The Oulu Culture Events Association, coordinating the Oulu August Festivals, has entered into an agreement with the Oulu Culture Foundation for a major event to take place during the European Capital of Culture year. The climax of the Delta Life project will occur at the end of the 2026 Oulu August Festivals on the last weekend of August.

The spectacle, taking place in the birthplace of the city around Pokkisenväylä, will weave together stories and future prospects of the region and European waterways into a multidisciplinary outdoor event. The event is free of charge, and the audience can participate in the amphitheater-like setting around Pokkisenväylä and throughout the city in a festival atmosphere.

Musician, singer-songwriter, author, and video artist Jukka Takalo serves as the scriptwriter and artistic director for the Delta Life project.

"The audience will experience a show happening on water and in the airspace, which can be participated in through multimedia globally. A significant motive for the entire Delta Life project is to make the life of the region visible and acknowledge the significance of our own stories. The style of the event is joy and carnival for world peace. It is better achieved with a smile than with gritted teeth," says Jukka Takalo about the plans.

The content and meaning of the Delta Life spectacle will be built in the preceding years through events, encounters of artists, scientists, communities, and various audiences. Delta Life events will take place not only in Oulu but also along the waterways of the region inland and across the seas worldwide.

"A significant investment also brings the responsibility for the creator to ensure that the journey and experience are truly meaningful for the soul, the heart, and the region," Takalo continues.

Oulu August Festivals with its partners produce the extensive Delta Life concept. Anu Lähteenmäki is the project manager responsible for the project at the Oulu Culture Events Association.

For the Oulu Culture Events Association, the Delta Life spectacle represents a significant opportunity for development. Implementing this large project strengthens the skills of the association's members and other event and cultural operators in the region, and it expands networks to an international level.

"Our goal is that after this project, both Oulu August Festivals and other third sector cultural operators in the region will be more competent and stronger. Our role as an association is to act as a facilitator and supporter, especially for smaller professional or aspiring operators. If successful, cultural activities in the region will be permanently more high-quality, diverse, and international after 2026. To achieve this, we naturally need collaboration at the local, national, and European levels," describes the association's executive director, Pia Alatorvinen, about the future.

As a collaborative partner in the project for Oulu August Festivals, the design and production company Sun Effects takes on a role specializing in the planning, production, and spectacular execution of audiovisual content.

"It is an honor to be involved in designing and executing the culmination of the European Capital of Culture year together with Oulu August Festivals and other stakeholders. Jukka Takalo's event concept is rich and multidimensional, fostering close collaboration around the local actors and region-specific narrative. This enables the realization of a unique, internationally acclaimed event. I believe that through the upcoming collaboration also with the regional creative industry, we will achieve something greater than a spectacle," says Matti Jykylä, the Artistic Director of Sun Effects.

Oulu was selected as the European Capital of Culture on June 2, 2021, and just the following week, the first Delta Life event took place on the Kiiminkijoki River, the Journey to Magical Martinniemi. Since then, there have been events large and small from the deltas to the sources on the Ii, Kiiminki, and Oulu rivers. Delta Life also visited the European Capital of Culture, Kaunas, in May 2022. In addition to the events of Oulu August Festivals this year, Delta Life is spotlighting young artists and exploring elements of literary arts in the Iijoki River and other areas.

Information about upcoming events can be found in English on the Oulu August Festivals website and social media. Information about the Delta Life project is also available at www.deltalife.fi. Background and atmosphere of the events is provided by the Northern Cultural Stream channel at www.pohjoinenkulttuurivirta.fi.

Folk music and dance carnival "Juuret" (Roots) has been chosen to the program for the 2024 Oulu August Festivals.

The event will take place in downtown Oulu and feature the folk music band Nope along with guest performers. The concert will include easy folk dances that the audience can participate in. The event will culminate in an exhilarating "huutokatrilli", which is a lively quadrille or square dance characterized by energetic movements and shouts.The exact date of the event will be announced later.

