Club For Five and UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra celebrate the opening of Kotka’s new Satama Areena on Saturday 26 August!

Sataman Tango (Tango at the Harbour) concert will feature beloved classics arranged with an experiential twist and respecting the history of Kotka, known as a port and jazz city.

The collaboration gives a tour of tango with a difference: evergreens by Unto Mononen and Toivo Kärki in new, innovative and entertaining versions. The concert is a tribute to two legendary Finnish songwriters and will present a new perspective on their music as a highly unconventional tango ensemble – a big band with a five-part vocal ensemble – combine Finnish tangos with anything from bebop to 1960’s Motown soul. The arrangements for 16-piece big band and vocal ensemble were written by Mikko Hassinen, Marzi Nyman and Pessi Levanto, among others.

This concert is also conductor Marjo Riihimäki’s debut in UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra.

Club For Five is Finland’s most popular a cappella group. The vocal group, which has been operating since 2000, has become famous both in Finland and internationally. The music of “Club” is not limited to just one specific genre – the band is comfortable with jazz, pop, rock as well as folk music or classical music. This virtuoso fivesome (Maija Sariola sopr., Saima Haapanen alto., Jouni Kannisto ten., Juha Viitala bar. and Tuukka Haapaniemi b.) has released 14 studio albums, 6 of which have sold gold. Club For Five’s performances are full of touching interpretation, insightful humor, supreme competence and captivating solo performances. www.clubforfive.fi

Marjo Riihimäki is a determined, energetic, captivating and swinging conductor. During the last twenty years, she has conducted e.g. Symphonic Orchestras of Kuopio, Joensuu and Mikkeli, Oulu Sinfonia, Pori Sinfonietta, and The Guards Band and The Air Force Big Band of Finland, Kaunas Big Band, and various choirs. She is a founding member and artistic director of Finnish Symphonic Wind Professionals. Riihimäki’s expertise is symphonic wind music, symphonic jazz, crossover and entertainment music combining musical genres. Film music and stage art projects also interest her. www.marjoriihimaki.com

Event Centre Satama is a modern, versatile event centre in the City Port of Kotka, South East Finland. The doors of Event Centre Satama will open in August 2023, welcoming event organisers and visitors from Finland and abroad. Architecturally unique, Event Centre Satama’s flexible spaces are suited to a variety of events: concerts, exhibitions, meetings, seminars, trade fairs, business events, private events, sports events, and many more. Together with high-quality event services, the adaptability of the spaces guarantee a successful event from small gatherings to large functions with over 3,000 participants. Event Centre Satama will join the network of venues across South Finland as the first sufficiently capacious and versatile facility in South East Finland. www.satama.fi

Photo of Club For Five & UMO: Heikki Kynsijärvi