• Finland?s SixDegrees english language magazine striking in finl and Illegal activities Page 8 Football fanatics On the road with the Kings Page 10 nick triani Music on the fringe Page 6 a feast of film HIFF serves up the best of cinema Page 18 Issue 7/2014 www.6d.fi 28.08.2014 ? 24.09.2014
  • FINLAND IN THE WO HELSINKI TIMES coMpiLEd By piLAr d HERITAGEDAILy. 16 MAy Evidence of Viking settlement on the Åland Islands HOBBIES, SPORTS & SERVICES Finnish intriguing finds from the Late Iron Age have been found in Kvarnbo, Saltvik, on the Åland Islands, within the framework of a project led by Dr Kristin Ilves. The geographical position of the Åland Islands (today an autonomous, monolingually Swedish-speaking region of Finland) between Sweden and Finland is highlighted in most of the few historical studies dealing with ?NEW the region?s Iron Age (500 BC1050 AD). Finds, consisting mainly of if you should Want to know personal ornaments of silver compliment your girlfriend and bronze, were unearthed on being plösö or paksuna? in connection to what is believed to be the remains of a 40x12 m large building. Sick of not knowing your Overall, the results pointyour skumppa? Kossu from towards the existence of an elite settlement at the site, Notasure whetherWhole to grain wheat and rye bread are a g comparable to only handvieraissa ful of places in thekäydä Baltic Sea or to käydä vierailulla? XIHUANETNEWS. 16 May region...? After Dark ALASKADISPATCH. 17 MAy on the Baltic island of Gotland. The imaginary enemy is called simply ?Country X? and is attacking from the east. This year the Swedes be working with neighFinnish After Dark is here to help, withwill everything from boring Finland on how to cool slang to chat up lines, tips on how to avoid being beaten up in taxi queues and the latestcounter excuses forsuch why a threat, and it will involve cooperation beyou are late for work. tween air and sea defenses. Finnish After Dark is a humoristic look at various FinnishAt the air defense batallanguage terms and phrases that are almost impossible lion in Småland, Lt. Col. Freto translate. drik Zetterberg says it is are theexercises spices of lateare night conversation among the exercise ?MAJORThese military no coincidence Finns,in which are almost always missedisbyabout foreigners. happening Sweden, playing defending the east The bookwith is based the Finnish Aftercoast. Dark series out all week, theonscenario Hepubsays the supreme lished in SixDegrees over the past fewcommander years. The series of the armed of an attack from the east. continues to receive excellent from readers. At the helicopter flotillafeedback forces, Sverker Göranson, in Linköping Lasse Jansson, has said recently that events who is in charge of commu- in Ukraine show the situaBuy online: www.6d.fi/fad nications, says about 3,300 tion in Europe can change or from major part. bookstores. people are taking Most very quickly, although there of the participants are in is no immediate threat to the south of the country and Sweden...? Sweden and Finland in joint defense exercise Come discover the many great opportunities Helsinki region has to offer to its international residents. Whole grai risk of diab ?A RECENT doctoral research conducted at the University of Eastern Finland showed that whole grain rye and wheat bread effectively reduces risk of type 2 diabetes. STANDARDMEDIA. 18 MAy. JOSEPH Renewable energ ?AMID soaring energy costs and deficit, foreign pundits and Kenyans living in diaspora met to discuss alternative ways of bridging energy needs in the country. Meeting in Helsinki under the caucus; ?Connect Af- Moving to finland as an immigrant in finland Where to find work? information about finnish or swedish Bringing your family to finland Housing Health services in finland education problem situations local information Natu inclu hydr pou char diffe rica? Univ es (F lead stitu invo er re TIM TAS Ba co liv ne ?A G Will mar helsinki, espoo, THE vantaa, kauniainen, St be Turku, Tampere, Mikkeli, Oulu, rovaniemi SATURDAY 27.09.2014 12:00 -16:00 ?NO TAPIOLAN URHEILUHALLI FREE ENTRY! www.welcomeweeks.fi finland in your language JulkaisiJa Helsingin kaupunki Publicerad av Helsingfors stad Published by tHe City of Helsinki tabl a vi clos ?The en ic c two ter Bren T laun sink ister Tuom way ber relat of th 730and ?F shar ests High
  • Contents 3 SixDegrees in this issue September 6 Nick Triani 4 Indie sounds have been a way of life for this Brit expat, filling his days performing, producing and now running his own record label. 10 Football fans We hit the road with the Standin Kingit, the most dedicated football fans in the whole country. 15 Tastebuds We try some South American flavours in Helsinki and feel the heat when exploring what?s on offer at Asian grocery stores. 17 Cultitude We Love The ?90s, #snapshot, Leon Russell, Il Divo ? The Greatest Songs of Broadway Live, Helsinki Comics Festival 2014. Also, find out what?s on at the cinema and in the gaming world over the next couple of months. 8 Finland on strike Surprisingly, fewer strikes take place these days in Finland than ever before. Even so, many that are staged are illegal. 12 Corporate social Responsibility The SixDegrees Team Editor-in-chief Alexis Kouros Subeditor James O?Sullivan Advertising & Marketing Aiman Kaddoura, Bob Graham, Ethan Shadabi, Kenneth Martin +358 9?689 67 422 Emails in the form: firstname@6d.fi Events for Out & See: james@6d.fi Love Story is screening at HIFF ? Love and Anarchyl. See page 17. Image credit: HIFF 24 Out & See Where to go and what to see in Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Jyväskylä and Oulu. 16 Chi Modu Companies today are more aware of their responsibility to society. Why? Writers and contributors in this issue Nick Barlow, David Brown, Carina Chela, David J. Cord, Yannick Ilunga, Alicia Jensen, Shaden Kamel, AnnaMaija Lappi, Tania Nathan, James O?Sullivan, Mika Oksanen, Eva Peltonen, Mari Storpellinen, Mimmu Takalo, Kasperi Teittinen, Jutta Vetter, Tomas Whitehouse Starters Photographing many of hip-hop?s biggest names before they were famous, this American photographer is currently exhibiting his work in Pori. Proofreading James O?Sullivan Layout & Graphic Design Kirby Wilson Print house I-Print Seinäjoki Circulation 50,000 pieces Publisher Dream Catcher Productions www.dreamcatcher.fi 6° DreamCatcher Vilhonvuorenkatu 11B 00500 Helsinki tel. +358 9?689 67 420 info@6d.fi www.6d.fi ISSN 1459-5680 All articles, pictures and graphics are subject to copyright. No reproduction or reprinting is allowed without permission from Dream Catcher Inc.© Dream Catcher Next issue is out on 24 September SixDegrees can also be read at www.lehtiluukku.fi