Nope is a folk music band from Oulu that has been performing at major folk music festivals in Finland for 10 years and has significant collaborations in folk dance.

Oulu August Festivals highlight the expertise of Oulu and northern artists and art organizations with 1–2 works/events. This year, the festival received 10 applications, from which the board of the Oulu Cultural Events Association selected "Juuret" to complement the entire program for the Oulu August Festivals.

Previously, the program has included tightrope dancing, aerial acrobatics, media art, theater, opera, immersive multidisciplinary works, urban adventures, and street theater.

Oulu August Festivals are looking for promising emerging artists from the Oulu2026 region for the documentary series "Artists Arise in the Delta" for the years 2024–2026. Artists from any artistic discipline, ranging from rock music to contemporary dance and photography to theatre, are encouraged to apply.

As part of Oulu August Festivals’ Delta Life project, the series follows the artists' journey towards Oulu 2026 European Capital of Culture year: will the young talents succeed in their efforts, what turns will life bring along the way, will opportunities open up for them to become professional artists, or do their life paths lead them in a different direction?

Materials from the project, including footage and interviews, will be used for social media content released throughout the journey. The overall experience will be condensed into a documentary series to be published in 2026. The project will culminate in the artists’ performances or exhibitions during Oulu August Festivals in 2026.

Apply or suggest a promising and interesting young artist or artistic group by the end of February 2024. Selections will be made by the end of March. Five artists/groups will be chosen based on the applications.

The application can be submitted through the form at: https://link.webropol.com/s/taiteilijasyntyysuistoon

Selected participants will receive:

Selection criteria:

What is Delta Life?

As part of the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture program, Delta Life project explores the birth of the city and culture along waterways from fells to the sea, utilizing scientific research results.

The artistic director for the project is musician, singer-songwriter, author, and video artist Jukka Takalo. The project is a collaborative effort, involving the festival network of the Oulu August Festivals and a broader group of cultural actors throughout the Oulu2026 region. More information about Delta Life can be found on the Oulu Cultural Events Association's website.

More information: Executive Director Pia Alatorvinen, pia(at)oulunjuhlaviikot.fi, +358 44 723 2676

The Delta Life airres of Oulu August Festivals will pop up during the hugely popular Lumo Light Festival in Oulu over the weekend. You can spot the mysterious creature both on the Renkkusilta Bridge and elsewhere in the delta.

Delta Life is an international project leading up Oulu 2026, European Capital of Culture. It culminates in a spectacular event throughout August 2026 in the delta.

Inspired by the muses of legends, Delta Life showcases the muses who once showed humans the birth of iron and were present when the text message was invented. Whether it's science, art, or any other human endeavor, the activities of innovative individuals require the presence of muses. The muses favor both spirit and practice and are particularly excited about the creation of something new. In Oulu, the muses are best known for Ilmatar, who has excelled not only in world creation but also as the protector of air guitar playing.

Renkkusilta, on the other hand, is the first precursor to the arena of the 2026 spectacle, with the scent of tar and tradition combined with modern life. You can follow the development of Delta Life on our social media channels: Oulu Festival Week and Northern Cultural Stream.

Draw:
You can also subscribe to our newsletter below. After Lumo, we will draw tickets for the August 2024 Oulu August Festivals events and 5 Oulu Festival Week t-shirts among all newsletter subscribers.

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Sähköpostiosoitetta käytetään Oulun juhlaviikkojen ja Oulun juhlaviikkoverkostoon kuuluvien festivaalien ajankohtaisista asioista, tapahtumista, tuotteista tai palveluista tiedottamiseen.

Voit peruuttaa tilauksen klikkaamalla peruutuslinkkiä viestiemme alalaidassa tai ottamalla yhteyttä info@oulunjuhlaviikot.fi. Lisätietoa saat nettisivuiltamme. Tilaamalla hyväksyt tietosuojakäytäntömme.

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Are you a visionary who knows popular culture and its new trends like the back of your hand? Do you want to get involved in putting together the programme for the world's oldest music video festival and helping develop the festival in an international direction?

