Festival Life

Having Trentemøller at Ilosaarirock follows a long-standing pattern of getting some of the biggest names in the electronic music scene. There’s always something for those hungering for some sweet electronic tunes. This year that something is Trentemøller. Read more→

Sue Stage’s fourth act was Polish progressive rock band called Riverside. Their timing could’ve not been any better as their smooth and beautiful sounds set the evening at Ilosaarirock 2014. Read more→

Festival food and drinks are a simple combination that can produce a veritable cornucopia of bodily art. Festival porta-potties are art galleries that showcase this particular oeuvre. Read more→

Last year Lost Society lost their Ilosaarirock virginity. That time only handful of people witnessed their fantastic gig at the Rekkalava stage. This year the word had spread and the Rekkalava stage was packed as the Finnish trash metal phenomena came and conquered. Read more→

There once was a gal who wanted to find a festival sweetheart…

– It can’t be that hard, finding that precious someone. All you got to do is raise your hand and he’s there, sayeth the naive, lovelorn sap. Read more→

There is a somewhat popular joke that as a rule goes ”Hey, X called and they want their Y back”. In Ranger’s case, someone might be inclined to ask whether the 80s have have called and asked something back. Not me though. Read more→

J. Karjalainen is a man known by every Finn – and loved by many. The front of the stage was not yet too cramped as he started his gig with the song Mies jolle ei koskaan tapahdu mitään at two o’clock in the afternoon and as the first artist on the Main Stage. However, people were attracted by his familiar melodies and the audience kept growing. Karjalainen’s crowd consisted of a wide range of festival visitors and Mennyt mies, the hit song of his newest album “Et ole yksin” was the piece to wake the flock up and make them sing and dance in spite of the hot weather. Read more→

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. Read more→

Saturday’s first slot is always a tough one to play in, especially if there’s an already established name playing at the same time on a different stage. Today Magic Meredith’s first Ilosaarirock gig happened to coincide with Pää Kiinni’s performance Read more→

This is it. This is what we have been waiting for through all those long and dark winter months; the joy of Ilosaari rekindled. Read more→

All through the summer, Ilosaarirock Festival has been posting on its Facebook page videos of extraordinary cover versions on songs originally performed by this year’s Ilosaarirock Festival artists. The band playing the covers is Sonik, a fresh band from Joensuu. Verkkotoimitus wanted to talk to the singer, Ville Härkönen, who had just finished a studio session – and was pleasantly surprised to find that the man is an old Ilosaarirock Festival faithful! Read more→

Jerry Cantrell from Alice in Chains says hello to Ilosaarirock Festival people! Read more→