FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb 13, 2011
Contact: if.kcoriraasoli@aidem
A festive year ahead for 40-year-old Ilosaarirock Festival
- International artists include Aphex Twin (UK), Buzzcocks (UK) and Blackfield (UK/ISR)
- Finnish legend Sielun Veljet performs at Ilosaarirock Festival on 16th July 2011
- Local artists in the spotlight in the festive year
Ilosaarirock Festival published today the first part of next summer's line-up. The greatest surprise is delivered by a Joensuu-based band: Sielun Veljet, a legendary combo that threw their last gig together in 1991, will take to the stage on Saturday, making perhaps the most eagerly awaited comeback of any Finnish band ever. In addition to Finnish artists, the festival, which will take place between 15th and 17th July, will host a wide range of international artists and genres from reggae to classic heavy metal to alternative. The bands announced today comprise about one half of the festival's final line-up.
A total of nine international artists performing at Ilosaarirock Festival are published today. Friends of electronic music are spoilt rotten as British visionary Aphex Twin (UK) brings his massive production set to Laulurinne festival ground. Legendary punk combo Buzzcocks (UK), old-school heavy metal band Iced Earth (USA) and Norwegian action rock/black metal mergers Kvelertak make a lot of noise, whereas Ilosaarirock Festival's famously high-class alternative line-up remains strong with Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson's band Blackfield (UK/Israel), futuristic Japanese noise kings Melt-Banana, and post-rock/ambient fusionists Red Sparowes (USA). For reggae and world music enthusiasts, the best moments of summer 2011 are going to be on offer at Gentleman's (GER) and Ojos de Brujo's (SPA) gigs.
As for Finnish artists, Ilosaarirock Festival 2011 relies heavily on Joensuu-based bands which have grown larger than North Karelia, such as wildly popular Neljä Ruusua, Happoradio and Stella.
Ilosaarirock Festival's 40th anniversary is also a festive year for Joensuu Pop Musicians' Association, the non-profit organisation behind Ilosaarirock Festival. Besides, naturally, striving to make Ilosaarirock Festival better than ever before, Joensuu Pop Musicians' Association celebrates the year by opening an entirely new restaurant Kerubi and cultural centre Karjalantalo on Ilosaari Island in the heart of Joensuu and arranging summer concerts and clubs all over North Karelia and even in Russia.
Ticket sales for Ilosaarirock Festival begin on Monday 4th April. There will be 21,000 two-day tickets available, and more artists and the entire club programme will be published later during the spring.
