Ameriikan Poijat

During the 1980’s, Ameriikan poijat’s founder, Paul Niemistö, discovered this relatively
unknown musical tradition of brass septet playing in Finland and in Northern Minnesota.
“Poijat” was formed in Northfield, Minnesota, in January 1990 to revive this repertoire, and
made it to a Finnish ethnic festival in Florida that same spring. Made up primarily of brass
players of Nordic descent, the ensemble has recreated the charm of the old music and dance
arrangements of wide popularity among Finnish Americans and brass music lovers. Our
mission with our presentations is to introduce the live experience to those to those familiar
with the musical context, as well as new listeners interested in the Finnish American (and
generally, Northern European) “old time music” as known in the town halls of the past.

Ameriikan Poijat has toured regularly in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and to the
Finnfest celebrations nationwide. Other travels have included Canada, Kentucky, Arkansas,
the International Sibelius Conference in Texas, and the Hjemkomst Scandinavian Festival in
Moorhead, Minnesota, and several tours to Finland. Ameriikan poijat performed at the
Nisswa Stammen (now Duluth), a Scandinavian folk music festival. The group has produced
six CDs, and published sheet music to make our specialized music available to community
bands. As a small and portable group, enhanced by visuals and commentary, we can present
our performances in schools, retirement homes, and other centers.

Some recent appearances of “Poijat’ include: (2024) July 20th Wirtanen Farm Museum- Palo
(part of Northern Lights Festival), July 20th- pub gig at BoomTown in Eveleth Mn (a Finnish
immigrant town), July 31-church service in Virginia MN -Gethsemane Lutheran (a Finnish
immigrant congregation), August 2- Vintage Band Festival, Northfield MN (a music festival
highlighting historic and ethnic groups). In 2025 “Poijat” appeared on March 16- St Urho
Celebration (a Finnish American festival)- Christ Church Lutheran- Minneapolis, March 23:
Church Service- Bethel Lutheran, Northfield, Finnish Christmas Concert-Mindekirken
Church -Minneapolis; Dec 12-7:00, Finnish Christmas Concert-Cloquet Presbyterian Church;
Dec 13 -7:00, Finnish Christmas Concert Gethsemane Lutheran Church Virginia; Dec 14-
3:00.