NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, Sept. 18.
SEQUIM — Finland’s folk duo Vellamo — named after the mythical Finnish goddess of the sea — will bring their songs to the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave., tonight.
Admission is free to the 6:30 p.m. concert with Vellamo singer Pia Leinonen and guitarist Joni Tiala, who offer songs in Finnish and English, along with music from the Celtic and Scandinavian folk traditions.
While Leinonen is originally from the Arctic region of Lapland, the duo is based in the port city of Kokkola on Finland’s west coast.
It’s Tiala’s hometown, the place where he took up guitar as an 11-year-old boy. These days he is also a theater and session player and a member of the Finnish progressive rock band Moonwagon.
Working with Leinonen in Vellamo, Tiala’s known for a retro sound reminiscent of Judy Collins and Richard and Mimi Farina. And Leinonen, with her ethereal style, has been compared to other story-centric performers such as Joan Baez.
The duo travels the world; Sequim is on their seven-week U.S. tour to 20 states for 20 shows.
Some library services will be available during today’s after-hours concert.
To find out more, see the North Olympic Library System website, www.nols.org and select “Events” and “Sequim,” or contact the library at 360-683-1161 or Sequim@nols.org.
