ilosaarirock 
Now, raise your hand if you’ve starred in a major motion picture, won a Finlandia prize, reaped success in a music competition, repeatedly shot your way to Finnish single and download charts and grabbed an Emma music award while you’re at it, and all this by the age of 21.
I don’t seem to see any hands. I thought as much.
Performing in the Main Tent on Ilosaari-Saturday, Sanni Kurkisuo, or simply Sanni, made it perfectly clear to everyone just how she had managed all that at such a young age. This energetic pop star took command of the tent as if she had lived there her entire life.
Rock ’n’ roll talk and rapid tempo…
Sanni, an artist originating from Lohja in Southern Finland, is the favorite of little girls in earmuffs as well as young men keen to show off their tattooed upper bodies. There was more than enough of her tremendous charisma to go around as she made the most out of the hour she was given. Sanni made her opinions clear about the music business, got the crowd to sing along her hits from the radio and moved around the stage with more energy than the Dutch and Brazilian football teams could ever hope to muster for their bronze medal game to be played later tonight. The fast-paced show was punctuated with lead-ins handled in true rock frontman fashion and Sanni took the chance to inquire the audience about their alcohol consumption habits, among other things.
The defiant performance just kept building as the setlist unfolded. On top of the opening track Jos mä oon oikee Sanni stacked song after great song while moshing her blonde hair madly. Utopiaa, Dementia and Hakuna matata, allowed audience members of all ages to let go of their inhibitions and join in on the fun. Sanni herself clearly loved being on stage and her movements were those of seasoned veterans with decades of festival experience under their belt. Her performance was so vivid even one of the guitarists was forced to part with some of his clothes.
… and then some tender words for mom
Towards the end of the set Sanni moved back to the essentials. She got the festival crowd to applause wildly for her mother’s fiftieth birthday and backed her sentiment up with the sensitive ballad Terkkuja kotiin (Send my greetings home). It wasn’t hard to guess the closing number of this powerful hour and Sanni, who had lead her tent into a wistful mood, enjoyed the total confidence of the crowd as she played her radio hit Me ei olla enää me .
There is definitely room for multi-faceted, hard-working and open minded women on the Finnish music scene. I have a feeling that our Sanni has come to stay.
Text: Sari Kontra
Photo: Tomi Palsa
Translation: Jyrki Laitinen
