What and who are
The Friends of Dorothy?

Photo: Pietari Purovaara

The Friends of Dorothy (FroDo) is a Helsinki-based queer human rights a capella singing group founded in 2018.

The elements of our concert are singing, performance and spoken word. FroDo’s song repertoire ranges from folk songs in minority languages, classical music and all the way up to Eurovision pop.

The texts of spoken word come directly from people living on the margins of society. The stories offer the public a view to the reality of people whose well-being and rights are limited by both dysfunctional legislation and negative attitudes.

FroDo’s attitude is lyrical punk.

Kim Gustafsson’s slogan an hour before the gig is “Jag kommer aldrig att hinna.” (I will never make it on time.) At this point, Kim goes to buy herself performance trousers. Kim is also an actor, a theatre director and FroDo’s other tenor.

Salla Markkanen thinks and sings high, and she always sides with the underdog. She is a theater musician, a professional in music improvisation, and has arranged most of FroDo’s songs. Salla is FroDo’s soprano.

Petriikka Pohjanheimo is the first to go to bed. She is also the first to wake up, often when others still finish their afterparty. Petriikka is an actor and FroDo’s alto.

Mikko Rantonen is good at everything but not the best at anything. Or maybe he is. For example, he can throw a discus. And be a manager. An application manager. Mikko is FroDo’s second tenor.

Aleksi Vasko smiles innocently, gets off at the corners of Kallio on Saturday evening and disappears into the hummy, foggy night. Aleksi is a music teacher, a cellist and FroDo’s bass.