Okkonen
Maija Kauhanen
A master of kantele and a dynamic one-woman orchestra, Maija Kauhanen blends Finnish and Karelian vocal traditions, indie pop textures, and cinematic atmospheres into a sound that is entirely her own. With a deeply expressive voice, polyrhythmic grooves, and a percussive setup built from flea market finds, she creates immersive performances that are both ancient and boldly modern.
Multi-awarded Maija Kauhanen is one of the most internationally successful folk musicians from Finland. She has toured in over 30 countries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas and has also been awarded with several prestigious awards such as the Nordic Council Music Prize in 2023.
Photo: Antti Kokkola