What happens when the water begins to stir after a long winter? Vesivuosi takes the Kven spring and the spring thaw as its starting point, when the ice melts and water once again finds its way. This image also reflects the journey of the Kven language and cultural expressions today.

The concert explores Kven identity through an encounter between music and poetry. The music is based on recordings of Kven songs made for Tromsø Museum in the 1950s and 60s. Through modern arrangements, improvisation and a clear grounding in traditional music, the ensemble explores what Kven music can be in our time.

Poetry and improvisation

Poet M. Seppola Simonsen reads their own poems during the concert. They made their debut with Hjerteskog / Syđänmettä and were awarded the Tarjei Vesaas First Book Prize in 2022 and the Havmann Prize in 2023. Together with the musicians, they create a space for reflection, where language, sound and silence are allowed to exist side by side.

Vesivuosi is one of the projects to have received the UiT Grant 2026, part of the collaboration between UiT The Arctic University of Norway and the True Northern Arts Festival. Here, new voices and artistic projects are brought into the festival programme.

This concert is for you if you:

• are curious about Kven art and culture
• enjoy poetry in dialogue with improvised music
• want a reflective and sensory concert experience