  • Starters 4 Issue 7 2014 Top 5 Jussi Hellsten / Flow Festival things on our mind this month... The time to acclimatise to ice-swimming starts now Ice-swimming ?cold turkey? in February will not resemble a beach in Turkey but more like hell freezing over unless you start getting your body used to it gradually. This is something you can see native Finnish ice-swimmers do. This type of dipping is healthier than donut-dunking. Malminkartano Hill, one of Helsinki?s secrets Have you been to the highest point in the city of Helsinki? This artificial formation is less famous than, say, London?s Primrose Hill, but provides a nice climb for walkers, solid route options for downhill bikers and rather lofty views over the Finnish capital. Suicides in traffic also wreck lives of bystanders The number of train drivers or truckers whose lives have permanently been changed by their inadvertent involvement in someone?s suicide is larger than what you might think. The inherent trouble in this is to ask somebody who no longer cares for his or her own life to consider that of someone else. Wild mushrooms available in Finnish forests In Finland there is this thing called ?everyman?s rights?. It means, for example, that you can go into forests and gather wild mushrooms for food at will, as long as you stay out of the immediate vicinity of people?s abodes. Just know what you pick, though, avoiding the poisonous ones; you don?t want to end up ?dead to rights?. Infinite word choice mysteries? Is there someone who could actually explain why in baseball ?a pitch deemed to be outside the strike zone and not offered at by the batter? is called ?a ball?? Isn?t ?ball? that little spherical thing you play the game with? Oh well. And why are there different words in English such as ?bat?, ?racket?, ?stick? and ?club? for something that Finns basically just call ?maila?? Go figure. Mika Oksanen Word on the street How do you get back into your routine after summer? Liisa That?s a very good question since I?m actually starting a new job in September. I?ll try to go to sleep a bit earlier than usually because during the summer I often ? well I think everybody does ? stay up all night. As starting my job gets closer I?m trying to move my inner clock to a timetable that suits a working person. I?ll also try to go to the gym. Danele I?m here for the summer so I have to go back to Italy for my routine. I?m a researcher at a university. I will go on with my training in swimming, and I will have to do my routine travel by bike bus and train. I?m looking forward to obtaining good results in the laboratory, and meeting my friends again. Veli I try to get into a better routine slowly, waking up a little bit earlier every day, nothing special. In the summer our routines are pretty much the same any way. I?m looking forward to starting new projects. Tuomas I?ll start jogging. Looking for new routes, other than the ones I did last year. It?ll take a month to get used to the new routine. I?m looking forward to finishing my old projects. Compiled by Alicia Jensen and Shaden Kamel. That was the summer that was Tania Nathan ?H ow was your summer???oh that dreaded question. No doubt most of us have returned to work and the golden days of heat and light seem far, far away. But let?s cast our memories back to the not so distant past and recall ? but not quite put a cap on ? Helsinki, Summer Edition v.2014. Revealing the first rays of summer festivities, the inaugural Streat Food Festival saw street eats land in a big way in Helsinki. Held on 22 March in the Tori Kortelli block, it was from here that street food scene really took off this year. Some of the most popular food trucks ? B Smokery, Texan BBQ, Soul Mama?s Kitchen & Salt ? sold out quickly while others had ferocious queues that snaked around the crowds of people. Seems like the good folks of Helsinki didn?t mind the wait, either. On offer was an eclectic mix of porcine delight (BBQ), tasty treats South of the Border (Mexican), fresh sweet oysters shucked while you wait (delish!) and the overly hyped but still popular cupcakes, cake pops and waffles. All this and more soon spilled over to the wider consciousness, as street food became the norm at festivals and street corners around the country during the warmer months. Next on the list of significant goings-on to catch our eye was Kallio?s Block Party. After last year?s event that saw the closing of one street to accommodate revellers, music acts and more, this year the organisers thought big. Held on the 2 August, the party took over all of Helsinginkatu and music acts performed on street corners, rooftops, out of balconies and featured everything from well-known musicians, to balladeers and DJs spinning tunes. It was grand to see the likes of kids out with their folks, rollerbladers with mohawks cruising along and people chatting to the mounted police unit that came on their horses to oversee the goings on. The overall mood was chill and after the event, while there was a mess left behind, not a single incident of violence or a fight breaking out was reported. Now there?s something to celebrate! Last but not least was the ever popular, ever expensive extravaganza that arrived in the shape of Flow Festival. This year?s crowd swelled to a 57,500 party-goers and those much sought after threeday bands sold out pretty quick. With an eclectic line up that boasted OutKast, the National, Bonobo, Pusha T, Skrillex and Little Dragon ? just to name a few ? its almost a shame if you didn?t shell out the 159 euros to make it to the most happening out-happened event of the festival scene. Home of the hipsters and fairy light lit buildings, it is quite the spectacle. But like all spectacles, if you?ve seen it once, haven?t you seen it all? Well, in this case, maybe not, as this year?s edition coughed up some stellar moments, Bill Callaghan and Tinariwen among them. After a brilliant burst of muggy weather, with helle days front and centre for weeks on end, now that the heat has gone, don?t fret darlings. Although the skies may be cloudier, the festive feeling goes on, with lots of happenings stretching well into late autumn. Keep an eye out for the likes of Love & Anarchy film Festival, Clean Up Day and Helsinki Design Week, among others, coming your way soon. See you there! Finnish After Dark Learning the Finnish they don?t teach in school Finnish: Rata A BL E AVAIL ATED NO W TR ILLUS N A K ! es AS r R BAC PAPE jor booksto a /fad rom m .6d.fi Buy f line: www or on English Equivalent: to do the rounds, to take a tour Although ?rata? are literally ?tracks? (as in the things skiers and trams move on), heading off on the tracks is more like taking a tour of the usual haunts and hangouts. While in smaller Finnish towns that might mean a beer in each of a half dozen bars, in Helsinki it could mean a long, long night! ? ? ? Onks mitään suunnitelmia viikonlopuks? No, kai sitä täytyy radalle lähteä. Ei viitti kotonakaan vaan istuskella. Lähetään radalle porukalla! Lauantai vai perjantai? ? ? ? Do you have any plans for the weekend? No, I guess we?ll do the usual rounds. Better than sitting around at home. Let?s take a bit of a tour with the gang ? Friday or Saturday? David Brown and Mimmu Takalo
