17:56 It's about the people, not the money

Ed Mellet from Alt.Wear magazine and Raz Rauf from Drowned Sound.com website have just come back from a cruise on Pyhäselkä Lake in Joensuu. They're looking happy but tired. It's been a busy weekend. Next stop is the VIP tent in the back area of the Main Stage.

"Tonight we're going to get hammered and take it easy", Raz laughs. The guys would like to stay in Finland a bit longer, have a holiday and see maybe Helsinki as well but unfortunately they're going back home tomorrow. They've deserve a drink.

They're over here as quests with fellow journalists from The Independent, Kerrang and Classic Rock magazine amongst others. It's the first time Ilosaarirock has invited foreign journalists to experience the festival.

I ask the guys what's been the overall atmosphere and they say almost in unison:
"One thing that strikes you straight away is how well it's organized. And it's obvious it's about the music and the people, not the money." They've been told the story behind Ilosaari, how the festival is put together entirely by volunteers and how it's not a profit making scheme.

"The organizers are clearly proud of all this and why not, it's great.", Raz says.
"I think it's better than any UK festival...not band wise but overall, the feeling of the whole place", he adds.
They comment on how the drinking areas are fenced off thus managing to keep the amount beer related litter to the minimum. "Places like the Reading Festival there's beer and crap everywhere", Ed says.

They've managed to see a few bands as well, they mention Apocalyptica and Cleaning Women. Obviously time permitting they would've wanted to see a lot more but their Finnish hosts have kept them entertained otherwise.

The first night they went to the Kerubi Kuppila (which is owned by Popmuusikot, the festival organizers) and they also had a chance to have a traditional sauna.

"Well...it was hot", Ed laughs. "I've been to the saunas in England, the ones you get at swimming pools but they've been nothing like this."
"It was like a kind of bonding experience, men sitting in there and having a few beers", he muses.

The Finns have made a good impression as well: "People are really polite and laid back. And although there's quite a lot of heavy music here hardly anybody dresses that way."

They've also noticed how quiet it is and apart from the festival site where it's obviously heaving during a weekend, theres hardly any people anywhere. But then that's Finland for you, after all there's only five million people here.

One thing the guys are not happy about are the mosquitos. "They been eating us", the guys say and grin. When it rained yesterday they came out of the "woodwork" in their millions.

Raz is going to write his report as soon as he gets home so go and check it out in

www.drownedinsound.com

The magazine Ed works for is published quarterly so we'll have to wait till August to see what he says about Ilosaari and Finland.

www.altwear.net

Lärwi xxx
Photo: Markus Korpi-Hallila

Back