A dozen new names!

The lineup for the best weekend of the summer swells with a total of twelve fresh additions!

Ilosaarirock’s international programme welcomes British metalcore heavyweight Architects (UK), returning hot on the heels of an electrifying Helsinki show, as well as unpeople (UK), one of the most exciting and fast-rising new heavy acts to come out of the UK in recent years.

Formed in Brighton over twenty years ago, Architects have travelled a long road from the sharp end of their local scene to becoming one of the most listened-to and critically acclaimed heavy bands in the world. Their previous appearance at Ilosaarirock in 2019 is still remembered by many as an exceptionally powerful show – a performance that proved heavy music can be aggressive, deeply emotional and utterly liberating all at once.

Flipping a defiant middle finger to genre boundaries, unpeople are a four-piece British band whose music fuses raw emotional intensity, crushing riffs and irresistible melodies. Their sound is expertly marinated in post-hardcore urgency, industrial grit and the broad-shouldered confidence of alt-metal. Named among the UK’s most promising metal debuts, unpeople’s Ilosaarirock show will mark the band’s very first performance in Finland.

The newly announced Finnish acts include long-awaited returns to the Laulurinne stages by Olavi Uusivirta and Erika Vikman, pop superstar Mirella preparing to release her second album, rapper Costi playing one of his few shows this summer at Ilosaarirock, and Kontiolahti-born new wave artist louna0nline. Also joining the lineup are early-2000s Finnish metal heavyweights Charon, progressive melodic metal outfit Royal Sorrow, exciting pop newcomers ELLIMEI and Aatulove, as well as kukkatalo, who playfully blend indie rock, rap and funk into their sound.

– It’s a pretty great way to kick off the year with some line-up news, especially when it’s this tasty. I’m particularly excited about Architects returning to Laulurinne, a comeback people have been wishing for ever since their last visit. unpeople, meanwhile, are one of those breakout bands moving at an unbelievable pace, and this is exactly the moment to catch them live, before the final breakthrough hits, says our promoter Panu.

Previously announced artists for Ilosaarirock include Sex Pistols Featuring Frank Carter (UK), Arppa & Joensuun kaupunginorkesteri, Auri, Beast In Black, emma & matilda, HOKKA, ibe, Komiat, KUUMAA, Lauri Haav, Vesala and Vilma Jää. More additions to the festival lineup will be announced throughout the winter and spring.

Yeehaw – less than six months to go until summer's best weekend!