Programme
Popkatu events are free of charge unless otherwise stated.
Tuesday 15 July
Kuhasalo, Kalmonkatiska
Kotapop
- Beautiful music by the campfire in the middle of Kuhasalo nature.
- 14.15 inkaliina
- 15.00 Niina Annika
- 16.00 Jenna-Marie Laine
Organised by Joensuun seudun luonnonystävät
Näyttämö
16–18 Contact improvisation jam
- Come the flow of movement! You can dance solo or in contact with others – always respecting your own and others’ space. All bodies welcome!
Organised by Liiketila-työryhmä
Sointula
19.00 Piano Concert
- A beloved piano artist Kemal Achourbekov has delighted audiences in Joensuu for decades in two legendary pubs – Sointula and Jokela.
18+
Age-restricted
Organised by Sointula
La Barre
- 19.00 Pub jam: Sing- & Play-Along
18+
Age-restricted
Organised by Pubijamit-ryhmä ja La Barre
Mayhem
19.00 MayThem sing – songwriters’ club
- A night for all songwriters! If you want to perform 1-2 of your own songs, you can sign up in advance (regina.launivuo@gmail.com) or take the stage during the open stage part at the end of the evening.
18+
Age-restricted
Organised by Regina Launivuo ja Mayhem
Wednesday 16 July
Ote Climbing Center
9–11 Lastenpop pre-party: Climbing
- Come and join in the fun and let your inner adventurer out! There will be staff guidance on climbing and side exercises. Children under 14 can try climbing free of charge (including shoe hire).
Organised by Ote Climbing Center
Poetry Park
- Poetry Park is a place to gather around literary art. Poetry Park features a piece by a performance and dance artist Roosa Raanoja, a performance by diarist Jemina Nyman and an installation by dance artist Roosa Raanoja. You can also pop by the Poetry karaoke in the Joensuu library bus Mysteeri where you can recite poems alone or in a group.
- 12–16 Poetry Karaoke
- 12–16 Roosa Raanoja: Of silence
- 13.00 Jemina Nyman: Text cocktail
- 14.00 Sanna Hirvonen: Exercise in rural embodiment
In cooperation with Vaara-kirjastot
Main library
VHS-klubi
- 15.00 Setting-up performance
- 16.00 Ville Färsaaret: A dive into the commercial 3D animation of the 90s and 00s
- 17.00 Lapin klöntti
Organised by VHS-klubi ja Vaara-kirjastot
PauMer Kehys
- Explore different visual arts techniques, new trends in interior design and make your own art.
- 13–18 Bob & Hörhöt
Organised by Paumer Kehys
Market Square stage
Toripop
- Wednesday’s Toripop concert features the dazzling Lyyti, poetry-rap artist Keiju and the British rock-inspired Päivän Sää.
- 15.00 Päivän Sää
- 16.00 Keiju
- 17.00 Lyyti
In cooperation with Joensuun kaupunkikeskustayhdistys Virta
Sointula
Sointula’s gigs
- The night features joku iiris, an artist oozing with black humour, and a long-time musician Jukka Nousiainen, who performs both solo and as a duo with joku iiris.
- 19.00 joku iiris duo
- 20.00 Jukka Nousiainen
18+
Age-restricted
Tickets 15 €
Tickets can be bought in advance starting on 15 July at 3 pm in Sointula, or at the door if tickets are available.
Organised by Sointula
In the city center
- after 18.00: A festival-themed dance performance by ISKY Street Crew
Organised by Itä-Suomen katutanssiyhdistys ja Joensuun kaupunki
La Barre
19.00 MEKASTUS
- An evening of experimental sound, buzzing noise and other broken soundscapes.
K18
Ikärajallinen
Organised by Lian Kutsu
Kerubi
Popkatu-klubi
- Wednesday’s Popkatu Club at Kerubi Hall features Jaakko Laitinen & Väärä Raha orchestra, who will take you for a wild ride to the sounds of Balkan and Finnish disco, Sonja Selene’s immersive storytelling where finnish indie meets the tunes of world music, and Hilavitkutin, a contemporary folk music band. Jaakko Laitinen & Väärä Raha concert also features dance artist Roosa Raanoja.
