Saimaa, fronted by Matti Mikkola, has, almost without anyone noticing, become one of the most interesting bands in Finland. With their unprejudiced attitude and skills that laugh at human limits, the band has turned Finnish prog rock to eleven. A visit to the high altitude basecamp that is a Saimaa gig feels truly like an event.
This 10-man band can do whatever it wishes to. A collaboration album with Pepe Willberg sold enough to earn a gold record. The cover album Matka mielen ytimeen turned the Finnish novelty song Lentävä kalakukko into afrobeat and Joutsenlaulu into a stormy prog bonanza. Their latest feat was composing for the tv-series Urheilu-Suomi, which also resulted in an album of the same name that rebuilds the whole concept of sports-themed music.
The Saimaa gigs are exhilarating experiences filled with the joy of musicianship. The members of the audience can justifiably wonder at the skills of the individual musicians or just let themselves get drawn into dancing by the most attractive groove in Finland.
Friday 13th Jul: Beast In Black • CMX & Joensuu City Orchestra • Cledos • Disco Ensemble • Dizzee Rascal (UK) • Evelina • Gasellit • Gogol Bordello (USA) • Ismo Alanko • Jenni Vartiainen • Lewis Capaldi (UK) • Mara Balls • Mokoma • Nelli Matula • Nightwish • PastoriPike • Saturday 14th Jul: Apulanta • Atomirotta • Flat Earth • Hard Action • Huora • Hurula (SWE) • Ida Paul & Kalle Lindroth • Kube & Eevil Stöö • KUUMAA • K-X-P • M • Milky Chance (GER) • Mopo • Olavi Uusivirta • Paperi T • Reino Nordin • Saimaa • SANNI • Satyricon (NOR) • Shiraz Lane • Stam1na • Töölön Ketterä • Von Hertzen Brothers • Värttinä feat. Paleface • Zara Larsson (SWE) • Sunday 15th Jul: Amorphis • Behemoth (POL) • Blind Channel • Cheek • Circle • IBE • Jack White (USA) • Juha Tapio • Lasten Hautausmaa • Litku Klemetti • Night Lovell (CAN) • Pyhimys • Ruudolf • Ruusut • Sini Yasemin • Ursus Factory • Vesta • Vilma Alina • Zeal & Ardor (USA/CHE) • Zedd (GER)