Musical amusement park next to Linnanmäki
Festivals in the Alppipuisto Park start 26 July. It is hard to find a more perfect venue for music festivals in Helsinki.
The summer of love and peace climaxes with a new series of festivals in the Alppipuisto park between 26 July to 17 August. It is hard to find a more perfect venue for music festivals in Helsinki. Nestled in a valley, the park is a popular picnic place; a more hippie-spirited alternative to Kaivopuisto park. Thanks to its low-lying position between the Linnanmäki amusement park and the railway system, noise problems are minimal.
Over four weekends, the soundscape of the park will vary between several extremes. Reggae perfectly suits the atmosphere of the relaxed park. Bands, or sound systems, will give their best at the Roots meeting on Saturday 27 July. The We Love Helsinki picnic on Sunday features cooler DJ rhythms.
The Pax festival from 2 to 3 August is a true hippie festival, including dove peace symbols. New Latin rhythms, such as Maria Gasolina’s bossanova and Tri Cohibas salsa, will be heard on Saturday. Sunday will feature, among others, extravagant pop music from Risto, and exploding soul tunes from Miss Saana and the Missionaires. Quieter moments with yoga and tai chi will take place before the bands appear.
Music is complemented with theatre at the Youth Department’s Yoyogi Park concert on 9 August and Oranssi ry’s 18th birthday party on 10 August. On Sunday, the laundry rack disco rockers of the Cleaning Women climb on stage. There is something for the smallest picnic guests, too. And if you come by bike, you can fix it in the work shop.
The festivities at Alppipuisto end with Elmu‘s public festival on 17 and 18 August. The Live Music Association Elmu celebrates its 30th anniversary, and the performers are suitably underground-spirited. Two of the hottest rock bands in miniskirts will excite the public, Pintandwefall appears on Saturday, and Micragirls performs on Sunday.
The show is organised by Sampo Laurikainen from the City of Helsinki Cultural Office. ”There is a demand for new subculture events. Elmu no longer has the Kaivopuisto folk festivals, and Oranssi ry has also lost its club premises. The event will be organised by voluntary workers, and in future other civic organisations are welcome to join us."
Text: Anni Syrjänen
Photo: Minna Kurjenluoma, in the photo Maria Gasolina
