HELLO HELSINKI

Doc Lounge, Dubrovnik Lounge, Eerikinkatu 11, Helsinki Show map

doors open 18:00, concert starts 19:00, followed by film // € 6 + € 2 narikka

Concert & Film for the price of 1! Such a perfect combination for a snowy 1st December evening. Hanging out in Dubrovnic Lounge (Helsinki’s no. 1 film and festival bar, in case you hadn’t noticed), drinking a glass of hot glögi with your friends, while listening to the amazing songs of Aino Venna, also known as filmmaker Aino Ahokas to some. Last time I went to one of her concerts, the goosebumps just didn’t want to go away (and they were the good kind, believe me!).

If you didn’t get tickets to the R&A screenings of ‘The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights‘ earlier this year, now is also your chance to get a unique behind the scenes look into the World of Meg & Jack White as they tour Canada in 2007. Besides playing the usual venues Meg and Jack also play surprise concerts in buses, cafés and for Indian tribal elders. My personal favorite was the one-note concert. Don’t miss this snowy white pearl of a music doc!

Extra points for audience dressed entirely in red, white or black!

Doc Lounge Helsinki event on facebook

Aurora Field, Finlandia Park, Helsinki Show map

20:30 – 21:30 // free

Kylmä Lasagnette productions presents a one-off live open air performance by UKRETS at the Aurora field in Helsinki’s Finlandia Park.

The Helsinki and Brussels-based duo, Ove Holmqvist and Mark Hakonen-Meddings, performs their 2009 piece Lagmatics using an especially adapted set-up utilizing analogue and advanced live electronics.

The free outdoor event is sponsored by Svenska Kulturfonden and private patrons. Bring your own beverages and snacks and respect the peaceful and tidy nature of the park… meaning, clean up your mess afterward!

Check out Ukrets on Soundcloud

@ Pitkämies 2 / Myymälä 2, Uudenmaankatu 23, Helsinki Show map

18:00 – 21:00 // € 5

When the Pitkämies 2 Comic Book Store opened in May, who would have guessed it would turn into such a great generator for parties and concerts? The store is situated inside the Myymälä 2 gallery, which is mainly featuring young local artists, making it the perfect venue for down to earth (it’s actually ‘under ground’) artists and art fans alike.

Pitkämies 2 / Myymälä 2 are hosting a series of concerts over the summer and it sure looks like a rather interesting programme so far. All earnings from sold tickets will go directly to the artists!

“Surunmaa is a Swedish-Finnish band playing Finnish bar room blues & old hillbilly folksongs with some tango to boot. They sing in Meiänkieli (that weird half Finnish language they speak up north in Sweden).

Jaakko Laitinen & Vaara Rähä just recently released their debut album on Helmi Levyt and it is a strong contender for being the ‘summer album’ of the year. Balkan inspired Finnish folk with catchy melodies!”

If you can’t make it this time, you’ll have a second chance to catch Surunmaa at Musta Kissa on 7 July.

Check out Surunmaa on MySpace
Jaakko Laitinen & Vaara Rähä on MySpace

www.pitkamies.net
www.myymala2.com

@ Tavastia, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6, Helsinki
Doors open 20:00 // € 12

This Thursday marks the release party of A Life of Vice, the latest album by Helsinki-based New Wave / Industrial / Metal band Vanity Beach.

Recorded in Punavuori, Helsinki’s former red light district, the album clearly shows influences of what the area was famous for; the old romantic notions of sailors, pimps and prostitutes congregating in various bars and establishments, brought to the 21^st century with songs such as Love is Dead, Diving in Together, Garden of Cruelty and This is Not an Exit, to name only four of the ten songs featured on the new album, weaving between fast-paced and darkly romantic. Although as singer Jonas Karsten (vocals), guitarist Pontus Nybergh and Sophie Sarisalmi (synth) point out, “the real spirit of Punavuori came out at the after parties” where whips, perhaps didn’t play a key part but were, as all three state gleefully, along with a latex Batman suit, very much involved.

The easy camaraderie between the band members and the dry sense of humor bouncing back and forth at the table during the interview (to follow here next week) not to mention the songs themselves, warrant more than your money’s worth this Thursday night in Tavastia at 22:00. Though, be sure not to miss Circle of Contempt at 21:00, a band Jonas warmly recommends as well.

www.tavastiaklubi.fi
Vanity Beach on Myspace
Circle of Contempt