America Braces for Finnish Psych-Folk Invasion

Beginning this week, the Finnish psych invasion will become more than just outrageously expensive import prices and inscrutable accent marks for us Yanks, as some of the finest from the Nordic nation embark on a US trek. The "Voyages on Vinlandia (Part One)” tour will feature a rotating line-up of Finnish psych bands and a handful of American groups cut from the same tattered paisley cloth. Among others, Finland's Pekko Käppi (Stosuy: “Could be a field recording from a century ago. Stunning intensity from such a minimal set-up”), Islaja (“deceptively simple, fractured bedroom folk that's understated and ambitiously dismembered”), Lau Nau (“a scruffily polished singer/songwriter, one unafraid to trip between airy lullabies, eerie rambles, and Angus Maclise fireside jams”), Kuupuu (“blending vocalizations with drone and acoustic instruments to create a phantasmagoria”), and Taikuri Tali will team up with Wisconsin's Davenport Family and SoCal's the Skaters. Madison-based label 23 Productions put the whole shindig together, and a few holes are still in the process of being filled. For now, here's how it shakes out:

08-25 Brooklyn, NY - Tommy's Tavern (Islaja, Lau Nau, Kuupuu, Pekko Käppi, Tomutonttu)
08-26 Boston, MA - P.A.'s Lounge (Davenport, Feathers, Kuupuu, Islaja, Lau Nau)
08-27 Boston, MA - Nom D'Artiste (Black Forest/Black Sea, the Skaters, Hertta Lussu Ässä, Pekko Käppi, Tomutonttu)
08-28 Montague, MA - Montague Bookmill (Davenport, Black Forest / Black Sea, Islaja, Lau Nau, Kuupuu, Pekko Käppi, Tomutonttu)
08-30 Portland, ME - The Church (Davenport, the Skaters, Hertta Lussu Ässä, Pekko Käppi, Taikuri Tali)
08-31 Portland, ME - the Church (Black Forest / Black Sea, the Visitations, Islaja, Lau Nau, Tomutonttu, Kuupuu)
09-01 Providence, RI - TBA (Davenport, the Skaters, Hertta Lussu Ässä, Pekko Kappi, Tomutonttu, Taikuri Tuli, the Skygreen Leopards)
09-02 Providence, RI - AS220 (Davenport, Pekko Kappi, Islaja, Lau Nau, Kuupuu, Tomutonttu)
09-03 Philadelphia - 2037 Frankford Ave. (Davenport, the Skaters, Islaja, Lau Nau, Kuupuu, Pekko Käppi, Fursaxa)
09-04 Baltimore - TBA (Davenport, the Skaters, Hertta Lussu Ässä, Tomutonttu, Taikuri Tali)
09-05 Chapel Hill, NC - The Nightlight (The Skaters, Davenport)
09-06 Ashville, NC - Harvest Records (Leannan Sith, the Davenport Family, Islaja, Lau Nau, Kuupuu, Tomutonttu)
09-07 Knoxville, TN - the Pilot Light (Davenport, Islaja, Lau Nau, Kuupuu, Tomutonttu)
09-08 Nashville, TN - TBA (Davenport, the Cherry Blossoms, the Skaters, Hertta Lussu Ässä, Tomutonttu, Taikuri Tali)
09-09 St Louis, MO - Spooky Action Palace (Davenport, Islaja, Lau Nau, Kuupuu, Owl Politics, Navy Black,)
09-10 St Louis, MO - The Hi Pointe (The Skaters, Raglani, Burning Star Core, Hertta Lussu Ässä, Tomutonttu, Taikuri Tali, )
09-17 Madison, WI - Nottingham Coop (Davenport, Islaja, Lau Nau, Kuupuu, Tomutonttu, Taikuri Tali)
09-18 Chicago, IL - The Empty Bottle (Davenport, Islaja, Lau Nau, Kuupuu, Tomutonttu)
09-18 Chicago, IL - Reckless Records (Lau Nau, Hertta Lussu Ässä, Tomutonttu, Taikuri Tali)

* Pekko Käppi: http://www.dlc.fi/~hhaahti/267lattajjaa/ltj-14.htm

Tomutonttu: http://www.kemiallisetystavat.com/tomutonttu/
Islaja: http://www.islaja.com/
Kuupuu: http://www.mixoftheweek.com/kuupuu/
Lau Nau: http://www.locustmusic.com/launau.html
Taikuri Tali: http://www.deepturtle.net/rauha.html
Davenport: http://www.23productions.net/davenport/
The Skaters: http://naturetapelimb.0catch.com/.htm