Festival summer 2022 is a package deal for many Finns. It started in Oulu for several lovers of block music. And ended there. After the corona years, two new horse festivals were organized in the beautiful seaside town of Northern Ostrobothnia.
Metal Capital at the Äimärautio track on the 17th–18th. June and North of Hell in Kuusisaari on the 12th–13th August.
The main performers of North of Hell are, among others, the British gothic metal classic Cradle of Filth and the Swedish more progressive Opeth.
“My people!”
From Oulu Eve Käsmä has been in both Metal Capital and North of Hell. At Metal Capital, though, as a shirt seller. Now he wants to be at the end of the festival summer in Kuusisaari only as a “civilian”.
– I was at Steelfest in May. Then there was Rock in the city and now of course North of Hell. It went great!
Käsma’s friend Katri Kurttila says that he was at the Suomipop festivals and the next week Kuuska will still be known.
– Everyone has been in a good mood all summer. Now we finally get there. Last summer was a bit tight. Everyone was a little cautious.
Katri Kurttila and Eve Käsmä went to the North of Hell festival in their leather jackets. Antti Halonen
Eve Käsmä says that the whole audience has been in a good mood. He has seen no disagreements, fights or bad feelings at all. He has gotten to know new people and the sense of community has been strong.
– Everyone is really much happier. We finally get to be together and with people. These are my people! They listen to my music! You didn’t see them much during the corona period. We were all locked inside. This is freaking awesome!
Katri Kurttila says that she bought a ticket to the festival already two years ago. He’s been waiting a long time.
– I had to skip the workplace party because I’m here with my own!
– It doesn’t bother you. We are now able to organize these festivals and I hope that we can continue in the same mood.
A break makes it better
Ilkka Toppinen and Katja Hautala are together at the festival. Toppinen says that the finesse of party life is emphasized when they have returned after a long time.
– This has been the same hustle and bustle for years, but now it just feels so much nicer after the break, says Toppinen.
– It feels the same! Great to be here. There is no need to think so terribly, Hautala adds.
Ilkka Toppinen and Katja Hautala enjoy the festival after the break at North of Hell in Oulu. Antti Halonen
Toppinen has been to Oulu’s Qstock and Rovaniemi’s Rock in the City earlier this summer. In addition to Rock in the City, Hautala has been to see Judas Priest and Hassisen’s machine, among other things.
– The finesse of party life is emphasized after a long break, says Toppinen.
The return of metal culture
Friends from Oulu Juho Hirvilamimi and Hannu Haapakoski have been waiting for the North of Hell festival. Haapakoski was also supposed to participate in Metal Capital, but he had other things to do. It’s been a couple of years since the previous festivals.
– Great to be here! Individual gigs have been seen at Teatria. Here you see more people and a good mood, says Hirvilamimi.
Black and white face paintings “corpse paints” belong to metal festivals. Likewise, the handsome posing of Juho Hirvilammi and Hannu Haapakoski. Antti Halonen
– It’s a different feeling to be at parties than at concerts. There is food and drink, different bands play throughout the day and we can spend more time here than a couple of hours, says Haapakoski.
Both are happy that they don’t have to go all the way to Helsinki to listen to good music. You can have your own bed at night. It’s a bit different compared to, say, a hotel trip.
– If only we could get more metal culture back here in Oulu. However, the bands come from here, Hirvilamimi says.