Etcetera

A largely amateur gospel choir hailing from Riihimki, Finland, Etcetera sang and performed not only traditional Christian praise & worship songs, but works by African artists and Finnish composers, and were led by Pekka Simojoki. Taking the idea of the choir to encompass a more modern outlook on life and spirituality, Etcetera also moved away from just being a vocal showcase, and utilized band instrumentation to popular effect. The group, initially just a musical group based in the town's parish, needed a leader, and asked Simojoki -- who had led choir groups in the past -- to take charge. The relationship worked well, and over the years, the group has sponsored a number of performances and workshops with other parishes, appeared on the Pekka Simojoki and Anna-Mari Kaskinen album Mysterion, and released five albums of their own. Their 2008 release, Suuri Suunnitelma, managed to crack the Top Ten in Finland, peaking at number eight.