From the soothing sound of a telecaster to the calling of the herder instrument mänkeri, from the rumble of a frame drum to a free double bass solo. The aural visions range from 18th century dances to heavy breathing in hazmat suits.

The quartet was formed in Helsinki in 2016 and has since performed in Finland, Estonia, Norway, Hungary and Japan (live stream). Barlast has released two albums: Svanvik (2019) and Ihantola (2017). Barlast has been said to ”play their ethereal and expressive music so magnificently that the in principle challenging fusion of folk music, jazz and improvisation captures the listener” (Onni Rajaniemi, Kansanmusiikki magazine 2/2019).

Currently Barlast is collaborating with Nina-Maria Oförsagd on the cross-disciplinary projects Breaks at Dawn and Arrangement Non-existant and working on material for their third album.

• Philip Holm – double bass
• Heikki Hänninen – guitar
• Minna Koskenlahti – percussion, wooden flute
• Sanna Salonen – saxophone, clarinet, mänkeri

go to barlast.com