FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2008
Contact: Susanna Helander (media 
ilosaarirock.fi)
The Ilosaarirock festival kicked off briskly
The intermittent rains didn't put off the festival goers
Ilosaarirock festival started off a bit rainy but in a relaxed atmosphere in the Laulurinne festival area. The 21,000 tickets were sold out early in advance. The festival has been sold out in advance every year since 1999.
Friday night's Sulo Club sold 6,000 tickets and Töminä Club 1,300 tickets.
The rains on Saturday haven't been dampening the mood. The raining should cease during the evening and Sunday should be warm.
The camping sites around the festival area are almost full. There are about 1,600 tents on the Ravileirintä Camping. Though the arrival to camping and on the festival area tends to build up queues, it went smoothly.
The preparations for the Eläkeläiset 15-year-anniversary concert are well on the way and the crews' expressions could be best described as determined megalomania.
The Ilosaarirock recycling campaign has also started on the area. The recycling points and –advisers aim to maximise recycling. The paper plates and cups are all recyclable, which serves the same purpose.
Next press conference
The Sunday press conference will be held at 4pm at the Media Centre. There will be representatives of festival organisers and the police and a representative of the Mike Patton Mondo Cane project's Finnish musicians, the Ilosaarirock Sinfonietta. He'll be telling about the preparations for the project which started already on Thursday.
Interviews:
Executive director, Joensuu Pop Musicians' Association
Markku Pyykkönen
Tel. +358 50 354 9068
markku.pyykkonenilosaarirock.fi