Oulu Music Video Festival (OMVF) is the oldest music video festival in the world. Held annually in Oulu. The four-day festival features curated music video screenings, films, clubs, master classes, workshops and much more. As part of the Oulu European Capital of Culture 2026 project, OMVF is organising a Nordic music video competition in 2025 and a European music video competition in 2026.

Oulu Music Video Festival is looking for an Artistic Director to be responsible for the festival's programme in cooperation with the festival organisation. Their main task will be to put together the music video and film programme as well as the supporting programme. The artistic director also assists in the festival production. The job of Artistic Director requires vision, extensive knowledge of music videos and audiovisual culture and experience in programming.

We also value motivation, the ability to work independently, experience with associations as well as networks in the audiovisual sector. International connections are a plus. We also consider experience with event production as well as public speaking to be an advantage. 
The job is part-time 18,75 h/week from the first of March to the last of August and does not require living in Oulu. The Artistic Director must subscribe to the values of the association.

Send an application and CV by the tenth of January 16:00 to hakemukset@omvf.net. For more information about the position, please contact Inka Koutaniemi, Chair of the Board of Oulu Music Video Festival Association, on 23rd of Novemeber 17-19, 14th of Dcember 17-18.30 and 9th of January 17-19 tel. 050 41091876. Job interviews will take place in week 3.

Oulu August Festivals is looking for art for its program in August 2024.

Oulu August Festivals highlights artists and art organizations from Oulu and the northern region in its program. Artists can apply for the 2024 program until January 31.

In previous years, there have been tightrope dancing, aerial acrobatics, media art, theater, opera, immersive multidisciplinary works, urban adventures, and street theater.

Selection criteria for the 2024 application:

One piece will be selected. The production responsibility lies entirely with the creator/group. Oulu August Festivals supports the production with a maximum of 3000 euros. If there is an admission fee for the performance, tickets can be sold through Oulu August Festivals. Ticket revenue, after ticketing costs, will go entirely to the creator/group.

The piece will become part of Oulu August Festivals' joint marketing efforts, which are carried out by a team of professionals and include diverse campaigns across various channels. Additionally, depending on the nature of the work, there may be an opportunity to present the piece on the Northern Cultural Stream platform (www.pohjoinenkulttuurivirta.fi) and/or create a recording of the performance/artwork. Visibility on the Northern Cultural Stream will be agreed upon separately. Other assistance (communication, schedules, contacts, production support) will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

The application can be submitted at this link: link.webropol.com/s/ojvohjelma2024 (link goes to another site). The application form should include a work plan and budget for the project. The form will be open until January 31, 2024 at 23:59. The selection of the project will be decided by the board of the Oulu Cultural Events Association, and the applicant will be notified personally of the selection.

Oulu August Festivals has an Ekokompassi certificate and follows those principles in all of its operations. Oulu August Festivals is also a discrimination-free festival that adheres to the principles of creating a safer space. We expect these aspects to be taken into account in events included in the Oulu August Festivals' program.

More information: Producer Laura Siitonen laura(at)oulunjuhlaviikot.fi, p. 041 3135341

Air Guitar World Champion 2023 is Nanami "Seven Seas" Nagura from Japan. This is the third time she has won the title and she is now the most successful competitor in Air Guitar World Championships' history.

Aapo "The Angus" Rautio from Oulu, Finland made it to the second place. The third place went to last year's world champion Kirill "Guitarantula" Blumenkrats.

Results:

  1. Nanami "Seven Seas" Nagura (Japan) 35,8 points
  2. Aapo “the Angus” Rautio (Finland) 35,2 points
  3. Kirill "Guitarantula" Blumenkrats (France)  35,1 points
  4. Matt "AIRstotle" Burns (USA) 34,8 points
  5. Corentin “Airgus” Fermont (Belgium) 34,6 points
  6. Frederic "French Kiss" Reau (France) 34,4 points
  7. Bryan "Dirty Beaujolais" Antoine (Belgium) 34 points
  8. Vincent “Lord Scrat“ Roussel (France) 33,5 points


Audience favourite: Frederic "French Kiss" Reau (France)
This year the audience got to vote their favourite for the first time.

