It’s that time of year again, when Helsinki’s Flow Festival comes to town: three days of big international music acts catering to a wide variety of tastes, art, discussions, food and drinks in the eastern Suvilahti neighbourhood.
While many Finnish festivals rely heavily on domestic crowd-pleasing acts to secure ticket sales, Flow goes out of its way to find acts people have not heard on the radio.
This year organisers have again decided to provide a platform for unconventional and unapologetic acts - old and new.
We talked with four Finnish acts appearing at Flow this weekend. You probably haven’t heard of them yet. But maybe you should?
What kind of music do you make?
Our music is self-composed world or folk music with quite a lot of influence from pop. We’re standing one foot on tradition and the other modern world. [Note: The band plays the traditional Finnish kantele, a picked string instrument]
What does it mean to you to be performing at Flow Festival?
Flow is definitely one of the coolest venues in Finland so we’re honoured to play here! We cheer for interaction and crossing between genres so this is a great relationship for us and Flow!
If you had to pick two bands your music was a cross between, what would those bands be?
Well, there are not many bands playing only kanteles and our singing in harmonies are quite unique too. We’ll pick our childhood, and band name inspiration Spice Girls and then maybe the most renowned Finnish folk music band Värttinä.
What inspires you to make music?
We are inspired quite practically by the self-driven need to make music especially when it comes to composing. We are of course happy if our music has an impact on other people too! During the years we’ve been touring, we have noticed there are not so many bands that only have female musicians. So as well as of course spreading our music, we also like to give an example to girls: you can also form bands, tour and play instruments as an occupation.
Describe the life in the Finnish festival circuit.
As a matter of fact, more than 80% of our gigs are outside of Finland so we don’t maybe have much of an insight. What we can say, is that though Finnish audience is maybe a bit more reserved than in some other parts of the world, they are also very honest. Good weather goes a long way!
Where & when to catch the band at Flow?
Friday 10th August. Balloon 360° Stage. 16:15.
What kind of music do you make?
Experimental folk and electroacoustic soundscapes. [Note: During Flow, Lau Nau will be performing music from throughout her career, as well as a special version of her 2017 album Poseidon, with a 20-strong choir]
What does it mean to you to be performing at Flow Festival?
It’s my third time performing at the festival and every concert has been different - first solo, then with a band and a live visualist and this time with a band and a choir of 20. It’s always a great adventure to perform at Flow festival.
If you had to pick two bands your music was a cross between, what would those bands be?
I wish my music would be something between Karen Dalton (American folk blues singer, guitarist, and banjo player) and Ellen Fullman (composer and instrument builder).
What inspires you to make music?
Other music, art, philosophy, you know the usual!
Describe the life in the Finnish festival circuit.
I love especially the very small local festivals which are centered on uncommercial arts and a relaxed human-scale atmosphere.
Where & when to catch her performance at Flow?
Saturday 11th August. Balloon 360° stage. 19:30.
What kind of music do you make?
Primitive. [Note: The band released a string of albums and singles over a 20 year period before breaking up in 2008. Now they’re back with a new tour and unfinished album, both called ‘Fear, Self-Loathing, Hate, Industrial Alienation’]
What does it mean to you to be performing at Flow Festival?
Always good fun.
If you had to pick two bands your music was a cross between, what would those bands be?
I think those two bands haven’t emerged yet.
What inspires you to make music?
Nothing at the moment.
Describe the life in the Finnish festival circuit.
Hard.
When & where to catch the band at Flow?
Friday 10th August. Resident Advisor Front Yard. 20:50.
What kind of music do you make?
Drone and noise mainly. Here I will do a Flow special: solo with big gong.
What does it mean to you to be performing at Flow Festival?
I have played a couple of times at Flow already, but of course it’s always a massive pleasure.
If you had to pick two bands your music was a cross between, what would those bands be?
Pandit Pran Nath (Indian classical singer) and Iannis Xenakis (composer and music theorist).
What inspires you to make music?
This perfect harmony.
Describe the life in the Finnish festival circuit.
So nice to meet new and old friends.
Where & when to catch Antti at Flow?
Saturday 11th August. The Other Sound @ Sun Effects Voima. 17:30.
