Rolling Stones join long line of summer acts in Helsinki

Rise of Russian market makes Finland "less peripheral"

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The announcement yesterday evening that the Rolling Stones would be including Helsinki among their European tour dates adds another big gig to an already crowded rock music summer in the Finnish capital.
      The Stones, who have played Finland five times previously and were last here in Helsinki in 2003, will be bringing their usual 72 truckloads (!) of equipment to the party on August 1st.
     
The event will probably sell out in a flash, although there is a question-mark, in that this year the competition for the punters' euros - and their time - is fierce.
      We have already heard of the arrival of such big names as Deep Purple and Thin Lizzy (Ice Hall, 23.5.), Ozzy Osbourne (Helsinki Arena 6.6.), Genesis (Olympic Stadium 11.6.), George Michael (Stadium 1.7.), Aerosmith (Arena 7.7.), The Who (Helsinki Arena 9.7.), and Metallica (Stadium 15.7.), and this does not include the summer's usual round of rock, blues, and jazz festivals such as Provinssirock in Seinäjoki, Ruisrock in Turku, and Pori Jazz.
      In addition to the above-mentioned artists, many of whom could uncharitably be described as being in the "ageing rock-dinosaur" category, there are a host of lesser lights from the Indie bands who will also be calling in this summer, for instance Placebo and The Killers.
     
Traditionally Finland has suffered from being on the periphery of Europe, with an awkward sea crossing (taking two days out from the performing while equipment was moved) separating it from the richer pickings of neighbouring Sweden, and often the only way major artists found themselves in the country was at the beginning or the end of a tour, and more often than not towards their sell-by date, at the "living legend" phase.
      However, geography and politics can change, and the rise of Russia as a market with money and many willing buyers has put Finland much more centrally on the map. Emerging artists now often stop off in Finland on their way to conquer the previously inaccessible St. Petersburg or Moscow.
     
For the Rolling Stones concert, the Olympic Stadium capacity will be set this time at 35,000, as for some reason the event will be all-seated, even on the central grass area.
      What this will mean for the real fans, who according to comments on some band message boards would have much preferred to see "general admission" or standing places on the field, remains to be seen.
      Tickets go on sale via the Lippupalvelu agency next Wednesday, and are priced at between EUR 73 and EUR 103.


Links:
  Lippupalvelu (Ticketmaster)

Helsingin Sanomat