Lissie charmed her crowd

The Main Tent slowly filled up with anticipatory festival goers. A collection of curious and excited faces gathered around me. People were clearly interested in finding out what thisLissie lady was all about. The front row was packed with eager fans and when Lissie took to the stage the front of the tent was immediately with her, while the people at the back seemed as if they were waiting for something. However, Lissie was quick to win them over by telling us what a great bunch of people us Finns are and even the doubters started to warm up.

The energy and enthusiasm of the faster numbers were sure to captivate every listener paying any attention at all. The kind of energy and inspiration Lissie emits can only be created and spread by a person who truly enjoys what she does. Before playing her hit song When I’m Alone Lissie took off her shoes and this immediately got the audience excited: here we go! Lissie inspired the crowd and the crowd inspired her in turn.

The slow songs seemed to lull the audience into a happy dream-like state: even if everybody shared the same space, they were all inside their own worlds. Especially the song Everywhere I Go appealed to the crowd’s sensitive side. The song talks about angels, and I must say Lissie herself looked like one as the lilac spotlights all pointed at her. At this point even the few remaining undecided were showing signs of approval.

At the end of the show Lissie and her guitarist Eric Sullivan lifted the crowd’s spirits to the skies and beyond with their insane guitar jamming. When it was all coming to an end I couldn’t find a single doubting or reserved face: every person around me was smiling and at least nodding along to the songs, myself included. Lissie was sure to win over every person in the tent with her singular devotion and presence.

Text: Tiia Heikkinen

Photos: Samu Puuronen

Translation: Jyrki Laitinen