Liljan loisto
From Kingston to Karelia
One can only wonder what reggae legends such as Lee Perry and Jimmy Cliff would think of old Finnish traditional songs turned into dub and reggae versions. Well, one could easily find out by inviting them at Ilosaarircok Festival's Rento Stage to see Liljan loisto. Liljan loisto's music is a delightful mixture of two traditional genres whose distance is a mere 10 000 kilometres. At first it might seem that Jamaican reggae and Karelian traditional songs don't have anything in common, but in Liljan loisto's music they blend together surprisingly smoothly. And why not – after all, both genres are about longing for something lost, something that doesn't exist any more.
The Finnish reggae star Puppa J and Yona, a talented musician who recently released her impressive second solo album, are in charge of the vocals in Liljan loisto. They take the stage with five-piece Punky Reggae Band whose groovy and mellow touch doesn't leave anyone in the audience cold. There really can't be a better place for Liljan loisto to perform – their music combined with the authentic Karelian atmosphere is destined to create a show to remember. You don't want to miss this unique spectacle!