  • SixDegrees Starters 5 SixDegrees Domestic bliss... Are foreign men really in high demand in Finland? James O?Sullivan A recent report in Helsingin Sanomat and Helsinki Times stated that many Finnish women are on the lookout specifically for foreign men. Drawing on the achievements of a certain Todd, this Australian engineer boasted a notch on his bedpost for almost all of the nine weeks he was here on a recent work trip. Lucky for him, sure, but is this truly a phenomenon? ?The problem is that [young] women are beginning to be more educated than men and struggle to find men of similar educational background. Such foreigners do exist,? the article quotes Minna Säävälä, a senior researcher at the Family Federation of Finland. Indeed, stereotypes may to a degree explain the popularity of foreign men, offers Johanna Leinonen, a research coordinator at the University of Turku. Leinonen points out in the same article that many Finns have traditionally admired Found it! Tracking devices make their way to the mainstream. James O?Sullivan N OTHING is worse than losing your keys, other than your wallet, than is. Seeking to make all of this a bygone memory, tech companies have scrambled to come up with tracking devices that can be easily slipped into your wallet, or conveniently hung on your key- American culture and have a positive association with the French via cinema and the written word. Given the amount of Finns who are significantly more travelled than older generations, one wonders if these perceptions are entirely valid. Sure, while immigration is still a relatively new phenomenon here, is it so that Finns only form opinions on other cultures via second-hand information? Furthermore, with Finnish women on the lookout for educated types, and apparently fishing in international waters ? locally ? to do so, how is this supposed to reflect on the collective intellect of local lads? In fact, the perspective of Finnish men is one glaring omission from the article. Do they agree with this? And how many Finnish guys prefer foreign women to those born here? Is it just a one-way street headed towards foreign fellows? Differences stand out, that?s a given, but one wonders if this is any more unique a phenomenon than what is experienced by newcomers everywhere around the world. The flip side of the coin sees Finns living or visiting abroad, whose unique Nordic mannerisms perhaps see them quite literally charming the pants off many. But where is the reportage on this? One hopes that it does not act as an incentive for people who have been born and raised here to negatively perceive ?strangers? who have recently arrived. At the end of the day, it appears to be just another awkward chapter in the tale of the integration of foreigners in Finland. Tell me about your city... ? El Gouna, Red Sea Marc Ryckaert El Gouna is a magnet for tourists. What do you think? Contact: james@6d.fi chain. What makes these really come into their own is their traceability on your smartphone. Norwegian?s own bSafe, meanwhile, is one the more interesting units on the market. In the case of lost keys, a cell phone application can be utilised to display their direction and distance. Furthermore, if you ever find yourself in trouble, then the Alarm button can be pushed to alert your bSafe friends immediately. Lonely heading out on a stroll? Why not invite friends to join you from wherever they are. Finally, not too happy with the way your blind date is heading? Well, bSafe is on hand with the Fake Call function. Now you have the perfect excuse to weasel out of a bad date or any awkward situation you might find yourself in. However, given the fact the reliability of Finns and lost property, one can also revisit the scene of the misplacement to discover whether someone has simply hung the missing object on a tree branch nearby. Alongside the various beanies and mittens that inevitably line various walking tracks through the forests during the year, lost property has a habit of reappearing in the place where it was left. How well do you know cinema in Finnish? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1. To film 3. Director 5. Actor 7. Drama 2. Screenplay 4. Animation 6. Comedy 8. Entertainment Test your knowledge of Finnish vocabulary by using the local equivalent. Puzzle by Eva Peltonen. Solutions on page 18. Shaden Kamel F ormerly deserted land by the sea located north of Hurghada, El Gouna not only hosts various hotels, it has many town-like features such a hospital, residential areas and schools. El Gouna?s architecture is quite unique, combining both modern and traditional oriental designs to bungalow-styled honeymoon suites by the lagoon. Most areas have an exquisite sea or lagoon view. Even though it is a prominent touristic area that welcomes people from all over the world, it is home to me. The beautiful sea, endless sunshine, dynamic nightlife and fine dining are the reasons that make tourists return for their every vacation, or even decide to reside there. My favourite beach is Mangroovy, now an internationally known place for kite surfing due to the nature of its open sea and shallow water. It is a splendid place to chill and watch the sea and sky filled with coloured kites. Swimming is best after walking 200 metres in shallow water; it gradually gets deeper until your feet can no longer touch the sand beneath you. The opportunities to explore the Red Sea?s beautiful landscape and engage in fun excursions are endless. Excursions could be categorised: firstly, soft water activities like snorkelling, canoeing, paddling or going on a crazy banana boat ride; secondly, there are the more challenging (yet still fun) water activities for first timers that include diving, kite surfing, wake-boarding, sailing, skiing and parasailing; thirdly, land activities include beach volleyball, tennis, go-karts, paintball games, golf and horse (and camel) back rides. And last, but not least, an excursion to the heart of the desert by quads, where visitors are welcomed by local Bedouins and hosted with an oriental barbeque dinner by the bonfire. Islands excursions that are planned by hotels in El Gouna should not fall short of a must-do list. Surrounded by the beautiful clear sea, colourful corals and sea creatures, these islands could definitely be