Flow Festival 2012

Flow Festival just seems to get better year by year. The way the whole area has been built up is amazing.

Really nice and suitable area for city festival with good arrangements.

I must say the area looks really pretty in the dark with all the lights turned on.
 

The artists I waited the most this year were Bon Iver and Feist and I was so pleased after seeing them live. Bon Iver played on Wednesday in an opening concert when the whole area was not even available, only the Nokia Blue Tent. That was perfect place as the sound was the best in there.And his voice as amazing live as on the album.

The actual festival started on Friday and we arrived just on time for Yann Tiersen, who did not meet my expectations of hearing the Amelie soundtrack.  After that we checked Antero Lindgren at Open Source Stage and I definitely want to see him again in a club, because the sound was not the best possible on the outside stage.

Miike Snow was a positive suprise and I think Lykke Li was great. Her show was very similar to last year's Popaganda Stockholm gig and I really like the song on the latest album.

After Lykke Li we listened to some Charles Bradley, but that music is not really my genre so Friday ended just after midnight.

Third Flow day Saturday started with Ane Brun, who has really beautiful voice.

 
I especially like her Worship duet with José González, Norwegian song Du Gråter Så Stora Tårar and overall the latest album It All Starts With One.

Then it was just free hanging in the area, briefly checking out Horace Andy, Karri Koira and Saint Etienne.

The final act on The Main Stage was The Black Keys, whose gig really made the day!

Sunday started with great Finnish artists Manna, Pepe Deluxé and French Films. I was really looking forward to seeing Friends, but was really disappointed them playing live. Although Samantha Urbani is charismatic the live show just did not give me anything.

So I just keep on listening Friend's hit I'm His Girl on the album.

But Feist was so amazing live. Although I had high expectations and I had heard positive comments from her Way Out West gig on Friday, she managed to top everything. This artist I want to see again.

After Feist we checked little bit of The War On Drugs before Björk started her show. It was not allowed to take photoes so that the artist could concentrate 100%. Little bit interesting since it should not disturb if one is not using a flash. Well, now I have seen her and she really has a gorgeous voice so that was an experience.

But after Björk came a really intensive St. Vincent gig and she really gave it all!

Lots of artists (at least Friends, Feist and Björk) made a statement for freeing Pussy Riot, which was extremely positive and one could only hope that this media attention helps the situations. So sad that this can happen in today's world and really effect on my opinion about Russia.

Weather was a little bit chilly this year, but no rain, which was the main thing. It was quite easy to get out of the festival area and catch a bus home so you did not need to rush away, but you were able to stay and watch all the late acts you wished for. Summa summarium:it was super and hope to go again next year.

Summer Festivals

As I am not a huge fan of festivals, these urban city festivals suit me well. My favourite in Helsinki is Flow Festival with interesting artist lineup, stylish decoration, well-funtioning arrangements and easy access.

Flow 2012

My first ever Flow experience was few hours at the festival back in 2008. It was pouring rain and I saw only Astrid Swan,who is one of my favourite Finnish artists and little bit of Sebastien Tellier, but that was it.

Astrid Swan 2008

Sebastien Tellier 2008

Other Flow years have succeeded better both for the weather and amount of artists I have managed to see.

Flow 2010

In 2010 Flow lineup was just amazing: The xx, Junip, Robyn, MIA, Girls, The Drums, Beach House and Broken Bells.

Robyn 2010

Robyn 2010

The xx 2010

Last year's hightlights for me were Janelle Monáe and First Aid Kit as Lykke Li unfortunately cancelled in the last minute.

First Aid Kit 2011

Janelle Monáe 2011

Flow has great great selection of artists when combining bookings with Way Out West in Gothenburg and Øya Festivalen in Oslo.

WOW in Gothenburg

But for some reason we do not always get all the same artists to Helsinki, like in 2009 when Arctic Monkeys were in playing in Sweden, but did not come to Finland. Well, that was good enough reason for me to travel to Gothenburg instead.

Arctic Monkeys at Way Out West 2009

Besides my favourite Arctic Monkeys I saw several great acts such as Lily Allen, Antony and The Johnsons, Glasvegas, Beirut, Jenny Wilson, Timo Räisänen and discovered a new one Florence And The Machine, whom I absolute adore and have seen 2 other times afterwards.

Lily Allen 2009

Antony and The Johnsons 2009

Jenny Wilson 2009

Florence 2009

Glasvegas 2009

But my first ever WOW was 2008 and the second year in the whole festivals history already with marvellous lineup: my first ever The National gig, Grinderman, Franz Ferdinad and it was then I first discovered brilliant Joan As Police Woman.

Nick Cave 2008

Joan2008

And of course there are so many good local artists playing in Swedish festivals, like in 2008 Way Out West had José González, Frida Hyvönen, Håkan Hellström and Broder Daniel.

Håkan Hellström 2008

Other Swedish Festivals I have been to were 2011 Where The Action Is with Coldplay, Bright Eyes, The Ark, Brandon Flowers and Glasvegas in Gothenburg

Coldplay 2011

Bright Eyes 2011

Ola Salo 2011

And later the same year Popaganda with Arcade Fire, Midlake, The Cults, Junip, Jenny Wilson, Säkert! and Lykke Li in Stockholm.

Arcade Fire 2011

Midlake 2011

Lykke Li 2011

What a great area to have a music festival by the outside swimming pool Erikdalsbadet.

Popaganda in Stockholm 2011

And now this year we had yet another fantastic new festival in Helsinki Garden Party. Although Charlotte Gainsbough cancelled the overall impression of the festival and its arrangements was very positive. And of course Regina Spektor was wonderful.

Garden Party Helsinki 2012

Hope that there will be new Garden Party next year! 

And the artist I would love to see on next year's Helsinki city festivals in Bat For Lashes!