Photos and videos are available for media in media folder that is constantly updated. The photos from the final will be updated as soon as possible after the final has ended. The compilation video of the final will be available on Saturday 26th August, the latest at 12 PM. Photo credits: Roosa-Maria Kauppila/Oulu August Festivals. Video credits: Air Guitar World Championships.

MEDIA FOLDER

The evening was full of life, colours and energy on Friday August 25, when the 26th Air Guitar World Championships World Final took place in Oulu, Finland.

The Final was held in Oulu Rotuaari Square, which was packed with an audience of thousands of people.

There were 18 finalists in total, including Thursday's Dark Horses and the National Champions. The competition was separated in two rounds, with eight competitors making it to the second round.

The Final was hosted by the esteemed Master of Airemonies, Dan “Björn Türoque” Crane and Finland's very own Jani Kortti. The jury included Juha Torvinen (famous finnish guitarist from band called Eppu Normaali), Hanna Ikonen (the event's producer from 2017 to 2022), Sami Ylisaari (Oulu's Director of Culture), Anne-Maria Mäkelä (project manager at the Oulu Cultural Foundation) and Viera Karem (Startup Program Manager at BusinessOulu and Vice Chairman of the Association of Ukrainians in Northern Ostrobothnia). At Air Guitar World Championships 2023 we also saw the Acrobatic duo Kat & Jared performing their sexiest and most rocking acrobatics that were the cherry on top of the Finale.

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The Air Guitar World Championships has been organized in Oulu since 1996. It has become an international media magnet of good mood, built on the foundation of captivating and avowed enthusiasts around the world.

Air guitar playing is not instrumental sports or arts, nor does it require any special venues or skills, so it is accessible to all. Air guitar can be grasped regardless of gender, age, ethnic background, sexual orientation and social status. Air guitar playing is equal. The purpose of the Air Guitar World Championships is to promote world peace - according to the competition ideology, wars will end, climate change will stop and all bad things will vanish when all the people in the world play the air guitar.

The Air Guitar World Championships is organized and held by Airnest Productions Oy.

The Air Guitar World Championships World Final 2023 performance order is out now. Here are the 18 finalists in their performing order. Last night's Dark Horse's will be performing first, followed by the National Champions and world champion 2022.

DARK HORSES

1. Apolline “Lady Attila” Andreys (France)

2. Luke “Slam Cabbage “Sevcik (USA)

3. Brian “Hennessy Williams” Williams (USA)

4. Corentin “Airgus” Fermont (Belgium)

5. Aapo “the Angus” Rautio (Finland)

6. Nicole "Little Old Me" Sevcik (USA)

7. Alexis “Princess Balboa” Essadki (France)

8. Vincent “Lord Scrat“ Roussel (France)

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS & World Champion

9. Gergely "Gregory" Szentesi (Ireland)

10. Linnea "Mistrex Linn" Minin (Sweden)

11. Lloyd "Stonehenge" Weema (Sealand)

12. Matt "AIRstotle" Burns (USA)

13. Bryan "Dirty Beaujolais" Antoine (Belgium)

14. Martin "Shorty" Rüthschilling (Germany)

15. William "Billy Damage" Denton (Australia)

16. Nanami "Seven Seas" Nagura (Japan)

17. Kirill "Guitarantula" Blumenkrats (World Champion 2022) 

18. Frederic "French Kiss" Reau (France)

The World Final starts tonight 25th of August at 8 PM (EEST) @ Oulu Rotuaari Square. You can also watch the livestream on our webpage www.airguitarworldchampionships.com

This year the audience can vote their favourite. Voting starts AFTER the first round of the competition (at about 9.15 PM)  at: https://link.webropol.com/s/agwc23

8 air guitarists made their way to tomorrow's Air Guitar World Championships Final. The Dark Horses' Qualifying Round was arranged at 45 Special today, Thursday 24th of August, and in total there were 23 Dark Horses competing. From the wild, hot and airockin' qualifying round we see...

