Kotka's Kymi River Music Festival (or the Kymijoen Lohisoitto as it is known locally) offers an array of classical, jazz and folk (laulelma) music around the city. Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, with its 97 musicians, opens the proceedings.

Top musicians and artists including Terhi Miikki, Ilja Ioff and Lidia Kovalenko all perform. Venues for 2008 include Kotka Concert Hall, Langinkoski Imperial Fishing Lodge, Haukkavuori Lookout Tower, Kairo restaurant, Pyhtää and Haapasaari churches and Kuutsalo island cottage.

Please visit the Kymijoen Lohisoitto website www.lohisoitto for more information or telephone +358 (0) 94176 911 or email mek@mek.fi for details on ticket prices and times.