In early May, thirteen virtuosos of modern improvised avant-garde music will gather at Espoo Cultural Centre's Louhisali for the two-day SoundScapes #5 festival. The event celebrates the uniqueness and diversity of music composed in present time. During the SoundScapes concert nights, the performances will form unique creations — fleeting expressions of the present that exist only "here and now," dissolving into the next moment of improvisation. The audience will experience and participate in a holistic art journey brought to life through pure spatial sound experiences.

The art form of spontaneous composition relies entirely on free improvisation, where musicians act simultaneously as both composers and performers. The compositional processes are unpredictable, offering numerous opportunities for new listening and perceptual experiences. This genre requires artists to have a high level of musicality and a strong desire to create and celebrate orchestral ensemble sound.

Expect intense musical environments and landscapes, where the artist collective immerses itself in constantly shifting "ad-hoc ensembles," crossing genre, cultural, and generational boundaries while building bridges between people and experiences. The lineup and varying ensembles, from duos to orchestras, will be unique, featuring both domestic and international top-tier artists, including two founding figures of the improvisational avant-garde movement: Giancarlo Schiaffini and Philipp Wachsmann. The event focuses on improvised contemporary music, blending elements of sound art and experimental music.

Musicians:

Liz Allbee – quadraphonic trumpet

Cristiano Calcagnile – drums & percussion

John Edwards – double bass

Lori Freedman – bass clarinet

Sergio Castrillón – cello

Achim Kaufmann – piano

Veli Kujala – quarter-tone accordion

Libero Mureddu – piano

Jukka Kääriäinen – guitar & electronics

Giancarlo Schiaffini – trombone

Harri Sjöström – soprano & sopranino saxophones

Philipp Wachsmann – violin & electronics

Els Vandeweyer – vibraphone & percussion

Doors open: 6:45 PM

No age limit / 18+, alcohol service in the lobby area

Duration: approximately 2 h 15 min, including an intermission

Tickets:

1 day: 25/20 € (reduced for under 18, students, unemployed, and seniors)

2 days: 45/40 € (reduced for under 18, students, unemployed, and seniors)

service fee (starting at 1.50 € + 0.65% of the order) at lippu.fi

Reduced tickets require proof of eligibility to be shown during ticket inspection.

Programm |fr. 2.5.2025

Starts 19:00

Set one / 60 min. / 15 min. / group

THE ETERNAL BEGINNING quintet

Calcagnile – Edwards – Freedman – Kaufmann – Kääriäinen

drums & percussion - double bass - bass clarinet – piano – guitar & electronics

LUMIUNI duo

Allbee – Castrillón

trumpet - cello

WE MEET AGAIN duo

Mureddu - Wachsmann

piano - violin & electronics

JUST EIKÄ MELKKEEN quartet

Kujala - Schiaffini – Sjöström - Vandeweyer

accordion - trombone - soprano & sopranino sax - vibraphone

Set two / 60 min. / 15 min. / group

TÄHTITYTÖT trio

Allbee - Freedman - Vandeweyer

trumpet - bass clarinet - vibraphone

THREE METERS DOG Trio

Castrillón - Kaufmann – Kujala

cello - piano - accordion

PIKKUPALAT duo

Schiaffini - Wachsmann

trombone - violin & electronics

MAUSTEPOJAT quintet

Calcagnile - Edwards - Kääriäinen - Mureddu - Sjöström

drums & percussion - double bass – guitar & electronics - piano - soprano & sopranino sax

Programm | Sat. 3.5.2025

Starts 19:00

Set one / 60 min. / 15 min. / group

UPANDOUT quartet

Calcagnile - Kaufmann - Mureddu – Vandeweyer

drums & percussion – piano – piano - vibraphone

SIIKA QUINTET quintet

Castrillón - Edwards - Kääriäinen - Kujala - Wachsmann

cello - double bass – guitar & electronics - accordion - violin & electronics

TUULISET quartet

Allbee - Freedman - Schiaffini - Sjöström

trumpet - bass clarinet - trombone – soprano & sopranino sax

Set two / 60 min. / 15 min. / group

JUST NYT! sextet

Allbee - Edwards – Kaufmann – Kujala - Sjöström - Wachsmann

trumpet – double bass – piano – accordion – soprano & sopranino sax - violine & electronics

NOVOIVOI trio

Calcagnile – Castrillón - Kääriäinen

drums & percussion - cello – guitar & electronics

LOOPS quartet

Freedman - Mureddu - Schiaffini – Vandeweyer

bass clarinet - piano – trombone – vibraphone

13 – 4 – TEPPO tutti

In memory of Teppo Hauta-aho

Allbee – Calcagnile – Castrillón – Edwards – Freedman – Kaufmann – Kujala -Kääriäinen – Mureddu – Schiaffini – Sjöström – Vandeweyer - Wachsmann

SoundScapes #5

The event “SoundScapes #5” has ended