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Finland!

• Message 1. 

  Posted by tolhurst (U6377463) on Thursday, 11th June 2009

  From your temporary Finland correspondent.
  
  I've just returned from a marvellous week in Finland. Surely Finland in summer, with its beautiful lakes, woods and birdsong, is one of the most beautiful places in the world. And the people are so friendly!
  
  For our music-themed message board, I should probably comment on the Finnish music scene as witnessed by a duffer.
  
  I didn't go to any night clubs. Mind you, it appears these do not really open until midnight and would therefore clash with my cocoa.
  
  Finnish taste is far less grey and conformist than, say, German taste. In Germany, everyone aspires only to a Mercedes, but Finns love Cadillacs and Triumph Heralds, Volvo 140s and Ford Anglias.
  
  It's the same on the radio, even the pre-taped local radio played a cover of the Skids' "The Saints are Coming", and Abba mixes with polka, ballads and hard rock.
  
  Having looked that cover up, maybe it was U2 and Green Day.
  
  It's fair to say you won't find small groups of youths in Finland dressed in black and heavily into Goth or Emo or whatever. Nope, black T-shirts featuring death's heads are *mainstream* in Finland.
  
  I did note three teenage girls in bright pastel colours flounce by listening to Britney Spears (or was it Whigfield?) but they were just making a statement and being different by sticking out like a sore thumb. Ordinary kids aren't fooled by sell-out Eurovision pap (like Lordis...)

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Maine3002 (U14032277) on Friday, 12th June 2009

  Happy that you liked! But did you really experience Finland? No night clubs, but how about rock clubs? You didn't miss Tavastia Club (the #1 rock venue in Finland), did you? Eläkeläiset - ever heard of them? Check them out in Youtube for some hilarious stuff. Ever been to a Finnish summer festival? Search Flickr for ruisrock AND ship. Finnish indie music? Listen to Nick Triani's show "8½" online on Radio Helsinki on every Thursday 20-22 GMT. That's my Finland!

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by tolhurst (U6377463) on Friday, 12th June 2009

  Eläkeläiset - I had stored the spelling of these "pensioners" in case anybody replied.
  
  I saw them at a wild gig in Munich once which ended up with the floor covered in bits of glass.
  
  They can certainly play humppa!
  
  I don't know if there are any rock clubs where I was staying, as the wildest thing that ever happened there was when the men took over the sauna when it was supposed to be the women's turn.
  
  However, I do know the young people like to drive in donut shapes at Huittinen bus station.
  
  (I am old!)
  
  However, even the local radio is a tape. Or a modern DJ compact disc. Or something.
  
  The (main?) Tavastia club appears to be in Helsinki, a long way from where I was staying.
  
  It appears that "Tavastia" is another name for Hämeenlinna: and is linked to the Kokemäenjoki river. Well, I can report that the Kokemäenjoki is still too cold for swimming in this year.
  
  What a lovely place Finland is! The nightlife in places like Helsinki must be good at this time of year...

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