Three big festivals have been called off as uncertainty reigns in the Finnish events industry.
Ilosaarirock normally brings thousands of people to North Karelia. This picture is from the 2019 event.
Image: Kalle Kervinen / Ilosaarirock
Four of Finland s biggest music festivals announced they would not go ahead this summer, citing uncertainty over rules governing gatherings as they cancelled for the second year in a row.
Ilosaarirock in Joensuu, Tuska festival in Helsinki and Provinssirock in Seinäjoki threw in the towel on Friday, announcing they would not be welcoming fans in 2021.
Turku s Ruisrock festival announced its own cancellation, for the second consecutive year, on Thursday.
There is a coronavirus-shaped question mark hanging over this summer’s music festivals, organisers say.
Despite this, while international events like the Glastonbury music festival have announced cancellations for the second year running, planning for many Finnish events is well underway. Finns have remained hungry for culture during the time of corona, but it remains to be seen if people will dare to gather along with others, says
Kai Amberla, Executive Director of Finland Festivals. Added to that, the summer of festivals is, of course, shaped by whether the coronavirus restrictions are relaxed or tightened. I understand very well that the Finnish government is nervous about the situation. The corona situation in Finland is currently good, but it is worth remembering that in Ireland, for example, infections increased sharply in a few weeks, Amberla adds.