Madonna will not be performing in Finland during her world tour this year, even though the Finnish media initially reported that she would. On her two previous tours Madonna's concerts drew huge, enthusiastic crowds of fans to concerts in Helsinki. This time, her closest concert will be in Stockholm.
The tours of many other top-flight international artists will not include Finland this year. Nina Castrén, the CEO of concert organizer Live Nation, says that one reason is Finland's eastern neighbour.
"As long as the Russian market interests artists and they perform there, Helsinki works has a stopover. Right now, traffic in that direction is very quiet. Economic factors have certainly had an impact, and of course the Ukraine situation has. Now, we are not getting the benefits that Russia has provided", Castrén explains.
Nina Castrén also thinks it is possible that artists are concerned about general unrest in Russia, as well. For some, dropping Russia from their tours may also be making a statement about Russian policies.
American competition
The Ilosaarirock festival, held in Joensuu, has been having a tougher time putting together a programme than it has for years. However, the Russia effect has been slight. Instead, competition for artists from festivals in other countries is the sticking point.
In the past, summer festivals elsewhere in Europe were the main competitors. Now, festivals in the US are also chasing the same artists.
"There is a festival boom underway in the US and it is undermining European festivals because the big-name bands are in America touring in June, July and August. If a band has a gig in California one day and should be in Joensuu the next, it takes quite a magician to get the band here," laughs Ilosaarirock producer Petri Varis.
This year, Ilosaarirock will however see international groups again, including Britain's Placebo and Bastille.
Great expectations in Hämeenlinna
There will be few, but some concerts by big-name artists in Finland this coming summer. Helsinki's Olympic Stadium will host the boyband One Direction and AC/DC will perform at a new venue in Hämeenlinna.
Hämeenlinna's new concert park, with capacity for an audience of 50,000, will be in use for the first time this coming summer.
"A lot is being expected of Hämeenlinna and we'll see how it looks. We hope to have more events there. Renovation of the Olympic Stadium means that we want to use it a lot," says Live Nation's Nina Castrén.
