Pekko Käppi owns the jouhikko, an ancient bowed lyre from Finland. He plays deceivingly subtle and melodic tunes somewhere between blues and punk, folk and metal. On stage he comes on as a random shaman, chanting dark lyrics from murder-ballads while skillfully plucking the strings. K:H:L:L (Tommi Laine and Nuutti Vapaavuori) accompany him on percussion and cigar-box guitars, and the result is irresistible. The 2013 album Rammat Jumalat (Lame Gods) received rapt reviews, rewarding Käppi’s wayward experimentation rooted in runolaulu, the 4/4 verse also used in Kalevala. The 2015 Sanguis meus, mama! followed suit and opened Käppi’s path onto international stages. If you’re after hearing ancient forms reborn, feel like some melodic Nordic gloom, or just want to see a contemporary Finnish shaman, check out Käppi & K:H:H:L on the Tent stage at Budapest RITMO.