Live Review: Johanna Juhola Reaktori at The Junction

By Robert Burnham-Rusk

Painting a story with their music, Johanna Juhola Reaktori whisk the audience away in an emotion fuelled, musical journey, that visits both comedy and tragedy.

Johanna Juhola Reaktori are a Finnish quartet who explore many different styles and genres throughout their lively set. The group mix elements of traditional folk and tango with electronic drum beats, conveying musical storytelling with a catchy dance vibe. Johanna describes the band’s sound as “Fantasy Tango” and played her song Fantasiatango at the 2007 Eurovision contest held in Finland, receiving well deserved recognition for her innovative music.

Unsure of exactly what I was about to witness from the genre defying quartet hailing from Helsinki, I took to my seat, excited. The house lights dimmed and a video of an old black and white film was projected on to the curtain at the back of the stage. The band bounded over to their instruments, in brightly coloured, cartoonlike outfits and one by one joined in with the music from the video. I soon realised that this wasn’t just simply a gig; it was an artistic performance, a show, an experience.

Live Review: Johanna Juhola Reaktori at The Stables

By Charmaine White

I wasn't sure what to expect when I first sat down in the auditorium at The Stables in Milton Keynes. I'd never heard of Johanna Juhola until a few weeks ago, and tango music isn't my preferred choice of music, let alone Finnish tango. However, as the lights gently dimmed and the hall fell silent, there was no big entrance for this band. The quartet modestly took to their seats and with a nod to the audience, began doing what they do best. I was suddenly caught up in their talent. From Johanna Juhola's intricate finger work on the accordion, blended with an up-tempo bass line from Sara Puljula and the jazzy twinkling of Milla Viljamaa on the piano, pulled together by a tight electronic beat from Tuomas Norvio on the synth pad, the auditorium was suddenly brought alive by the sound of Finnish tango.

Live Review: Johanna Juhola Reaktori at NCEM

By Desmond Clarke

Surrealist, globetrotting folktronica is rather unsual fare for York’s National Centre for Early Music; so much so that the audience, while warmly appreciative, at times seemed slightly baffled by the manic, impish figure of Johanna Juhola and her garishly dressed band. The musicians’ easy banter and obvious engagement with their songs however soon won over the eclectic crowd as they led us boldly through the world of Finnish tango music.

Live Review: Johanna Juhola Reaktori at NCEM (2)

By James Cave

Accordion-playing has a long tradition in Finland. In the 1940s and 50s, accordionists rose to prominence providing improvised accompaniment for wrestling matches, at that time the nation’s favourite sport. A key skill was disguising the participants’ flatulence: players who could improvise a special effect at a potentially embarrassing moment were highly prized.

And Finns also love to tango. The dance was introduced to the country a century ago, and has proved enduringly popular, with one in fifty taking part in the largest annual tango festival.

But hang on - this picture of high-kicking and wild abandon doesn’t fit with my image of Finnish people as fundamentally serious? I’ve been to Helsinki on numerous occasions: in my (possibly limited) experience Finns like nothing more than to follow a dip in a freezing lake with a quiet evening-in reading philosophy. The typical Finnish busker is more likely to serenade you with the Sibelius Violin Concerto than ‘Poker Face’.

What the audience says: Johanna Juhola Reaktori

You so have to check out Johanna Juhola. She's on tour at the moment and it's just great music. And a great 'elf' suit.

a relentlessly enjoyable evening.

Something really special.

Finnish electro-tango in Dr Seuss costumes - brilliant!

So much fresh air from those bellows. Inspiring, congratulations to the whole band
 
We had such a great time last night. There was so much energy and passion emanating from you all... thanks for coming to us .

Live Review: Johanna Juhola Reaktori live at Rich Mix (2)

By Craig Macartney

A bright sun waking up frosty, sleeping conifers in a Finnish boreal forest. Or, Finnish optimism, a term coined by the band when rousing the crowd after their dreamiest number of the night. This was the overwhelming feeling I experienced when leaving Shoreditch’s Rich Mix venue after the first leg of Johanna Juhola Reaktori’s two-week UK tour. This Scandinavian four-piece, offering Finnish- and Argentinian-tango-inspired folk tunes with an electro twist, definitely brightened up East London on a dark, rain-soaked Tuesday night.

Arriving on stage dressed like flamboyant pirates, the band began their set with no introduction other than an old black and white film of Finnish singer Olavi Virta.  Johanna Juhola, the group’s frontwoman and composer swiftly joined in, accompanying the film with virtuosic twinklings on her accordion. 

Live Review: Johanna Juhola Reaktori at Rich Mix

Inspired By Winter

by Andrew Chua

What happens when you mix typical Northern European stoicism with a South American dance styles and bring it into the 21^st Century performance context? The answer is the Johanna Juhola Reaktori who provided some much needed injection of joy and light-hearted humour through an incredible sonic and visual performance to the watching audience at Rich Mix, London last Tuesday night.