Children’s own festival Lastenpop began with a pirate adventure in sunny weather. The courtyard of the Art Museum was packed with small and big pirates with their swords and face paintings when Captain Kaukoranta headed his ship Pearl to Joensuu. You could go on a pirate adventure course, learn how to play drums and there were musical performances. Taija Tykkyläinen tells us that she came with her 5- and 11 year old daughters out of an impulse. –The adventure seems interesting and we are waiting to get there. Imagination has definitely been used here!

The Pearls cook Fearsome-Hellu feed the little pirates at Lastenpop. Sweet cookies have been popular as well as marshmallow brownies! There’s been hassle in the galley, pots are flying and pans are clanking. The weather would improve if it rained; reasonable amount of misery is always welcome! The treasure was found by the little pirates as our Captain isn’t that good with maps even though he is a seasoned sailor. New and useful crew has been recruited and the Pearl will sail to the seven seas to face new adventures, Hellu tells us.

Skullhead-Kalle is the Pearls’ first mate and responsible for steering the vessel and the crew. He also takes care of the rum stock. –Pearl is constantly looking for new sailors, Kalle tells us. There’re hundreds of new recruits already! He recalls when the Pearl was shipwrecked on the seven seas. –Just before shore a devastating storm caught us and whole crew became seasick! Everybody held on where they could and water just kept on coming in. There were several sharks and I had to wrestle with one. It bit me on the cheek but I could beat it!

Lastenpop continues on Friday the 17th from 12 till 18.30

A four day course on making songs led by Pauli Hanhiniemi and Ville Rauhala ends today. There have been some theory studies as well as songwriting and improving the participants’ complete songs. Teachers were satisfied with the course and its aim as a nice thing to do in summertime was accomplished. The course was not an intense learning session but a way to became better songwriter and critical evaluator. The pair divided the work so that Hanhiniemi worked with the lyrics and Rauhala with the composition of the songs. The participants thrived and there was a nice collective atmosphere in the workshop.

-Nobody has any skills in the beginning; of course some have a natural talent to make songs. Making a song is not that hard, anybody can learn to do it. It is a different matter when it comes to making lasting and touching songs. With those kinds of songs you need a lot of luck also. Those flukes don’t happen that often and you have to make thousands of songs to make a true hit. Only way to learn is by writing more songs, Hanhiniemi reasons.

Hanhiniemi tells us that Finland has become on big village over the years. Joensuu has kept its place as a mellow and pleasant place, first thing to come in mind are Ilosaarirock and Hassisen Kone. Rauhala says that he will stay in town over the weekend as he plays in Black Motor which performs Saturday in Kasettiasema. Hanhiniemi will head to Jyväskylä and Kotka where Kolmas Nainen has concerts. Later Kolmas Nainen will go to studio and a new record will be released in October.

The Duo willplay in Teatteriklubi and perform songs from Kolmas Nainen, Perunateatteri and Hehkumo. Hanhiniemi tells us that he prefers duets to solo concerts. – About four years ago I wanted to do something different and I learned to comp with a guitar. It has been learning by doing but the most horrible part is waiting a concert to start all by yourself as the tension builds u and you don’t have anybody to share it.

Pauli Hanhiniemi Duo in Teatteriklubi 16th of July at 9 Pm. Free entrance