Writing for Rock Sound
No fewer than five British journalists and photographers attend Ilosaarirock this year. The British invasion can partly be explained by one of the journalists who visited the festival before and praised the well-organised festival and its good atmosphere. Freelance journalist Trevor Baker came to Ilosaarirock when Rock Sound magazine sent him to cover the event.
- I’ve been to Finland once before when I was in Helsinki interviewing Nightwish and The Rasmus a couple of years ago. Ilosaarirock seems to differ from its British counterparts in that it’s far less chaotic! Also the musical variety appears to be larger, the gamut of bands is wider.
On Friday night Trevor had time to see some bands at Sulo club. Ismo Alanko made an impression.
- Quite interesting stuff, remarks Trevor.
Besides Nightwish, The Rasmus and his new discovery Alanko, Trevor knows such Finnish bands as Hanoi Rocks and Amorphis. But how about the bands singing in Finnish?
- I don’t really know them, but then again the feeling comes across even if you don’t understand the language.
Trevor hasn’t arranged any interviews yet; rather his aim is to report the festival more generally. Of all the performers, he’s looking forward to Calexico, Rubik and Husky Rescue especially. He has also got to know Rubik’s music in advance on the band’s MySpace profile. Nowadays the community-based web service is an important tool for the journalist.
- It has made the work easier. Many bands give links to their MySpace profiles, and through them it is easy to discover new, interesting acts.
Text: Salla Brunou
Translation: Hanna Laaksonen
Photo: Minna Pahkin