described as heaven. For example, Tawila Island is an empty island known for its crystal clear water. It is suitable for a more laid-back excursion. Usually boats park in the middle of the sea yet near to the island, where it is shallow enough to walk, swim or snorkel to the island shore. Al Maymeya Island is the place to go for a lively and fun, yet authentic excursion. It contains a restaurant, bar, snorkelling service and bohemian-style tree-shades. It is definitely a place for families, couples and groups. It?s a lovely beach and the shallow water near the shore is suitable for snorkelling, especially for children. It is very likely that one could see dolphins on the way back from both islands. El Gouna is home to a variety of international cuisines ranging from European to Asian that cater well to individual?s particular taste. Oriental cuisine ranges from the Egyptian El Tableya restaurant located in Dawar el Omda to the Moroccan restaurant Mamounia, located in Abu Tig Marina. El Sayadin restaurant in Movenpick hotel and Offshore restaurant are also noteworthy, and both specialise in seafood. For those who love Asian dining, Vietnamese restaurant Saigon and Indian restaurant Tandoor, both located in Abu Tig marina, are known for their delicious dishes. For a more contemporary cuisine, Orient restaurant and café bar, located in downtown El Gouna, has been getting positive reviews for its tasty food and great service. Also, it?s recommended by people for breakfast and in the evening. A particularly favourite place for me for breakfast/ coffee is the Seventh Star café/ restaurant in Abu Tig Marina; the view of boats coming in and out is spectacular. Also, their breakfast menu offers a variety of choices including freshly baked pastries. As for the nightlife, there is always something going on, A beach party by bonfire at Mangroovy, late loud parties at Loca Loca in Abu Tig Marina, cocktails by the beach at Moods, Marina, Karaoke at Peanut?s Bar (both also in Abu Tig Marina) and Oriental shows in El Gouna?s Oasis. Overall, this beautiful town, with its combination of Oriental and modern architecture, beautiful clear sea, endless excursions and sunshine should definitely be your next vacation destination. Contact james@6d.fi if you want to share the inside word on your town.
  • We Met 6 Issue 7 2014 Keeping the Finnish indie dream alive Nick Triani keeps his distance from the musical mainstream, making sounds on the fringes. Text James O?Sullivan, images Tomas Whitehouse. W EAVING THROUGH the various pieces of dismantled stages and equipment, the scene at Suvilahti is one of a great sigh, as the remnants of this year?s Flow Festival are being swept up and packed away for another year. I turn a corner and am almost run over by an overzealous forklift operator. A sea of broken glass lines the asphalt where the champagne tent once stood. Amidst the chaotic buzzing of people and vehicles all around me, music producer and boss of Soliti Records Nick Triani emerges quietly from a doorway to my right and waves me over. A veteran of the UK indie scene, both on stage and off, the Englishman settled in quickly after moving here in 1998. Having been a member of Supermodel, the lo-fi outfit signed to Colombia Records, he made the decision to move to Finland after the band crumbled in the wake of lineup changes and his girlfriend at the time was accepted into university here. Gaining traction almost immediately, he has gone onto produce more than 50 records and work in the music industry as an A&R man. Radio Helsinki DJ would also be swiftly added to his growing list of achievements. Now, as boss of his own music label Soliti, Triani?s vision for promoting indie sounds continues to gather momentum, garnering good buzz both locally and abroad. Overseeing a growing portfolio of artists that includes his wife, acclaimed singer-songwriter Astrid Swan, Cats On Fire, Manna, Gim Kordon and many others, his is a success story in an industry relentlessly downsizing in the Digital Age. Calmly leading me up the stairs to his office, his subdued manner is amiable, yet disinclined to allow any enthusiasm for music break a conversational sweat. Seated at his desk, he takes the occasional sip from a cup of takeaway coffee and proceeds to share the tale of his time in Finland. Was it your game plan that you would get involved in music as soon as you arrived here? Not particularly. With Supermodel we played SXSW in Austin in March ?98. I met this guy on the street and he told me he was from Sweden, and to go and check out his band, Mummypowder. We did and he gave me his CD. All the time I thought they were Swedes. So, when I eventually arrived in Finland with my girlfriend, I was unpacking a few records I had brought with me, and I saw there was a Finnish phone number on the CD. I called it and found out that the band was Finnish and they were about to make their debut album, and I pretty much got the production gig in two days. Talk about landing on your feet? Yeah, it was really. I had a lot of common interests musically with the band? they were looking for a different sound that was maybe not on offer in Finland at that time. Of course, I had done some production in the UK, so I had some experience. That fell neatly like that. I don?t know if that album did particularly well, but quite quickly I got to know a lot of people in the music scene. Actually, while I was making that first album I met Toni Wirtanen from Apulanta. I did a few records with them? they were
  • We Met 7 SixDegrees really successful and that kind of established me. I?ve been producing ever since, recording and mixing. Did you have to adjust your producing methods to the Finnish bands? No. Actually in those days there was more of a budget to make records? there isn?t anymore. When I started you could always have an engineer? nowadays, in the indie sector especially, budgets don?t stretch to having an engineer and a producer. I used to have arguments with some very trained people. Of course, making a record with a band is about what the band actually wants, so if you have a really great band then that relationship works really well. Was it difficult to establish a rapport with the bands here? Not at all. I?m pretty easy going. When I work with bands a lot of stuff goes on before I go to the studio? it?s a long process making a record. It is rare that you just go straight to the studio, as there is a lot of rehearsing beforehand. Especially nowadays that the budgets are tight, you have to go to the studio and make sure the band is comfortable and that they can perform. Hopefully, everyone playing knows what they are doing, so they can feel relaxed and perform well. There?s a lot of preproduction involved in the