The Seinäjoki Ukulele Orchestra (SUO), with over 60 members, is perhaps South Ostrobothnia’s most unlikely success story. SUO combines two things that, in theory, shouldn’t fit in the same sentence: the small and unassuming ukulele and the stubborn, hands-on spirit of South Ostrobothnia.

At SUO’s gigs, the audience quickly realises that this is no matter of pretentiousness or solemn plucking. This orchestra really lets rip with such energy that at times even the ukulele sounds as if it’s trying to grow to the size of the Provinssi festival. They play familiar tunes with a twinkle in their eye, a swing to their step and a joy that simply cannot be feigned.

The Seinäjoki Ukulele Orchestra (SUO) is at once boisterous, warm-hearted and slightly unruly – just like the South Ostrobothnian character. Once this lot gets going, one thing quickly becomes clear: the ukulele may not be a traditional instrument of South Ostrobothnia — but despite that, it’s played here as if it had been invented in Seinäjoki.

Today, SUO is Finland’s largest actively touring ukulele orchestra and is just like any ten-year-old: lively, empathetic and almost to be taken seriously!