Mojakka & Domhnach Dubh

dublin | arts and media | event notice Wednesday September 06, 2006 21:10 by Spud Murphy - gzdublin

Cobblestone, Smithfield 5pm Sunday 24th September

Afternoon Gig of Finnish & Irish Folk Music

MOJAKKA started in 2002 as a Hiski Salomaa cover band. He was a Finn who emigrated to America. A leftist military objector and IWW member, he entertained at Finnish ex-pat venues in New York in the 1920’s and 30’s. Some of his politics can be heard between the lines, but mainly it was and is party music.

Mojakka began with vocals, accordian, guitar, flute and drums. Since then the line-up has grown to a nine piece with mandolin, violin, double bass and a second guitarist. Their musical repertoire has grown also to include some jazz, tango, rock, a lot of old finnish punk classics, and all kinds of weird and wonderful music

Humppa is a type of dancing music from Finland, related to jazz and very fast foxtrot, played two beats to a bar. In Finnish language, the word humppa can also be used for all social dancing.
Social dancing in Finland fell into decline due to new modern dances that were danced alone. Social dancing however never died and humppa has maintained an important role in the Finnish culture.