process. The music industry has endured a big squeeze in recent times, struggling to cling to dwindling profits as the business adjusts to the influence of the Internet. In the midst of this, why start a record company? Well, I started doing some A&R in Finland around ten years ago. I was involved in this short-lived label, Delphic, that released five or six albums. Not long after that I then got employed by the legendary indie label Johanna Kustannus, and I started doing A&R there. That must have been 2008. At that time the industry was quite healthy to a certain degree. It was very much the conventional way of releasing a record and physical retail being very strong. Johanna used to be Love Records, so it was a very artist-friendly label ? something I?ve always liked. The company got sold in 2010/2011 and I lasted six months then got fired. A lot of the bands I worked with got dropped. When I started Soliti, I guess it was a reaction to what had happened. I just wanted to keep working with bands in an A&R capacity, so I started the record label. I picked up a lot of the bands that had been dropped or I had been negotiating with before the changeover. It was the English-language thing; Johanna?s new strategy was to focus on the Finnish-language market. How does it work then, when you take a bunch of Englishsinging bands and start another record company here in a Finnish-dominated market? When I started the label I wanted to do something different. Having worked for many years in a big indie, it was very established and had a certain way of doing things, some of which I thought were unnecessary. I think it?s always about trying to reach your audience. The way a lot of labels work is that they try and reach everybody at once. I think indies are great at taking leftfield stuff and moving it to the centre? giving it some exposure to the mainstream. We also wanted to get stuff abroad, and get a lot of attention. Now with the Internet, not only does the exposure come back to Finland and you read about it, but a lot of music fans in Finland read the international press. You are able to build some buzz on a band with a combination of international and Finnish media. If you can do that, the reputation grows everywhere. It?s been nice, as very early on we started getting really good exposure abroad, and that gave the label some kind of credibility. There?s not really any compromise with the artists; people pretty much do what they want ? within limits. What we release is what they want to release. That was a real distinction. With the bands that used to be signed to Johanna and the changeover that happened, those artists lost access to the albums they had recorded for the label. Consequently, one of the ideas for Soliti was that artists would own their recordings. We would do master deals? we just license the music from the artist. Why make that decision, from a business perspective? Well, I think it?s fair. In 2014 if an artist doesn?t own their music then in my opinion there?s something seriously wrong. It?s happening more and more. A lot of indies abroad operate like this. I think we have created a situation in the music industry now where things are really hard for the artist. I think it?s really okay to try and give something back. Of course, there have been endless debates about streaming and how little artists get. Well, I think we have to be supporting the artists, as they will just stop doing stuff if they are not getting anything for their music, or alternatively being lumbered with some huge debt. That was the initial thinking behind it. As a business practise, I do think we do attract bands because of this policy. For smaller and new artists it?s hard to get a deal nowadays, so a lot of acts are making their own records, and finding labels like Soliti to release them. Of course, we do all of the manufacturing, the promo, marketing etc., so it?s not like they aren?t getting anything. I think the bands have been happy; I have not had any complaints so far. Are you satisfied with the way things are going? Yeah, I think that the profile of the label is getting bigger all the time. I think it?s just what your expectations for a record label to be these days that we need to focus on. I think for an indie label it is about creating some longevity for the artist. I think it?s really important that new bands can keep material coming out, the same for a label as well. ?W e have to be supporting the artists, as they will just stop doing stuff if they are not getting anything for their music.? What is the purpose of a label in 2014 ? is it just about selling records? I?m not so sure about that. In this day and age it?s about creating an aesthetic, a platform for artists to be discovered, or for the music to get out there and reach an audience through various platforms. People consume music in so many different ways now? it?s not just about a record landing in a shop. Of course, we want people to buy everything ? for the artist it is really important, as they find a platform for exposure ? without spending thousands of euros doing so. That?s the idea of the label: it?s multifunctional. How do you see the current state of the music industry: a bunch of difficult challenges or exciting opportunities? I think both. It is a really difficult challenge. Obviously, money is needed to operate. At the same time it is really exciting as everything is worldwide now. Of course, we want to do well in Finland because it?s where we are based. Most of the bands are here. As a music fan there is so much good music out there and it is so accessible. In regards to the music business, I don?t try and follow that so much. For many years there?s been a massive discussion about what the format is and now it is very much leaning towards streaming services. But physical is still the biggest thing for now. So I would really appreciate it if there would be some innovation there. It really makes no sense to me that you have this huge piece of the pie where everyone is almost taking it for granted, and almost everyone is getting excited about this smaller part of the pie. Of course, it will grow until something else comes along, something else always does come along, some new innovation. I think the Finnish industry is very particular. There has never been a download culture here. What?s happened is that the Finnish industry has gone from physical straight to streaming. It?s missed the download part, which has been the mainstay of the UK, US and Japanese industries in the last ten years, for example. What it has meant is that revenues will decrease, as streaming just doesn?t generate as much, especially in a country where you have such a small population. It?s a brave choice by the industry