Some of the most soulful big-name acts performed at the main event of Pori Jazz Festival from Thursday to Saturday at Kirjurinluoto Concert Park (Kirjurinluoto Arena) in Pori. The weather alternated between rain and sunshine but the concerts attracted a total crowd of 55,600.
To name a few, Joss Stone, Lauryn Hill, Average White Band and Charles Bradley pulled off amazing gigs and the British soul sensation, Seal, finished off the Saturday concert with one of the most amazing vocal performances I’ve ever heard live.
Pori Jazz, which at present lasts for nine days, is one of the pioneering music festivals in Finland and one of the oldest jazz festivals in Europe, having been arranged yearly since ’66. The venue for the main event, Kirjurinluoto Arena, is the only open-air venue in Finland designed especially for concerts.
Here are the highlights of the main weekend in pictures.
Pictures: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today
Seal, the British soul singer, took the audience through a range of emotions. He was the headliner of Saturday evening at the Pori Jazz Festival on July 16 2016.
Joss Stone, another British master of contemporary soul, performing among the crowd.
Jazz and romance go hand in hand in Pori.
Lauryn Hill, the soul and rap icon, serenading the crowd as the headliner of Friday evening.
The crowd jamming and loving Lauryn.
A lady feeling the groove of the legendary Average White Band (AWB) on Saturday evening.
Fred Vigdor from the AWB, a wizard of the saxophone.
Average White Band is one of the most sampled funk bands in the history of rap music. In the picture, the vocalist, Brent Carter.
A mother enjoying a moment of privacy from her hectic family life, while her daughter and husband are waiting for her to return near the gates of the festival.
The American soul and funk band, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaries, brought the feel of funk and soul music from the ’60s and ’70s to the main stage of the festival early on Saturday evening.
Bradley, 67, knows how to entertain. “I love you,” he shouted between songs.
Bradley has lived through the hardships of life, from homelessness to losing his brother during a robbery. He started his career as a James Brown impersonator and recorded his debut ‘No Time for Dreaming’ in 2011.
Bradley’s voice is incredible, resembling the late James Brown and Otis Redding.
Seal opened with his ’90s hit “Crazy.”
“Love’s Divine,” made the crowd sway in place with tears in their eyes.
Seal praised Finland by saying “it’s good to be in your beautiful and peaceful country.”
“Oh my God, I love you, Seal!”
Seal asked the audience, whether they “drink?” “Yes!” the crowd shouted. “Maybe only a little? I was out running in the morning and everything was so clean,” he said and smiled.
Seal’s voice grabbed all the attention. He was accompanied only by a guitarist and two guys with laptops.
Seal increased the tempo in the end with “The Right Life.”
Seal ended his set, which lasted over one and half hours, with his most famous song “Kiss from a Rose.”
After Seal finished his set, most people started their journey to the city.
The last call for hot dogs.
Some of the last revelers crossing the bridge leading to the center.
A lady taking a breather on the way home.
-
The founder. The journalist, salesman and photojournalist. Contact: tony@finlandtoday.fi
View all posts