Jantso Jokelin & Esa Kuloniemi

Musical encounter of two roots explorers at Ylläs Jazz Blues! Jantso Jokelin, known for his elegant folk blues, will be joined for select special gigs by the Blues Minister Esa Kuloniemi himself.

In spring 2025, Jantso Jokelin made Finnish roots music history by winning the European Blues Challenge’s solo special award in Split, Croatia. Jokelin is a master of the harmonica, slide guitar, and beatboxing, as well as an expressive singer and storyteller, for whom blues is not only world music but also intimate poetry.

Esa Kuloniemi, belonging to the highest caliber of roots music, is known from bands such as Honey B & T-Bones and Aija Puurtinen & Brooklynin Satu. A gifted instrumental interpreter and deep connoisseur of rhythm music, he has delivered popular blues special programs on Yle’s radio frequencies for 37 years.

The duo will take Jokelin’s and Kuloniemi’s music to new dimensions, along with selected classics of blues spiced with surprises.