Union Theater presents Varttina and Reptile Palace Orchestra

Voted by the Utne Reader one of the “Most Exciting, Soulful Artists of 2003,” the Finnish group Varttina performs in the Wisconsin Union Theater on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m. The show is followed by a dance party, free to ticket holders, with Madison’s own world music phenom, Reptile Palace Orchestra.

Varttina originated in 1983 in the village of Rääkkylä in Karelia, where 15 young girls sang and played traditional Karelian and Finno-Ugric folk music, some dating back thousands of years. It transformed into a group of young women who weave traditional music with rocking beats. Its groundbreaking 1991 Oi Dai album, which became an instant smash hit, propelled Varttina to the top of the world music charts. A fun, frenetic fusion of folk and rock, the album soon became a Platinum seller, as did several subsequent ones. Since then, Varttina has been touring and performing extensively throughout the world.

Now composed of three effervescent young women bursting with vocal energy and fueled by a powerhouse acoustic band, the group’s repertoire has diversified to include also tunes, poems and songs from women’s singing traditions of Setuland, Mariland, Ingria and other areas in Finland, as well as original compositions and lyrics. In performance, Varttina presents this musical tradition in ways never before conceived and with great vigor and passion. Utne Reader declared the group among the “40 Artists Who Will Shake the World.”

Immediately following the performance, audience members are invited to continue the fun by dancing to Reptile Palace Orchestra’s upbeat tunes, enjoying free refreshments and registering for door prizes. The party is free to ticket-holders, who are asked to keep their ticket stubs and present them to enter.

The show is sponsored by the Wisconsin Union Directorate with additional support from WORT, 89.9 FM. Tickets are $29 for the general public, $28 for Union members, or $27 each for seven or more vouchers. Tickets for UW–Madison students are $14 or $10 each for five or more vouchers. For more information, call the box office at (608) 262-2201.