Marzi Nyman to Compose the Music for the Delta Life Spectacle

The piece will be composed for string quartet, electric guitar, big band and male choir.

Marzi Nyman will compose the music for the culminating event of the Delta Life project, part of Oulu August Festivals 2026.

“Multi-talented Marzi Nyman is capable of weaving together jazz, a lyrical national romantic musical language, and the carnival spirit that embodies the universal love of air guitar,” says Delta Life’s Artistic Director Jukka Takalo about the choice of composer.

The Delta Life Celebration Weekend on 28–29 August 2026 is one of the highlights of the European Capital of Culture year. The event stage will be built on water, at Oulu’s place of origin, in an amphitheatre-like natural setting—nature’s own opera house. Entry will be free for the audience.

The European Capital of Culture aims to inspire the creation of new ideas. The Delta Life stage production is a local fusion of influences ranging from the hills of Kainuu to jazz and international flavours. At the heart of the experience lies the music, performed by an exceptional lineup of artists including Mieskuoro Huutajat (Screaming Men's Choir), the string quartet Meta4, and the Oulu All Star Big Band led by Jukka Eskola. Choir conductor Petri Sirviö will compose a dedicated section for Mieskuoro Huutajat.

In the weekend’s show, Marzi Nyman’s role will be to lead the air guitar forces of the Western world in an attempt to seize the source of all knowledge—the modern-day Sampo and Holy Grail: the Cup of Word and Poetry.

The commissioned composition is part of the long-term Delta Life project by the Oulu August Festivals, culminating at the end of August 2026. Delta Life is united by water routes and their impact on human life—past, present and future. The concept emphasises encounters, innovation, and making art visible.

Since 2021, Delta Life art and events have taken place along waterways. In 2026, this artistic substance will be showcased during Oulu August Festivals and the Delta Life Celebration Weekend. The multidisciplinary and cross-artform Delta Life is produced in collaboration with numerous partners, ranging from local village communities to European metropolises.

Teosto has granted support for the composition. The extensive Delta Life programme within Oulu August Festivals has been funded by the Oulu Cultural Foundation, the Ministry of Education and Culture (OKM), the North Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre), the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia, as well as municipalities and businesses in the region.