They receive no air play, they aren’t reviewed in music magazines. They divide people in two. After hearing them you either loathe them - or are enchanted. But only at Ilosaarirock it’s possible to save this cult band beyond comparison as the last performer of Saturday evening: the champions of humppa, the impudent and indecent drunkards, Eläkeläiset (The Pensioners). (more…)

Grindcore can also be fun. The fusion-grindcore duo Cause for Effect, bassplayer-vocalist Tuomo and drummer Ari, have been producing their peculiar music for 16 years already. Listeners, both young and new, are always taken by surprise by the ferocious precision attacks produced by a very stripped-down and bare drum set and a clean-toned bass guitar.(more…)

Having performed on the main stage of Ilosaarirock who knows how many times, Ismo Alanko truly knows how to captivate his audience.  Saturday evening Ismo Alanko Teholla performed a set of new and old hits with ease and intensity for the exhilirated festival crowd.
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It’s hard to come up with enough praise for Astro Can Caravan, Saturday’s last artist at the truck stage. This act consists of nine very personal musicians who produce spacefaring sounds with an oriental influence. (more…)

Ozric Tentacles has made an impressive career in music business, since the mid-80s, but this is the first time the good people of Ilosaarirock have had the chance to enjoy power grip of music and colours.(more…)

The Swedish band Cult of Luna rose to the stage just as the rocking festival nation had their first glimpse of sun light. When the eight-man funeral procession let out the first notes, the sunny weather went out the window.(more…)

The rain stops and clouds disappear. The day turns into an evening and the von Hertzen Brothers seize the main stage. What follows is an hour of guaranteed ambience straight from the heart and love for music. On top of it all, the sun decides to come out and caress the the audience with the aid of refreshing summer breeze. The setting is ready, and close to perfection.
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Oceansize was probably one of the most expected acts in this years Ilosaarirock. Band’s music takes the listener from steady seas to huge ocean storm’s. Kolmoslava-stage’s third act on saturday definitely put on a ocean sized performance.(more…)

Let’s try an experiment of sorts. Let’s go see gig by some unknown band or artist, and see what’ll happen. When I reached the YleX tent, I realized that the veteran punk band was not unknown to all. There was a moderate amount people in front of the stage, and I even spotted some Converge shirts in the crowd.(more…)

There were two reasons to smile about in early evening at Rentolava-stage. First the Finnish reggae scene’s top name Raappana through a great gig with the Sound Explosion band and second the festival audience saw the first sunshine of the day. The Valkyrians and Momo Cat had warmed up the people around Rentolava and when Raappana took the stage one could feel the energy vibe spreading.(more…)