Miss Saana & The Missionaries

Many who have heard the grand-voiced Miss Saana with her super funking band have suspected listening to some unknown hit by a 70s soul

singstress – or new top class retrofunk straight from the States. Miss Saana and The Missionaries’ sound is astonishingly dark and

soulful for a contemporary Finnish band.

In the fall of 2005, Miss Saana and The Missionaries played all sorts of soul covers as the house band of Club Pharao at Dubrovnik (night

club). When the wild reactions and the hot steams of the dance floor mixed with the unbelievable chemistry of the band, it became clear that

there was more to do than just covers. After working on songs of their own, the band was ready to perform in its current form with their own

material in the early 2007.

It is very clear that Miss Saana’s 12-member family has taken the right road. Reminiscent of the Detroit Cobras’ wild and

soulful garagerock, their fierce funk has received such an enthusiastic reception that there is clearly a need for their primitive missionary

work.

Lineup

Name
Instrument
Elina Katajamäki
backing vocals
Helmi Saksala
backing vocals
Ilkka Ferm
saxophone
Janne Auvinen
percussions
Juha Kuoppala
hammond organ
Juho Viljanen
trombone
Markus Linden
bass
Martti Vesala
trumpet
Rocka Merilahti
guitar
Miss Saana
vocals
Suski Hakulinen
backing vocals
Tero Sundell
drums
Tuuli Saksala
backing vocals

Performances in 2008

Date
Time
Venue
18.07.2008
21.00
JazzStreet Stage