ilosaarirock 
It is half way though the afternoon and the sun is high heating up the festival area. Walking towards Rento Stage is easy as the Main Stage is occupied by a legendary Finnish artist J. Karjalainen, gathering most of the crowd to the other end of the whole area. Two hours after the opening of the Rento Stage festive season 2014, the Helsinki based rap-artist Gracias warms up the audience with wits and word games before starting his set.
Looking at the front of the stage, it is half empty and people around are chilled but interested. Little by little more people appear from all age groups. The audience is an ensemble of loyal old fans and new curious faces, but they all have one thing in common. A need to move their body to the hard rhythm. Gracias supported by his band, The Globe Band, create an atmosphere so rich in beat that even the stiffest East Finnish middle aged man shakes his behind to the beat. Not only are the men moving from side to side but the opposite gender seems to be taken over by the music. Ladies move their bodies as in the music videos coloured with champagne and money. The rhythm is catchy and cannot be avoided. No shame in some booty shake.
The artist makes the set more intimate by playing with the audience and engaging them to the music. A game of “elegia” (making the audience shout “elegia” after counting to three) is played couple of times between songs. As soon as HKI starts to play, the crowd, with almost touchable enthusiasm, bursts into wild dance moves and hits the chorus like proper diehard fans. The listeners are enchanted. Perfect beats, perfect weather and a perfect audience.
Gracias – Thank You.
Text: Monica Gathuo
Photo: Lauri Kosonen
