Shiphorn Cantata

Shiphorn Cantata was a site-specific Midsummer celebration that connected the iconic AaltoSiilo with the historic harbour of Meri-Toppila through music, movement and performance.

The event began at AaltoSiilo with Interbody, an immersive live performance by Finnish saxophonist, composer and sound artist Heli Hartikainen, combining jazz, electronic music and live visuals. From there, audiences joined a DJ parade led by Chemnitz-based artists em.aevi, Smirdo Ejal and Wesley, travelling together from the silo to the harbour.

The evening concluded aboard M/S Alpo, where Berlin duo 505 (Daniel Calvi and Mattia Prete), joined by trumpeter Fabio Radermacher, performed a set blending trip-hop, electronica and jazz influences against the backdrop of Oulu's waterfront.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to all the musicians, artists, partners and event team for creating this unique Midsummer experience. Together, we celebrated the remarkable acoustics of AaltoSiilo and the distinctive atmosphere of M/S Alpo, making for an unforgettable evening of music and place.

Shiphorn Cantata was funded by the Oulu2026 Foundation as part of the official Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture programme. The project was realised in partnership with Chemnitz 2025 European Capital of Culture gGmbH and co-funded through the budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament and by the City of Chemnitz. The project was also supported by the Finnland-Institut.