here, but I?m not sure if it is the wisest one. We?ll see what happens. Sadly I think there are not that many people taking risks. We really need the industry to start taking risks and try to rejuvenate the market on all platforms. We are seeing many bands that cannot get a record contract, or many are heading straight abroad and can?t be bothered with the Finnish music industry. Some of those are breaking through, like Mirel Wagner and Jaakko Eino Kalevi, and are signed to really big, respected indie labels overseas. I don?t think the Finnish industry can afford to let that talent escape. Development of a certain kind of artist has become the preserve of the indie label: you try and develop a band over a number of albums, not just say, ?here is that one album that didn?t sell? and then drop the act. At the same time it?s even harder to do that in this day and age for all labels, due to the unpredictability of the music market. What would cause you to drop a band from Soliti? If I thought a record was truly awful I?d tell the band that either they have to record another one, or if not I probably wouldn?t release it. I?ve been really fortunate that everything I have put out I have totally believed in 100 per cent. Of course some releases could have gone better as far as the audience that particular release has reached. There is so much focus on the first week of sales or the first month. I don?t believe in that. One thing we do a lot in the label is that we try to keep all the releases we have valid. It?s not just some back catalogue ? we really value it. That?s something the industry needs to look at. Music has become very disposable in a way. The way it?s released and distributed, there?s literally a one-week window for a lot of records and I think we need to step back a bit from that mentality. With those really good releases we need to give them some support for a longer period of time and keep reminding people about them. I think that creates a positive vibe ? if you really persevere with the music releases you believe in. For me there?s not been a better time for young talent in Finland. People are finding a way to get their music out and there are so many young bands. It is a fantastic time. I wish the mainstream would pick up on that now, there is a real wave of this great talent and maybe it?s right under the radar, but if you scratch a bit you?ll find it. What are you looking for in an artist at Soliti? They have been saying that labels are dying out ? certainly not with the amount of demos I get every week. We get them from all over the world, all types. I think it?s just about loving something. If I really love it, that?s the bottom line. I don?t think that this will sell ?x? amount, but if it is a really great record of what we want to do, and it fits into what we are doing as regards to aesthetic and attitude, then I think that?s the main thing. I?ve been offered some things that I probably should have taken on, but I don?t think that really worked with the label vision. So you have to make those choices sometimes. The label is growing all the time so there is no need to do anything desperate, like ?we need some big hit?. Do you get a lot of foreigners living here contacting you, being that your artists are predominantly singing in English? No, not really. I can?t think of any actually. Is there much of a scene here of expat musicians? I know a few. I don?t know if there is a scene for that at all. I know there is a couple of guys who put on a club, Skin and Bones. Another American guy puts on things in Semifinal. I know a lot of foreigners here ? an American guy Michael played in my old band Treeball ? but there?s not any scene I know of. Maybe there is but I?m just not involved in it. [laughs] Back when you started here, how was the response from Finns in the music industry to you, an English speaker, coming into their world? Well, that?s been a bit mixed. I?d say 99 per cent of people have been very welcoming and great, but, of course, you get situations where I?ve had some funny comments. I remember a time when I was working with Johanna and I was doing a Love records reissue and someone made a comment that this is the heart of Finnish music and some foreigner shouldn?t be dealing with this stuff. I?ve had these kinds of comments all through my time here. I think Finland is quite interesting with the race issue. Now even more foreigners are here than ever before. But I think there?s a lot of naivety and ignorance that goes on with people?s attitudes. I think it?s mainly to do with the fact that Finns don?t have so much experience interacting with foreigners. I work with this Swedish artist called Prince Of Assyria, who?s born in Iraq. He looks pretty Muslim shall we say. He played in the north of Finland and said he was getting a lot of aggressive attitudes aimed at him. I think that has a lot to do with the fact that Finns outside of the big cities haven?t had so much experience interacting with foreigners. I don?t think it?s intentionally racist, I just think it?s naive. Maybe that?s a nice way of looking at it. As far as I?ve been treated, certainly within the industry it has been fine. There has definitely been a certain level of acceptance. Do you feel you are part of society here? Yeah, absolutely. I really love it here. I?ve got a couple of kids here? one of them is now 13. Having kids has kept me here. I don?t know if I hadn?t had kids, and hadn?t a relationship, maybe I would have moved away at some point. But I can?t really complain, I really love being in Finland. It?s great. I don?t miss anything about London or the UK ? other than friends and family of course. Still, I don?t miss anything culturally. I?m a real culture junkie. It?s not like I?m missing anything. When I moved here I missed seeing really great bands, but that has really changed in the last 10 years. Everyone comes to play here now. Looking over everything you have achieved related to music, what does music actually mean to you? Music is just something that I?m really into. I listen to music all day and I am as enthusiastic about music as when I got my first record. I don?t analyse my involvement so much, it?s just something that I do and something that I?m passionate about. Date and place of birth: 3 March 1966, Croydon, UK. Family: Married and I have two kids. Education: Left school with two 0 levels and got kicked out of college. Finally got all my 0 levels, then dropped out to start a band. My three desert island discs are? White Light/White Heat, Velvet Underground; New York, Tendaberry, Laura Nyro; Crumbling the Antiseptic Beauty, The Felt. Something I miss about England is? fish and chips. Immigrants in Finland are? few compared to anywhere else.
