Zen Café

We’ve only ever dared to dream of writing these words: Zen Café, one of Finland’s most beloved rock bands of the late ’90s and early 2000s, are returning to Ilosaarirock in July 2027!

Active from 1992 to 2007, Zen Café became one of the most influential Finnish rock bands of their generation. The trio of Samuli Putro, Kari Nylander and Pete Parkkonen had a rare gift for turning everyday observations, love and the contradictions of being human into deeply resonant lyrics and songs that would stay with generations of Finns. Tracks like Todella kaunis, Aamuisin and Piha ilman sadettajaa have long since earned their place in Finnish music history.

More than twenty years ago, Samuli Putro named Zen Café’s 1999 Ilosaarirock show as one of the band’s three best performances of all time. Now, 28 years later, there’s a chance to give that list an update. And opportunities like this won’t come around forever: the band have announced that they’ll be saying their final goodbyes to the stage for good after summer 2027.

So this July, we have one mission together: to make this a show we’ll still be talking about 28 years from now!