Vesala

If you were to look up Vesala in a thesaurus, the results would read something like this: trailblazer, multitalented artist, distinctive musician, award-winning lyricist, acclaimed performer, uncompromising creator, a true Renaissance figure of the 2000s. And every single one of those would be right on the mark.

Vesala has an unfailing ability to fuse the light with the heavy, the playful with the profound, entertainment with art. If there’s one thing you can trust in Paula Vesala’s solo work, it’s that there are always layers, and that you never quite know what’s about to unfold next.

Vesala stepped away from her solo project for an indefinite break in 2023. That same summer, Ilosaarirock witnessed an emotionally charged performance that drew a crowd to the Main Stage so dense and devoted it felt like a collective exhale the moment the show began. This year, instead of saying goodbye, we finally get to say hello again. Welcome back, Vesala – we have missed you!