Polka Chicks
The ”Polka Chicks” is an energetic folk music duo from Finland. Fiddler Kukka Lehto and accordionist Teija Niku revel in picking through the dusty shelves of folk tune archives to find hidden musical gems and then polish them anew in a uniquely Polka Chick way. They also compose their own music. Kukka and Teija enjoy the extremes in music – they share a love for dynamic, almost impossibly fast polkas but they do have a tender side as well, which they're not afraid to show in songs filled with emotion and experiences from everyday life.
Previously known as a trio, the Polka Chicks was chosen ”Band of the Year” at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival in 2009. That same year their self titled debut recording was released by Ääniä Records. During the years 2004 through 2009, the band performed in many festivals as well as private events in Finland and also toured in the USA, Denmark, Russia and Germany.
Since 2010, Kukka and Teija have continued their work as the Polka Chicks duo, playing succesful concerts in Finland, Germany, Croatia, Sweden and the USA.Their new cd "Viulu ja viinantilkka" (A fiddle and a drop of liquor) was released in August 2011.
Read about the new Polka Chicks cd here!
Kukka Lehto
Fiddle, mandola, voice
Kukka Lehto has studied in both Helsinki Pop & Jazz Conservatory and at the Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department. She is known for her ability to play in a range of styles from bluegrass and folk to classical music and pop. Kukka works as a musician at the Helsinki City Theatre. She also tours with various bands (e.g. Ruuti, Hilja Grönfors, Katriina Honkanen, Erin, Jari Sillanpää) all over the Europe and has contributed to a number of recordings in the course of years. |
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Teija Niku
2-row diatonic accordion and 5-row chromatic button accordion, voice
Teija Niku is an accordion player with extensive experience in performing ever since she was 7 years old. She has graduated from the Sibelius-Academy Folk Music Department in 2009. During her studies Teija specialised in folk music from the Balkan area and Nordic countries, but her wide repertoire includes also tango, French musette, schlager, etc. Teija has reached the second prize in the Golden Accordion competition in 2000 and first prize in the Finnish 2-Row Accordion Folk Championship in 1996 and 1998. She has had the honour to learn from great accordion masters such as Lelo Nika, Sasko Velkov and Maria Kalaniemi. Teija plays in bands such as Teija Niku & Grupa Balkan, Karuna and Polka Chicks and does a lot of freelance work with different kinds of duos and trios. She also teaches folk accordion at the Käpylä Music School and Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department in Helsinki. www.teijaniku.com |
