Dear friend of Arkadia,

The bookshop is extremely happy to invite you Monday 26.1 at 18:00 to a concert of Oona and Laura Airola. Their repertoire is extensive; at Arkadia they will sing Finnish songs, ballads and songs from the theatre. It is a festive occasion that will undoubtedly help you start the week on a most joyful footing. The entrance is free and green tea will be served. Welcome!

Warm regards,

Ian

Oona and Laura Airola are sisters from Ykspihlaja, the harbour of Kokkola in Ostrobotnia.. They play the accordion and the guitar, their two voices, coffee cups or and much else they have in their gig-bag. The Airola sisters started to perform together when they were both studying at the Kaustinen College of Music. In the following years they performed as a duo in many other places, e.g. the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival and Spelit in Ähtäri. In the 2006 they took part in the National Young Culture – folkmusic competition, and they won second price.

Oona Airola (1988-)

–         Kaustinen College of Music 2004-2007, singing as a major subject

–         Studies in Central Ostrobothnia Conservatory, folkmusic singing as a major subject 2007-2008

–         Lead role in the youth musical “Osta Elämä” in Kokkola in 2008. Other roles in several musicals and plays at the Kaustinen Folk Arts Centre, the Ykspihlaja workers theatre and the Kokkola city theatre.

–         Theatre studies in Lahti Folk High School 2008-2009

–         Her first album of songs “L’histoire de Sophie et Immanuel” came out in the end of 2008.

 Laura Airola (1987-)

–         Piano studies in Central Ostrobothnia Conservatory 1996-2001

–         Kaustinen College of Music 2003-2006, piano as a major subject

–         Composed music to a children’s play “Eemeli metkuilee” for the theatre of Ykspihlaja. The play was performed at the International Children’s Theatre Festival in Kuusankoski in year 2007.

–         Wrote a play “Pilven veli” for the theatre of Ykspihlaja and composed the theme. The play will be performed at the end of January 2009 at the Folk Theatre Festival in Mikkeli.