Circusfolk - A Pop Fusion Orchestra

Circusfolk is a young Finnish prog band (they like to call themselves pop fusion, but prog is just as good) formed in 2004 to "rebel against all cheap, redundant and meaningless music". I first came across them a year ago in a small prog happening in Helsinki, where they played with Subspace Radio and Discordia. I'd never heard of them before so I couldn't prepare myself for the stunningly awesome show they gave (still the second best gig of all time on my lists). Since then I've seen them live about ten times, and bought their two EP's Circusfolk Comes to Town (2005) and The Progression Bell (2006) and their debut full length Making Faces released last tuesday. The brand new album was produced by the keyboard genius Tarmo Simonen from Overhead, with whom they've shared some gigs.

As their influences the band lists Rush, Porcupine Tree, Kingston Wall, Yes, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Liekki, Magyar Posse, Primus and Wigwam, and by combining all of them they manage to create a fresh and totally unique lightly humour flavored sound of their own.

Here's their myspace site with three songs from the new album and one from the first ep: http://www.myspace.com/circusfolkband (too bad they took off the band's title song from the second ep, it's my favorite song of their catalogue). Those songs are a pretty good example of their sound, but there are still more freaked out tracks waiting for those who buy the album...

I read the definition of Crossover prog, and it sounds very much like the correct place for Circusfolk.

My pleasure  I wouldn't put them to heavy prog, even though there are some heavier moments on the new album. Mostly their sound is still very light and clean.

Edited by Keppa4v - November 17 2007 at 07:30

I put the link in the Eclectic team thread as well... Listened to the band, and was very positively impressed. I am quite sure they'll get added one way or the other. Oh, and I loved their bio too... Whoever says Finns have no sense of humour must be out of their minds!

Ghost Rider wrote: I put the link in the Eclectic team thread as well... Listened to the band, and was very positively impressed. I am quite sure they'll get added one way or the other. Oh, and I loved their bio too... Whoever says Finns have no sense of humour must be out of their minds!

Great Their gigs at their best are very funny events (some say too funny) and after following them around at gigs for a year I've gotten to know the band and their manager pretty well personally, and I must say they're all wonderfully nice and warm people

If you need help I can submit information about their releases.

Circusfolk - Comes to Town (2005)

1. The Fool (5:28)
2. Strange Rhythms (6:28)
3. Horizons (3:10)
4. To the Blackening Sea (Part II of Miracle and Wonder) (5:37)

Total time: 20:43

Line-up:

- Ari Honkanen / vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, one-man choir
- Aatu Kettunen / electric guitars, devices
- Pekka Pietarinen / bass, vocals
- Daniel Porschen / drums

release information:

CDEP, 2005 Circusfolk



Circusfolk - The Progression Bell (2006)

1. Dead Waters HQ (9:05)
2. Ahven (1:14)
3. Haven (4:38)
4. Circusfolk (7:22)

Total time: 22:19

Line-up:

- Ari Honkanen / acoustic and electric guitars, voices, the Progression Bell
- Aatu Kettunen / electric guitars, devices
- Pekka Pietarinen / bass
- Daniel Porschen / drums, percussion
- Charlotta Falenius / viola

release information:

CDEP, 2006 Circusfolk




Circusfolk - Making Faces (2007)

1. Submarina (5:14)
2. If (3:20)
3. Step Away (4:30)
4. The Fool (6:22)
5. Where in the Outside in (3:19)
6. Haven (4:49)
7. Rhubarbed Wire (6:17)
8. Strangers (3:46)

Total time: 37:41

Line-up:

- Ari Honkanen / guitars, melodica, vocals
- Aatu Kettunen / guitars, vocals, distorted bass on 5
- Pekka Pietarinen / bass guitars
- Daniel Porschen / drums, backing vocals
- Charlotta Falenius / violin, viola

- Tarmo Simonen / organs and mellowsounds

release information:

CD, 2007 Pretty Little Hairdo Production, PLH-01




I took the liberty to replace their ever changing pseudonyms on the ep's with their real names to make it clearer that there hasn't been any major line up changes. They were credited with their real names on Making Faces. If this is not okay, let me know and I'll submit the fake names too.

No problem at all I'll see if I have some time tomorrow to start writing...

and added...

http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3327

working on the albums now...

Keppa4v wrote: Sorry I was away, but it seems you've found everything needed. Where did you find the biography text?

swiped it from the myspace site... if you have a better one or a more personal one... send it to me and I'll replace it.


Edited by micky - November 25 2007 at 12:49

Keppa4v wrote: Oh, they've replaced the old one then. I think this new story is the best one I've heard, so better leave it.

I liked it ...it was sort of poetic..definitely  better than the bland sh*t I would have come up with.  Look forward to your reviews.. might order that album from their website... or see if they'll ship me a freebe... I'll promote myself to owner or admin for a day