Applying for voluntary work for this summer has ended. We thank you all for showing interest and sending the application. The Ilosaarirock Festival team will process the applications and contact you by e-mail.
All future volunteers should read the following information, which will probably answer most of your questions about practical matters. In case it does not, send your questions to
The regular Ilosaarirock Festival staff members are the best friends of all volunteers! They will help with any problems you might have before and after the festival. On the festival weekend, the volunteers will get their wristbands and passes that are needed for entrance from the staff office, which is located in the foyer of the indoor ice rink (Jäähalli, see map) and is open from Thursday to Sunday.
The staff office opening hours:
Wed 12th July from 12am to 5pm
Thu 13th July from 10am to 6.30pm
Fri 14th July from 10am to 10pm
Sat 15th July from 10am to 4pm
There are dozens of volunteers at Ilosaarirock Festival, and sometimes everyone wants to get their passes and wristbands at the same time. Therefore, be prepared to queue and try to arrive at least one hour before your shift begins. Make sure that you have a valid ID (passport, driving licence or a similar official document) with you.
Volunteers commit to working 16 to 18 hours in total during the three festival days. Your shifts will depend on the tasks. The work that takes place before the festival starts, such as construction and decoration, usually involves a bit longer shifts because the work is done during a two-day period. Your supervisor or team leader will arrange the shifts with you.
Volunteers are the heart and soul of Ilosaarirock Festival. In an overwhelming majority of cases, everything works wonders, but every now and then some volunteers let others down and forget their responsibilities. They may skip a shift altogether, be drunk at work or while wearing their volunteer t-shirt, or abandon their post or tasks and forget about the instructions given by their team leader. In these cases, Joensuu Pop Musicians' Association, the organisation responsible for Ilosaarirock Festival, reserves the right to send an invoice to a volunteer who failed to take care of the agreed responsibilities and charge the damage incurred.
Volunteers make an invaluable contribution to making the festival happen. Volunteer work is, by nature, work carried out by free will, which means that no money is paid for it. Every volunteer gets free entrance to the festival area (and wherever else your tasks require), a volunteer t-shirt to be worn during shifts, and a hot meal every day. In addition, the volunteers who are working during the festival can use cloakrooms (narikka) and bike parks (pyöräparkki) free of charge. For volunteers who do not live in Joensuu, Ilosaarirock Festival offers free accommodation at the festival camping site Ravileirintä Camping.
All volunteers get a special t-shirt which helps to distinguish them from the festival crowd. During the festival weekend you may wear the t-shirt only during your work shift. At the end of your shift you need to change the shirt, and it is strictly forbidden to drink any alcohol or be seen drunk while wearing the volunteer t- shirt! After the festival you can keep the t-shirt as a souvenir.
Volunteers are entitled to at least one hot meal during their shift. With a full stomach, work tastes better and you have the energy to carry out your tasks. The meals are served at Tiedepuisto (The Science Park). Make sure that you have your meal ticket with you. Tickets are included in the volunteer goodie bag delivered to you when you get your staff wristband and/or pass from the staff office.
The volunteers' own resting place (Taukotupa) is the place where you can relax. It's located behind the Metelli stage in the festival area. There is a little coffee shop at Taukotupa for the volunteers where you can buy sandwiches and other sweet and savoury snacks for a nominal fee. Bring your own coffee cup with you, then you can drink as many cups of organic fair trade tea and coffee as you like without paying anything. If you don't have your own cup with you, first cup costs 1€. Taukotupa also features a free wi-fi and a number of surprise performances by surprise guests!
If necessary, Ilosaarirock Festival offers those volunteers who do not live in Joensuu free accommodation in the festival's own camping site Ravileirintä Camping. At camping, there is a dedicated Staff Camp area for volunteer workers. You can stay at the camping site from Thursday evening to Monday morning. Let your team leader know beforehand if you need accommodation.
Volunteers accommodating at Ravileirintä Camping can get free morning coffee (from 8am to 12 noon) from info desk by showing their staff bracelet or staff pass.
Cloakrooms and bike parking do not cost anything for volunteers. Just show your staff wristband when you leave your belongings or park your bike. There is no car park for volunteers.
Volunteer's group picture is taken in front of the Main Stage on Sunday at 11:45am.
Welcome to volunteer at Ilosaarirock Festival!
Questions and problems will be answered at: