Wednesday's Muse Club
Winners of the Muusa Writing Competition
The evening kicks off with the announcement of the winners of the national Muusa Writing Competition. The competition’s head judge, author and stand-up comedian Matti Patronen, will explain the reasoning behind his selections. This year’s theme was “Hope.”
Pertti Rautiainen: Kiuruvesi a go go
Pertti Rautiainen’s poetry performance features bittersweet childhood and youth memories from Kiuruvesi.
Janne Kuustie: Punk Poetry & Stand-up Punk
Janne Kuustie presents previously unreleased material from the years 1979–1993, including works from bands such as Smuralaatio, Sestori Nestori, Hyvä Naapuri, Teds OK, Metsä, Kukkiva Tyhjiö, Schnagel, and Vox Flatus. Kuustie is especially known as the founder of Theatre Akseli Klonk and for having written and directed hundreds of productions. In 1982, at the age of 13, he won the Kankaanpää Secondary School poetry competition. He later sold the poetry book he received as a prize to a secondhand bookstore.
Music by KUIS?
KUIS? is a one-man psychedelic folk band led by Kuisma Korhonen — who has certainly earned his question mark. According to one review, on the album “every piece is in its place; even the smallest detail and syllable contributes to a greater whole.” In live performances, however, nothing stays in place — words and melodies collide restlessly, producing strange and unexpected combinations. This time, Kuisma will be joined on stage by multi-instrumentalist Aimo Huikka.
Aapo Kukko presents: Red Beethoven – A Graphic Symphony on the Life of Dmitri Shostakovich
Comic artist Aapo Kukko from Oulu will present his upcoming graphic novel, accompanied by projected visuals.
Set to be published in Oulu’s European Capital of Culture year 2026 by Zum Teufel, Red Beethoven is based on the life of Soviet composer Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975). The graphic novel spans decades, telling the story of the artist, his era, and his contemporaries—from the early days of the Soviet Union in the 1920s to the Brezhnev era in the mid-1960s. Central to the narrative is the artist’s relationship with power, especially with Joseph Stalin.
The presentation is brought to life by accordionist Anne-Mari Kanniainen and spoken word artist Lajune, the reigning Finnish champion of performance poetry. Together, they will perform a Shostakovich-themed piece.
The event is a co-production with the Oulunsalo Soi Chamber Music Festival. Aapo Kukko is the festival’s visual artist of the year for 2025, and his exhibition Red Beethoven will be on display at the Oulunsalo Library from August 7 to September 26. The Oulunsalo Soi Chamber Music Festival takes place August 6–10 across the Oulu region as part of the Oulu Festival Weeks.
