LIVE REPORT: Johanna Kurkela - Joulun Lauluja
Tuomiokirkko, Tampere; December 7th, 2024
Return of the international fans!
Ever since I learned that Johanna Kurkela exists, via acts like Auri, Altamullan Road, and Eye of Melian, I’ve become more and more interested in her as an artist because she has such a diverse discography. However, amongst her albums, something that I have not yet listened to was her Christmas albums, as I was overloaded on Christmas music in my youth and tend not to listen to much of it beyond the odd Raskasta Joulua album and the Trans Siberian Orchestra nowadays. However, since she’s one of the most unique and talented vocalists in Finland right now (and because a bunch of friends and acquaintances from abroad were also coming), I thought I had best check out at least a couple of them to eradicate the old curmudgeon from my bones. I attended the shows in Tampere on December 7th and Lappeenranta on December 8th, but since Lappeenranta was the final show, I’ll be telling you about Tampere and letting Kathy Criswell tell you about the Joulun Lauluja tour finale!
Stay tuned for the Off the Record Christmas Special Interview with Johanna Kurkela, Timo Kurkela, and Troy Donockley on December 20th!
Now, as I briefly mentioned, I have to confess that I’m not someone who actually likes Christmas music. Part of that is because I’m a dirty old hippy who’s opposed to organized religion and the way that the holiday has turned into a consumerist wasteland with a mascot created by an evil corporation. Part of it is just because I was overloaded by North American malls blasting tacky Christmas music nonstop in my youth. However, the one thing that I do love about Christmas is the idea of bringing family together, relaxing, and reconnecting, and that seems to be the main thing that Johanna Kurkela, Timo Kurkela, and Troy Donockley were promoting with this tour: warmth, love, and family. So, for these guys? I’ll make an exception, doubly so when I was pretty sure that they wouldn’t be playing too many North American songs.
Images by Joanna Orchide (IG @joannaorchidephoto)
The other nice thing about going to Christmas shows was the opportunity to visit some churches that I’ve never been to before. I’ve only been inside Tampereen Tuomiokirkko [Tampere’s doom church] once before, but it’s always been my favorite church in Finland because it’s built like an old stone castle from the outside. The inside also features some really fantastic frescos from Hugo Simberg, whom Nightwish fans would know for painting The Winged Angel, which inspired the music video for “Amaranth.” There’s even a fresco replicant of that painting on the upper level of the church. Personally, even though they’re the simplest, I love the wings that are all over the ceiling best, alongside the snake with the apple in the center.
So, this chaotic journey began by picking up four people from the airport, two of whom had flown in from overseas, and one of those two had literally just flown in overnight for the show from the US (damn, guy!) and eventually led to a crowd of around ten to fifteen people from all over the world (Canada, America, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Netherlands, etc.) gathered outside an hour before the show to make sure they’d all get to be in the front row. We were fortunate to join them before the queue filled up.
Now, where to start? We all knew this tour was going to be pure magic and we got exactly what we hoped for. Johanna outshines any Disney princess with how incredibly she sings and behaves (and plays violin), while Timo Kurkela and Troy Donockley were the perfect accompaniments for her, with the variety of skills and vocal talent that they both have. Throughout the night, Timo was mainly on guitars, backing vocals, and keyboards, while Troy had a variety of pipes and flutes, as well as a guitar and what I’m quite sure was a mandolin of some sort, possibly a bouzouki?
Speaking of magic, the music was amazing. Yes, me, the one who doesn’t like Christmas music, is saying that it was absolutely wonderful. Hearing “Enkeli taviaan (Finlandia)” accompanied by the Uillean pipes, for example, was so cool and such a unique way to hear the song. They also played a collection of what turned out to be some of the best songs from Johanna’s own Christmas albums, like “Lyhty,” “Kotiin,” and “Karhuveljeni.” There were also a few familiar songs, most of which were Finnish translations, and some choice personal favorites of the band, like what I think was a beloved grandfather’s favorite Christmas song, “Maa on niin kaunis,” while Troy had mentioned during the interview how much he loves, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”
“When You Wish Upon a Star” from Pinocchio was adjoined to “Somewhere in My Memory,” which I think is one of the songs in which Johanna also played the violin. I believe “One Toy Soldier” was originally an Enya song, so that was fun, and Troy told a really interesting story about how the song “Personent hodie” is very well known in parts of the UK, while it’s not at all known in Finland, yet he had recently learned that the song seems to find its origins in Finland. The final song was a lovely rendition of the Finnish version of “Silent Night”: “Jouluyö, juhlayö.”
The stage setup was also phenomenal. It seems they were working with Space Zoo once again, who also did the lights during the Altamullan Road tour and blew our fragile minds with how phenomenal he made everything look. This time, there were a variety of different candle lanterns stylishly dotted around the stage, as well as two honeycomb lamps, creating a lovely and mystical effect, all while making everyone look warm and wholesome, especially highlighting the amazing white gown Johanna was wearing.
There’s also one very special thing about watching Johanna Kurkela perform that I wanted to mention. If you read my reviews, you’ll sometimes note that I will pay attention to how certain songs might feel live, and I am more inclined to think they’re rather contrived if I can’t imagine the vocalist getting emotional performing it live. Well, Johanna’s emotions shined through the entire show from start to finish every time and if you’re sitting close enough to the front, you might even catch a glimpse of some tears. There’s absolutely nothing fake about her performances, you can feel all of the warmth and sincere joy of Christmas spirit radiating out of her. She also had the time to take, while the others were doing instrumental parts, to look around the crowd and see everyone’s faces and have small moments of connection with everyone.
Images by Joanna Orchide (IG @joannaorchidephoto)
So, yes, once again, it was a very special and magical night in the presence of Johanna, Timo, and Troy and their wonderful music. It was diverse, it was sweet, it was wholesome, it was beautiful… it was exactly the sort of show that will fill you up with good spirit for the holiday season. What a bonus, too, that it had recently snowed, so that we were able to see these beautiful churches in a winter wonderland during these shows. Hopefully they had as wonderful a time as we did and will continue to do more events like this in the future.
And do stay tuned for Kathy’s report on the Lappeenranta show, because, if Tampere was great? Lappeenranta was top-tier!
Setlist
Enkeli taivaan (Finlandia)
Oi joulunajan ihmiset (Wexford carol)
Lyhty
In the Bleak Midwinter
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Gaudete
Maa on niin kaunis
When You Wish Upon a Star // Somewhere in My Memory
One Toy Soldier
Three Ships
Kotiin
Karhuveljeni
Personent hodie
Ilta saapuikin niin äkkiä
Prinsessalle
Jouluyö, juhlayö (Silent Night)
MORE: On the Record with Auri (2018); Off the Record with Altamullan Road (2024); On the Record with Altamullan Road (2020); Off the Record with Timo Kurkela (2024); Guest Interview with Altamullan Road (2024); Live Report: Altamullan Road Kitee (2024); Live Report: Altamullan Road Hyvinkää (2024); Live Report: Altamullan Road Porvoo (2024); Travel Blog: Altamullan Road in Kitee (2024); Guest Travel Blog: Altamullan Road in the Netherlands (2024); Guest Travel Blog: Altamullan Roat pt.1 (2024); Guest Travel Blog: Altamullan Roat pt. 2 (2024); Guest Travel Blog: Altamullan Road pt. 3 (2024); Gathering of Geeks - Trivia Showdown ft. Eye of Melian (2024); Guest Listen Back: Auri I (2024)
Enjoy Bear’s writing? Consider joining her mailing list to keep up-to-date!