Jeepit

New Line-Up

In the latter half of 2011 new musicians joined the Jeepit, and two of the old members left the band. The latest members are  Niko Vaskelainen (bass), Riitta Luoto (keyboard, harmonica), Reijo Lehto (mandolin, guitar) and Waltteri Lahti (percussions). Actually Reijo has often played with the Jeepit before.

Mikko Renko, our previous guitar player,  decided to dedicate himself more to composing music. Niilo Sirola, who used to be our bass player, is busy with other bands. Harri Mäkipää has also been playing with Jeepit in several  occasions.

First Set released

Jeepit released their first four-track CD on 14 April 2010.

Overall presentation

Jeepit is a folk music band from Tampere and Kangasala, Finland. The band was founded in March 2008. Jeepit have had gigs in pubs and music festivals, and the band has often been invited to perform in private sessions and celebrations. Jeepit arrange Folkclub sessions in Tampere, and in our folkclubs we invite musicians to join us on stage.

Line-up

Waltteri Lahti (percussions)
Reijo Lehto (mandolin, guitar)
Teija Lehto (violin)
Riitta Luoto (keyboard, harmonica)
Heidi Okkonen (accordion)
Niko Vaskelainen (bass)

Music

Jeepit plays folk music – Finnish, Scandinavian, Irish  folk music and also bluegrass. Actually we are ready to try any folk music we find interesting. Blues is not strange to us either. We  also compose our own music and make arrangements.

Music Samples

We have some music samples on page Audio – Video, and also on You Tube.

Readiness to perform

Pubs, clubs, festivals, weddings, dancing stages when a touch of folk music is needed, private celebrations. Acoustically or electrically.

Musicians

Teija  plays both acoustic and electric violin.  You may occasionally see her playing in other bands too, and she often joins the Tampere Irish music sessions at local bars.

Heidi studied playing accordion at Tampere conservatory during 1986-2003. She graduated from the department of music research, although she originally started studying folklore at the university of Tampere. Heidi has played the accordeon more than 11 years in the band Raivottaret, and also in numerous other bands. She has regularly accompanied dancing groups at Ahjola and Rientola education centers and a Carelian dance group in the city of Nokia.

Reijo has played the guitar for a few years. He was first half-reluctantly made to play the mandolin too, but now he likes it very much. Reijo has also been a sound technician and a roadie with Jeepit from the very first years of the band. He is the chairman of the registered Jeepit association.

Niko plays electric bass player in the band. He is innovative and quick to adapt new things and learns music quickly – which is essential with the Jeepit. 

Riitta has studied playing both classical and popjazz piano in the Pirkanmaa music college, but she has learned to play harmonica on her own. She has also played jazz with Teija in a jazz band.

Waltteri takes care of the percussions and is the vocalist whenever needed.

Your comments

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