  • SixSociety Degrees 8 Issue 7 2014 Column Last chance to see In a pattern repeated across the East Africa, between 1976 and 2014, Tanzania?s Selous National Park lost 88 per cent of its elephant population. From a population of more than 100,000 animals, there are now only a little over 10,000 left. Lost is a polite word; in actuality they were murdered. The impacts of this extend far outside the park itself; ecology changes, tourism numbers drop off, and jobs are lost both directly and indirectly. To make matters worse, the elephants were not a victim of governmental indifference, but of active collusion. An investigation found that key figures within several ministries were being paid to ensure that ivory could be safely and illegally shipped abroad. Finland striking ? Thankfully, the Tanzanian authorities have responded, and are making bullish noises about the populations expanding. Certainly that is possible; in Ruaha National Park the elephant population has risen from 10,000 to close to 14,000, thanks largely to the park?s extraordinary remoteness and dedicated rangers. ?R hino may be extinct within ten years, tigers within twenty, and we could lose lions and East African elephants within our lifetimes.? The idea that poachers be simply rounded up and imprisoned sounds relatively easy, but the reality is much more difficult. Poachers these days have access to helicopters, sniper rifles and even night-vision equipment. They have the resources to bribe almost anyone. More park rangers would help, but then Selous is twice the size of Switzerland. The main problem is the herbal medicine trade in China, but massive amounts of ivory also end up as chop sticks, jewellery or ornaments. Rhino horn costs more per gram than cocaine, largely because of the fictional belief that it can be used to treat fever and impotence. Although it is easy to blame all of this on China, western hunters also contribute to the destruction. Some 600 lions are shot each year in the name of sport, with 60 per cent of those kills being shipped to the US as trophies. Although there is very little evidence that Finns are contributing to the loss of species in Africa, this is not an issue we can be complacent about. Unless dramatic action is taken, black rhino will be extinct within ten years, tigers within twenty, and we could lose lions and East African elephants within our lifetimes. Perhaps the best way to make a difference is to go holiday. Spend a week on safari and you help save these animals in two ways; your park fees directly help fund rangers, and the money you spend on guides, food, hotels and buses helps foster the local tourism industry. The more people who work in tourism, the more pressure there is on poachers to leave it alone. ThE first time I saw a baby elephant running across the Savannah I was moved almost to tears by how beautiful and funny and human it looked. But what hurts me more is the idea that my children may never get to see the same sight. striking out? Despite the publicity, fewer strikes take place in Finland than before ? but many of them are illegal. strikes, this hardly serves to attract investments there.? Looking at the issue from the employee standpoint, Senior Advisor in collective bargaining for the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) Katarina Murto sees a strike as being the last-resort means for the workforce to try and make an impact on things. ?First and foremost the idea is to discuss locally at workplaces the reasons that have given rise to problems ? to find answers to the question, ?Why employees would go on strike?,? she states. Murto points to the fact that approximately half of all industrial action relates to negotiations between the employer and the employees regarding workforce reductions, which have been very common in recent years. ?On many occasions, the employees have considered it unsatisfactory for the employer not to abide by the spirit of the law regulating these negotiations, but merely dictate what will take place. Employees thereby have taken action.? Murto then highlights that the number of strikes here in Finland is significantly fewer than in the ?70s and ?80s. Mika Oksanen I n mid-June this year, almost 2,000 stevedores in Finland went on a day-long strike. Made up of members of the Transport Workers? Union (AKT), their action was in reaction to staff practices applied by a Russian shipping company. As a result, Finnish ports were shut down for the duration of the strike. In a press release, Ilpo Kokkila, Chairman of the Board of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), the leading business organisation in Finland, condemned the strike, due to its harmful effect on Finnish exports and job protection in this country. But did AKT and the stevedores go wrong, and if so, where? ?The effects to the economy were manifold and cumulative,? states Minna Etu-Seppälä, a specialist in labour legislation and collective bargaining policies at EK. ?Shutting down the ports costs a lot of money, not just for the shippers, but the entire logistics chain, the manufacturing industry and various services. Think about the interruptions in the delivery of raw materials or perishable foods and the need for overtime after the strike. If a country appears very prone to Industrial actions in Finland ? 1992-2013 400 365 350 300 250 200 150 191 171 168 163 139 126 91 98 96 65 112 84 84 76 97 91 92 2,008 100 94 2,007 112 2,006 For more information, check out: http://www.bornfree.org.uk/ or 121 86 50 David Brown is a language consultant and journalist, regularly covering stories in Africa, Asia & the Middle East. He has lived in Finland for over 10 years. 2,013 2,012 2,011 2,010 2,009 2,005 2,004 2,003 2,002 2,001 2,000 1,999 1,998 Source: Statistics Finland 1,997 1,996 1,995 1,994 1,993 1,992 0
