Mikko Iivanainen – Lullaby For Lost Souls

Mikko Iivanainen: guitars

The concert celebrates guitarist/composer Mikko Iivanainen’s new solo album ‘Lullaby For Lost Souls’, whose compositions the artist performs on both acoustic and electric guitar. Iivanainen also uses a lower-pitched baritone guitar and a looper in some electronic songs.

The new album was recorded in October 2022 entirely in one day. Almost all the songs are first takes. ‘I wanted as fresh, honest and live-sounding result as possible. Jyri Sariola of Mimix Studio was chosen as the recording engineer, who created great sounds for both acoustic and electric guitar.’

Music has a really big and varied meaning for me. Consolation is one thing I get as both a listener and performer. I feel some kind of responsibility to produce music in which this element would be present. The idea that we are not alone in this universe no matter how messed up the world around us is. If I can make even a small movement happen in one of the listeners, then I feel I have succeeded’.

Mikko Iivanainen is a versatile guitar artist known from many ensembles, who has recently collaborated with e.g. with Johanna Iivanainen, Maria Kalaniemi, Timo Alakotila, Edu Kettunen and Mika Kuokkanen.

The project as a solo artist started in 2019 and is characterized by an equal relationship between playing the guitar and composing. They are like two sides of a coin that feed each other. Iivanainen has previously released two solo albums: the prog-tinged ensemble album ‘Last Room’ (2014) and the solo guitar album ‘A River Runs Through It’ (2020).

Photo: Rene Jakobson

The concert is organized in cooperation with Viirus theater.

Tickets: Adults 15 €. Seniors, unemployed and members of Helsinki Jazz ry € 12. Students 10 €. For two 12 + 12 €. Advance ticket sales: Advance ticket sales: Viirus Theatre ticket sales

The concert is supported by City of Helsinki, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.