Rauma Blues organizers:
“We guarantee a great atmosphere”
Over the course of forty years, Rauma Blues has hosted quite a few international stars of the music genre.
– We’ve built up quite an impressive list of references. I wonder how many Grammy winners and nominees have visited Rauma, muses Hannu “Tunnu” Pärssinen, chairman of Rauma Blues.
In addition, practically all of Finland’s top blues artists have, of course, performed in Rauma. In recent years, several European bands and artists have also been booked to perform in Rauma.
– The US is, of course, the home of blues, but there are also some really good blues musicians in Europe. For example, Chris Cain was accompanied by an incredibly talented Italian band. Finland also has internationally renowned blues artists, says Vice Chairman Jyrki “Iiki” Lehti.
Rauma Blues is a member of the European Blues Union (EBU), which organizes the annual European Blues Challenge competition.
– Rauma has attracted German band Muddy What? and Dutch band Robbert Dujf Band, among others, says Pärssinen.
“We don’t have one main performer”
Unlike most other festivals, Rauma Blues does not promote one name over another in its marketing.
– We don’t have one main performer; instead, the audience gets to choose their own favorite. The program is always built as a whole. We have found a common thread. One Finnish artist, men and women, slightly different styles, and preferably one big band with wind instruments, summarizes Pärssinen’s approach to Rauma Blues.
“You can count on the artists being good”
Stadium-class global stars are simply not within Rauma Blues’ budget. Eric Clapton, for example, would have been a dream signing. One of the most famous guitarists, whose set list always includes blues classics.
Pärssinen and Lehti have not let this bother them. An excellent blues festival can be put together even with a smaller budget. Rauma Blues has proven this time and time again for decades.
– You don’t necessarily need to know all of our performers in advance. But you can be sure that the artists are good. Every booking has been carefully considered, justified, and is suitable for our event. We guarantee that blues always has a good vibe, Pärssinen emphasizes.
In a way, it’s the same as the pride of a small town, the Rauman Lukko ice hockey team. The Finnish league doesn’t attract the brightest NHL stars, but there are plenty of good players. Finns, Europeans, and North Americans. The games are high-level and entertaining. The stands are full, the atmosphere is good – and Lukko has even won the Finnish championship.
Pärssinen and Lehti have been involved in the Rauma Blues organization almost from the beginning. Jouko “Jokke” Viljanen and Juhani “Jussi” Ignatius also have extensive experience. Eemeli “Eppu” Pärssinen, son of Tunnu, and Antti Lehto bring a more youthful perspective to the board’s work.
American fell in love with Rauma right away
American Amos Harvey first came to Rauma in the late 1990s, first as T-Model Ford’s tour manager and then with Kenny Brown and Paul “Wine” Jones. After that, the Rauma Blues board asked Harvey to help book American artists.
– I was happy to help, because I immediately fell in love with Finland, and especially Rauma. My first bookings were Snooks Eaglin and Sonny Landreth in 2001. Since then, I’ve only missed three festivals in Rauma, says Harvey.
What has kept Rauma Blues going strong for 40 years?
– The secret to its longevity is Rauma Blues’ open-mindedness, professionalism, and how artists and volunteers are treated. Teamwork makes for a fun, safe, and entertaining event, Harvey replies.
He thinks it’s great to see that the Rauma festival audience also wants to get to know new artists.
– I like that we don’t just chase big names every year. The future of music isn’t just in them. It would be a disservice to music and the audience to close the doors to performers who interpret blues in a new way, Harvey says.
“Finland’s most important blues festival”
Pertti Nurmi, Vice President of the European Blues Union, has been photographing blues gigs for over 50 years. At home, he has a collection of around 13,000 blues albums.
– In my opinion, Rauma Blues is Finland’s most important blues festival”, appraises Nurmi.
Aimo Ollikainen is an active member of Finnish blues circles. For example, he has always been present at the European Blues Challenge competitions. He holds Rauma Blues in high regard.
– Rauma Blues has remained a blues event, but it has been able to renew itself appropriately, Ollikainen says.
Journalist Johnny-Kai Forssell has been present at all of Rauma Blues’ main concerts. He credits the event’s longevity to its sense of community.
– Rauma Blues has not crossed any boundaries. It has remained a blues festival, true to its name, says Forssell.
Musicians appreciate being looked after
Antti Lehto, who has picked up Rauma Blues artists from the airport for many summers, has been left with a good impression of his passengers.
– Quite a few of them are in Finland or even Europe for the first time. At least the artists I’ve met have been nice guys. They’re hard workers who appreciate being taken care of. One musician even praised the organizers: “These guys treat us like human beings”, Lehto says with a laugh.
There are stories in the industry about picky and temperamental stars. We’ve had to make adjustments with a few artists in Rauma, but for the most part, “anything goes.”
– Once, my car turned out to be too small when one of the musicians unexpectedly brought his wife along. She agreed to travel from Helsinki to Rauma, a three hour drive, in the back seat and didn’t make a fuss about it. Once all the restaurants in Rauma were already closed, so it was impossible to get a hot meal late at night. I showed the musicians the McDonald’s menu, placed an order, and went to pick up hamburgers for a late-night snack, tells Lehto.
Welcome to the city of blues
The main concert of Rauma Blues has been held in several locations in Rauma. In recent years, the festival has been held in Parpansali Park along the canal in the city center. A large tent with a capacity of approximately 2,000 spectators is erected in the park for the duration of the event.
Rauma Blues is much more than just the main concert on Saturday evening in the Parpansali tent. Before the grand finale, several club gigs are held in different parts of the city.
– Restaurants have commendably joined in the effort. This gives the event and its supporters more visibility. The club gigs attract customers to Rauma even before Saturday, tells Tunnu Pärssinen.
For the past two summers, the blues parade has attracted large crowds to the streets of downtown Rauma. The parade stopped occasionally to play music on restaurant terraces, for example.
Rauma can rightly be called a blues city. In recognition of this, the city of Rauma awarded Rauma Blues its most prestigious award, the Meripojat Prize, in 2023. City Council Chairman Otso Huuska praised Rauma Blues as “an excellent example of community spirit as a strength that develops the city.”
Bus transportation from Pori and Turku will be available to the Rauma Blues main concert again this year.
– You can easily reserve your seat online, says Jokke Viljanen, secretary and logistics manager of Rauma Blues.
They have also performed in Rauma
Foreign blues artists who have graced the stage at Rauma Blues include The Mannish Boys, Chris Cain, Buckwheat Zydeco, Irma Thomas, Sue Foley, North Mississippi Allstars, Snooks Eaglin, Dr. John, Sonny Landreth, Solomon Burke, Jody Williams, Robert Randolph, Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton, Candi Staton, Little Freddie KIng, Mr. Sipp, Hubert Sumlin, Bobby Rush, Magic Slim, Heritage Blues Orchestra, Rod Piazza, Jelly Roll All-Stars, Southside Johnny, Roy Rogers, Robert Lockwood Jr and Robert Finlay.