- 20.00 Hilavitkutin
- 21.00 Sonja Selene
- 22.30 Jaakko Laitinen & Väärä Raha
18+
Age-restricted
In cooperation with Kerubi and Fiktio ry
Thursday 17 July
Northern riverside park
10–17 Lastenpop
- Lastenpop has something for the whole family to experience and wonder.
Main library
VHS-klubi
- 12–18 Video workshop
- 15.00 VHS-klubi’s 10th anniversary lecture
- 16.00 Amurin Anna
- 17.00 Laser disk panel
- 18.00 Wrap-up performance
Organised by VHS-klubi ja Vaara-kirjastot
Market Square stage
Toripop
- Thursday’s Toripop features the Rovaniemi-based rock duo Baabelin Nulikat, known for their wild live performances that will lead their audience into a whirlwind of ecstasy.
You can also pop by the Toripop flea market where treasures, jewellery, kitchenware, books and many other second-hand items are waiting for a new owner. The flea market stalls will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis for sellers and the 9 € stall fee will be paid by card to the Market Supervisor. - 12–18 Toripop flea market
- 16.00 Baabelin Nulikat
In cooperation with Joensuun kaupunkikeskustayhdistys Virta
Sointula
17–19 Improklubi
- Improklubi is an improv club where you dive into the world of improvised music. During the evening, cellists Ville Lodders and Liisa Haapanen as well as double bassist Essi Hirvonen will take the stage.
- Ville Lodders
- Liisa Haapanen
- Essi Hirvonen
18+
Age-restricted
In cooperation with Sointula
Pedestrian street
- 17–18 Roda de capoeira
Organised by Capoeira Nórdica
Café Rento
Café Rento gigs
- Singer-songwriter Regina Launivuo’s every song is a monologue, affecting the listener with the miraculous power of words.
- 18.00 Regina Launivuo
Organised by Kahvila Rento
Kerubi
Popkatu-klubi
- Thursday’s Popkatu Club will immerse both Kerubi Hall and Basement with music! Dänkki Briha, a band that draws inspiration from the Ingrian-Karelian-Finnish tradition, wildly swinging rock band Satanen, and a local punk phenomenon Vanha tyttö will take the stage in Kerubi Hall. Kerubi’s Basement stage features 80s-inspired synth-pop band Modem, Tuhmat Tädit celebrating their 25th anniversary, as well as a tantalising medley of experimental burlesque. The evening will also feature artist Anne Salmi with her character Klovn (i).
- Hall
- 19.00 Vanha tyttö
- 20.30 Dänkki Briha
- 23.00 Satanen
- Basement
- 19.45 Tuhmat Tädit 25 years
- 21.30 Bouquet of experimental burlesque
- 24.00 Modem
18+
Age-restricted
In cooperation with Kerubi
La Barre
- 19.15 Metalnoia
- 20.15 Cobra Force
Tickets 10 €
18+
Age-restricted
Organised by La Barre
Friday 18 July
Café Rento
Café Rento gigs
- Singer-songwriter Sini-Mia performs songs about humanity.
- 18.00 Sini-Mia
Organised by Café Rento
Näyttämö
Popkatu-klubi
- Friday’s Popkatu Club at Näyttämö theatre features rock rebel Proto-Torvinen, hypnotic dream folk act Ptak, experimental and synthetic Kas Kan, longtime singer-songwriter V Härkönen and their noise project Le Kriz An, as well as Arjen miehet performing poetry in a soundscape. The evening will also feature the winner of 2025 Alanko katutähdeksi -street performance competition.
- 18.00 Arjen miehet
- 18.30 Ainner of the street performance competition
- 19.00 Ptak
- 20.15 V. Härkönen / Le Kriz An
- 21.30 Kas Kan
- 23.00 Proto-Torvinen
In cooperation with Näyttämö
La Barre
22.00 Surmakuja
- The special heavy music night features a Kuopio-based mordern metal band Self Enslaved and a melodic heavy metal band Burnclear formed in 2003.
18+
Age-restricted
Entry fee
Tickets (8/6 €) for Surmakuja are available at the door. Discount with SMC membership card or JEIS card.
Organised by Susiraja Metal Club
Organised by Susiraja Metal Club