A lot has happened on the stages of Ilosaarirock Festival over the years. We've experienced concerts where classical orchestras have married their sound with rock, Italian film scores, and even death metal. The gigs have been impressive, grand, and very moving. Last summer, when Insomnium and Joensuu City Orchestra had finished their concert, Olli-Matti Wahlström, a Joensuu-born drummer of the legendary Finnish rock band CMX was highly impressed, and wondered if they could do the same. Hell yes!
CMX is an institution in the Finnish rock scene, and the band's career spans over several decades. Their music is built around beautiful, complex, distorted, inventive melodies and lyrics which are filled with mythological and religious imagery. When all this is combined with a 35-piece orchestra, the spectacle of the summer is ready. Krzysztof Dobosiewicz, the conductor of the Joensuu City Orchestra, is in charge of the arrangements, and the set list is naturally chosen by the band.
We are curious, and asked the front man A.W. Yrjänä what we could expect. Apparently they are going to "see what it will sound like when you combine a twelve-tone technique with vein-popping ugric howling." Drummer Olli-Matti's response was a bit more enlightening: "I think what that means is that at least Ruoste will be included in the set list."
Got it. We are curiously, anxiously, excitedly waiting for July. This will be magnificent!
> www.cmx.fi > www.facebook.com/cmx.virallinen
Friday 13th Jul: Beast In Black • CMX & Joensuu City Orchestra • Cledos • Disco Ensemble • Dizzee Rascal (UK) • Evelina • Gasellit • Gogol Bordello (USA) • Ismo Alanko • Jenni Vartiainen • Lewis Capaldi (UK) • Mara Balls • Mokoma • Nelli Matula • Nightwish • PastoriPike • Saturday 14th Jul: Apulanta • Atomirotta • Flat Earth • Hard Action • Huora • Hurula (SWE) • Ida Paul & Kalle Lindroth • Kube & Eevil Stöö • KUUMAA • K-X-P • M • Milky Chance (GER) • Mopo • Olavi Uusivirta • Paperi T • Reino Nordin • Saimaa • SANNI • Satyricon (NOR) • Shiraz Lane • Stam1na • Töölön Ketterä • Von Hertzen Brothers • Värttinä feat. Paleface • Zara Larsson (SWE) • Sunday 15th Jul: Amorphis • Behemoth (POL) • Blind Channel • Cheek • Circle • IBE • Jack White (USA) • Juha Tapio • Lasten Hautausmaa • Litku Klemetti • Night Lovell (CAN) • Pyhimys • Ruudolf • Ruusut • Sini Yasemin • Ursus Factory • Vesta • Vilma Alina • Zeal & Ardor (USA/CHE) • Zedd (GER)