CONTINUING CONTESTANTS

Corentin Fermont Airgus            Belgium

Aapo Rautio      The Angus         Finland

Brian Williams   Hennessy Williams USA

Apolline Andreys Lady Attila       France

Alexis Essadki   Princess Balboa   France

Luke Sevcik      Slam Cabbage      USA

Vincent Roussel  Lord Scrat        France

This year also media got to choose its favourite. The media voted Nicole Sevcik, "Little Old Me" to the final.

The continuing contestants will face and challenge the official National Champions and the defending World Champion, Kirill “Guitarantula” Blumenkrants, in tomorrow's World Final.

The World Final is a celebration of love and peace

The Air Guitar World Championships Final will be held tomorrow, 25th of August in the Rotuaari Square, Oulu. The World Final starts at 08:00 PM and lasts approximately 2 hours. It will also be streamed live throughout our webpage!

The National Champions and Dark Horses will challenge the reigning World Champion, Kirill “Guitarantula” Blumenkrants. Only one of them can be the master of Air and leave the stage with the shiniest trophy. The winner will be awarded with a unique Flying Finn guitar, handmade by Matti Nevalainen.

The Final is hosted by the esteemed Master of Airemonies, Dan “Björn Türoque” Crane and Jani Kortti.  The World Final offers performances of the world’s best air guitarists and a magnificent show with a free entry - welcome!

Air you ready for this years Air Guitar World Championships? We sure are and the chosen National Champions of 2023 are even more enthusiastic to compete and show off in Oulu on 25th of August! This years national champions come from Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan,
Sealand, Sweden and the United States. These eight contestants will challenge the current champion Kirill "Guitarantula" Blumenkrats at Rotuaari on an unforgettable finale for this years championships!

This year the stakes are even higher as we have three two time world champions fighting for their third title, old air guitarists returning to Oulu and even new nations who have their champions rocking for the title of World Champion!

FRANCE
Last years World Champion Kirill "Guitarantula" Blumenkrats returns to Oulu to defend his title! Being an Air Guitar World Champion also from the year 2015, he is one of the three contestants competing to be the first three time World Champion!

The double French National Champion Frederic "French Kiss" Reau returns to Oulu once again to compete for the title of World Champion! Placing second on the last years championships, he sure is fighting for the title this year!

AUSTRALIA
Hailing from Perth, the most isolated capital in the world! William "Billy Damage" Denton has rocked the air guitar for 17 years, but this is his first trip to Oulu! This Aussie legend will set the stage aflame!

BELGIUM
The Belgian man of mystery Bryan "Dirty Beaujolais" Antoine is travelling to Finland to try and snatch the victory to Belgium for the first time! It's been 11 years since he was in Finland the last time.

GERMANY
It's been 12 years since the last German World Champion - will Martin "Shorty" Rüthschilling change that? He is coming in with a thirst for victory and a devilish grin.

IRELAND
Gergely "Gregory" Szentesi often finds himself in random situations - like flying over to Finland to play air guitar in front of the whole world! He has been preparing for the world stage meticuosly, so we are in for a show.

JAPAN
Nanami "Seven Seas" Nagura returns to Oulu with two world championship titles under her belt, she sure is hungry for the legendary position of being the first air guitarist with three championships!

SEALAND
Lloyd "Stonehenge" Weema is no stranger to air guitar having experience over the years. This year he's the first National Champion of Sealand to compete in the Air Guitar World Final!

SWEDEN
A fresh breeze from the north! As Sweden National Champion to join the Air Guitar family, Linnea "Mistrex Linn" Minin from Kiruna, Sweden.

USA
Winning his FIFTH national title this year, the two time World Champion Matt "AIRstotle" Burns, returns to Oulu!

... But the final gets even more exciting as the Dark Horse Qualifying Roundis being held at 45 Special on 24th of August! Who will join the champions and compete for the world championship title?

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