Juho Kauppinen, accordionist of Finnish traditional folk metal pioneers KORPIKLAANI, has decided to leave the band. Please find enclosed his official statement:
“I have decided to set my goals elsewhere, as a result of which Korpiklaani will go on without me from now on. Korpiklaani was a prominent part of my life for long, but after these eight and a half years I played in the band I have come to realize that I currently want to experience and pursue something else. Accordion has never been my primary instrument. I also understood that performing in front of an audience is not exactly what I hugely enjoy. Strange as it sounds, what I most want from making music nowadays is playing guitar at home. That is what I find relaxing and free of stress. Some people love touring, but because I am a very private person I found living and traveling on the tour bus for four weeks in a row a little challenging. Nevertheless, I got to experience many things I am deeply grateful for and want to thank all Korpiklaani's listeners, fellow bands, crew members and our staff who enabled all of this. I am glad that the band has now found a truly professional accordionist to take the place of me to take care of the future tours and shows as planned. I wish everyone well. The journey has just begun.”
The band announced that there'll be no show cancellations due to Juho is leaving the band.
If you want to see KORPIKLAANI live you better make sure to remember these dates:
10.04.2013 Gdansk, Parlament Poland
11.04.2013 Wroclav, Alibi Poland
12.04.2013 Cracov, Kwadrat Poland
13.04.2013 Warsaw, Progresja Poland
15.04.2013 Copenhagen, Pumpenhuset Denmark
16.04.2012 Aarhus, Voxhall Denmark
17.04.2013 Lübeck, Treibsand Germany
18.04.2013 Dordrecht, Biebelot Netherlands
19.04.2013 Durbuy Rock Belgium
20.04.2013 Bremen, Tivoli Germany
21.04.2013 Leeuwarden, Romein Netherlands
22.04.2013 Berlin, K17 Germany
23.04.2013 Aschaffenburg, Colos-Saal Germany
24.04.2013 Cham, L.A. Germany
25.05.2013 Memmingen, Kaminwerk Germany
27.04.2013 Losheim, Hexentanz festival Germany
01.06.2013 Geiselwind, Beastival Germany
02.06.2013 Plzen, Metalfest Czech Republic
23.06.2013 Clisson, Hellfest France
15-17-08.2013 Falun, RockFalun Sweden
15-17.08.2013 Dinkelsbühl, Summer Breeze Germany
26.07.2013 Volosianka, Carpathian Alliance Festival Ukraine
7-8.12.2013 Siembra y Lucha 2012 Costa Rica
19.12.2013 Pratteln, Z7 Switzerland
20.12.2013 Stuttgart, Kleine Schleyerhalle Germany
21.12.2013 Giessen, Hessenhallen Germany
22.12.2013 Dresden, Alter Schlachthof Germany
26.12.2013 Bielefeld, Ringlokschuppen Germany
27.12.2013 Fürth, Stadthalle Germany
28.12.2013 Bochum, Ruhrcongress Germany
29.12.2013 Bremen, Pier 2 Germany
30.12.2013 Potsdam, Metropolis Halle Germany