12:08 The Legend of Ilosaarirock

If there´s any one thing held sacred by Finns, it´s the summer rock festival. In this town of Joensuu, it´s Ilosaarirock, spoken of in reverent tones usually reserved for telling folk legends: remember that one time we all got drunk and ended up the next morning in across the border in Russia, butt naked? Remember that year when it rained  and hailed during the final concert? As an American I´ve attended indoor concerts, but I've never been to a festival, Finnish or otherwise. Everyone under the age of thirty in this town seems to attend Ilosaari. This year, I'll be one of two Americans writing for the English side of the site, giving our impressions. Myself, I'm expecting a Saturnalian gathering of epic proportions. From the acres of tents pitched on the camping site, and the crates of beer they're unpacking at the restaurant tents, it doesn't look like I can possibly be disappointed. --Kochun 'Kossunen' Hu

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