Ánnámáret & Ilkka Heinonen selected for Folkelarm 2026 showcase programme

Ánnámáret & Ilkka Heinonen have been selected for the official showcase programme of Folkelarm 2026 in Oslo.The duo will perform at Riksscenen in November, presenting their unique meeting of Northern Sámi yoik and the Karelian bowed lyre, jouhikko.

The selection is an exciting recognition for the newly reactivated duo, whose music brings together two distinct northern musical traditions in a sparse and intimate setting. Ánnámáret’s yoik and Ilkka Heinonen’s jouhikko create a dialogue between voice and instrument, tradition and contemporary expression, Sápmi and Karelia.

More than 170 artists applied for a place at Folkelarm 2026, making the selection an important opportunity for the duo to introduce their music to an international folk music audience. Folkelarm brings together artists and music professionals from the Nordic countries and beyond, offering showcase artists opportunities to meet festival programmers, agents, presenters and other industry professionals.

Ánnámáret & Ilkka Heinonen. Photo credits Ilkka Heinonen.

A meeting between yoik and jouhikko

Ánnámáret & Ilkka Heinonen is rooted in the musical landscapes of Sápmi and Karelia. Sámi musician and yoiker Ánnámáret draws deeply from North Sámi yoik tradition and her own cultural heritage, while Ilkka Heinonen brings the distinctive, resonant sound of the Finnish-Karelian jouhikko. Together, they explore what can emerge when two traditional musical languages meet without losing their individual character.

The duo’s first single, “Čoarveoaivi,” was released in May 2026. The piece is based on an old reindeer yoik and reflects the central role of the reindeer in Sámi life and culture. The sound of the jouhikko adds another layer to the musical landscape, evoking the fells, snow and rocky landscapes of the North.

A full album by Ánnámáret & Ilkka Heinonen is currently in preparation.

For Ánnámáret, the collaboration continues her artistic work with Sámi musical heritage while opening a new space for dialogue with other northern folk traditions. For Heinonen, the jouhikko becomes part of a musical encounter with Sámi yoik that is both rooted in tradition and open to new forms.

Folkelarm in Oslo

Folkelarm 2026 will take place at Riksscenen in Oslo on 19–22 November. The annual event is one of the key meeting places for Nordic folk music, bringing together artists, the music industry and audiences around concerts, showcases, seminars and networking.