Lofoten, the summer of ‘89 or ‘90. Oh well, flashes are more important than facts. We stopped to swim in the freezing cold sea where the high tide almost left us stuck on a sandbank. Our Norwegian ice cream melted all over the place. The strongest memories, however, were created by music.
Text Simo Vassinen and Antti Vassinen
Photos Vassinen family’s photo album
Three years ago, the French-Finnish band The Dø delighted us with their experimental and slightly naive indie pop of their debut album. The likable duo will make a comeback at Flow Festival in August, with the second album that will be released in the fall.
Text Teemu Fiilin
In London’s temporary restaurant Hel Yes! you can enjoy traditional Finnish food from a recycled plate beneath trembling aspens from 16 September–3 October 2010.
Text Ville Aalto
Illustration Klaus Haapaniemi
Photos Adam Laycock
By Suvi Saloniemi
“I claim that Helsinki is one of the best places to play in the world. Helsinkians are at the same time the best audience and the best hosts. But why? We aren’t as suave, bold and numerous as many Central European audiences.”
Photos Osma Harvilahti
“The color of music is now quite white, and new artists and albums are flowing out of the indie rock-folk-electro field, maybe even too much”, says Tuomas Kallio, musician and artistic director of Flow Festival and Pori Jazz.
Text Heini Lehtinen
Photos Verna Kovanen
Kiki Pau has been labeled an over-trendy indie group from Helsinki’s Punavuori, but the band is in fact as organic as a rock group can be in today’s world.
Text Teemu Fiilin
Photos Osma Harvilahti
Toni Rantanen a.k.a. Lil’Tony has started quite a few of the most popular clubs in Helsinki over the past 15 years. This nightlife guru keeps roping international DJs into Finland and believes in good music and high quality audio.
Text Teemu Fiilin
Illustration Santtu Mustonen
Besides spinning at Helsinki clubs for seventeen years, DJ Anonymous is known for running a record store, hosting radio shows and countless club nights, publishing a blog, planning festivals and touring the world playing records. What next?
Text Teemu Fiilin
Photos Miika Saksi & Kai Kuusisto
Handsome Furs is by any standard a very eccentric rock band indeed. And Helsinki-lover, too.
Text Teemu Fiilin
The Helsinki-based duo Villa Nah spice up their dark synthpop with influences ranging from Human League to New Order, still managing to sound mainly like themselves.
Text Teemu Fiilin
The most famous DJs in Helsinki’s nightlife are, quite naturally, men. The traditionally male-dominated job does, however, have some talented ladies behind the wheels of steel as well. Here are four of them.
Text Teemu Fiilin
Photos Kai Kuusisto
Antto Melasniemi is a familiar name behind the cult restaurants Ateljé Finne and Kuurna. The man has also done a huge favor for every festivalgoer by participating in the Flow Festival food selection update process.
Text Petteri Kainulainen
Photos Kai Kuusisto
Clear 
20X0 – A Journey into the Future
8. October 2011
Heureka – The Finnish Science Centre
Seven Connections – Finnish Architecture Abroad
11. January 2012
Museum of Finnish Architecture
Yellow City – Illustrated Stories from Helsinki
16. January 2012
All around the city
20. January 2012
Kiasma – Museum of Contemporary Art
DesignWorld – Designing the New World
27. January 2012
Design Museum
Bi-monthly magazine about Helsinki. In Finnish and in English.