  • Society 9 SixDegrees The science of striking The total number of workdays lost in Finland due to industrial action has also subsided over the decades. An expert in this area is Timo Toivonen, Doctor of Social Sciences and Professor emeritus at the University of Turku, who in 1972 defended his doctoral dissertation concerning strikes and social change Drawn to the topic due to the large number of strikes in Finland in the ?60s, the ultimate incentive for Toivonen was the metalworkers? strike in the winter of 1971. Lasting seven weeks, it turned out to be one of the last major workers? strikes in the country. ?At that time, the Finnish labour market was restless,? he recalls. ?Even though attempts were made to counter this through very comprehensive collective bargaining, this only made matters worse. Many fields of industry were booming, and the workers were not satisfied with collective agreements made to cater for the least productive industries; as a result, many strikes broke out.? Strikes in the eyes of workers How did this reflect on the lives of everyday people? ?I worked as a painter on building sites from the late ?60s onwards,? recalls Tarmo Pennanen, 67. ?Back then, collective bargaining agreements were made for one or two years at a time, and major wrangling took place between the parties regarding wages and working hours. The workers? side furthered its cause with strikes, which were initiated by our trade union. Strikes, or stoppages, used to be commonplace in the construction industry.? On strike twice, Pennanen was granted an exemption by the trade union to complete critical work that had to be done even during the strike, such as heating up unfinished buildings. ?This permit also entitled you to work on sites that were not part of the strike, and this is something I did as well. After all, I had a young family at the time, and needed to earn a living, as the strike benefits paid by the union were miniscule compared to normal pay.? Employees at Pennanen?s workplace would be informed of a strike by their respective union stewards. During a strike, the local trade union branch would dispatch ?picketers? ? site employees who were union members ? to the building sites to discourage strike-breakers or ?scabs? from going to work. ?This was strict; if words were not enough to dissuade scabs, even physical force could be used to drive the point home. Sitdown strikes were a common device to persuade the employer to get rid of a non-organised workforce,? Pennanen concludes. Strikes reflect societal turbulence ?The propensity for strikes to occur depends on the economic and political situation,? Professor Toivonen states. ?In the 1920s, which was an economic growth period internationally, there were a lot of strikes in Finland. But the number of strikes went down drastically during the economic depression that followed the Wall Street Crash. When times were bad, people were just happy to have a job. As the 1930s was a period of fascist activity as in some parts of Europe, strikes were considered communist subversion and were therefore to be suppressed.? The post-war years were particularly strike-prone for various reasons relating to political tendencies towards the left and the return to civilian life, plus, obviously, there was a lot of work available. The biggest strike during Finland?s independence took place in 1956, lasting three weeks and basically shutting down the country. ?Generally, the occurrence of strikes coincide with growth periods; there are fewer of them in weaker times, so they are cyclical as well,? the professor observes. Industrial action in the future Looking ahead, should industrial action begin to move in a new direction? ?What businesses basically hope for is to change the tendency away from illegal strikes,? EK?s Etu-Seppälä says. ?Legal strikes are obviously allowed when the former collective agreement has expired and a new one has not been made. We are worried about the fact that some 90 per cent of strikes in Finland are illegal, whereas in Sweden, for example, such action hardly takes place.? According to Etu-Seppälä, although the Labour Court has imposed penalties on illegal strikes, these have been too small. A fine of a few thousand euros is disproportionate with the damage caused, which can be anything between thousands and millions of euros per industrial action. As an example she mentions Finnprotein, a soybean processing company that went bankrupt this year. A number of strikes had broken out there, resulting in a substantial loss of business opportunities and production. One after another, these strikes were declared illegal by the Labour Court, but effectively it was the company that paid the price. ?The decision to go on strike is a tough one for employees to make and has an adverse effect on the atmosphere at workplaces,? Murto says, pointing out that strike benefits paid by unions do not fully compensate the loss of income. ?In conflict situations, employers in Finland have the right to apply their interpretation over that of the employees. Such cases can ultimately be taken to the Labour Court, but this process is very slow. In cases of industrial action, court decisions are often reached fast, within a week.? So, as with everything, there are at least two sides to the story here. Interestingly, many of us can see the validity of either side, as our position in life changes over the years. To strike or not to strike, that is the question to be asked both now and in future. Minority Report We take a look at the ethnic minorities here in Finland. The Slovenes Monika Kern A bout 2,000 km from here is a country shaped like a chicken. Compared to Finland, it is about 15 times smaller and has about half the inhabitants. Just around 40 of them have moved to Finland, according to Sasa Arhar, one of the active Slovenes in Finland. What brings them here, she says, is in many cases love. According to Arhar, Slovenes are most impressed by the way the Finnish system works in general, from regulations and limits, to enjoying pure nature and peaceful lives. As a negative they count weather, and some count ?cold Finns? as well. ?A minus at the beginning of moving here is also the language, because you have to speak it if you want to work here,? Arhar says. ?But, sooner or later somehow everyone learns to speak Finnish fluently.? There are two organisations that unite Slovenes and Finns. One of them is the association of Slovenian-Finnish friendship, Slovenia-Seura, which was established in 1997 by Finnish translator and publicist Kari Klemela. Klemela translated some works by Slovenian authors into Finnish and also made the first translation of the Slovenian national anthem Zdravljica. Since 1997 they have accumulated over 200 members. These are mostly Finnish people interested in Slovenia, Slovenes who live here, Finns who live in Slovenia and friends of Slovenia in Estonia. The official language of the association is Finnish. The association organises different activities for the promotion of Slovenia in Finland and for strengthening the friendship between those two nations. The aim is to keep Slovene culture alive here. Every year the association performs at the biggest Nordic tourist fair in Helsinki, the book fair in Turku, and sometimes gives presentations about Slovenia at the University of Helsinki. In 2010, the former Slovenian ambassador in Finland, Tone Kajzer, established an association of Slovenian parents and their children who live in Finland, together with his wife. Their official language is Slovenian and each child has at least one Slovenian (grand)parent. The association seeks to enrich youngsters with Slovenian culture through different thematic workshops. Earlier this year saw an Easter workshop. Here they made traditional Slovenian Easter eggs: flowers and leaves placed on eggs, wrapped in a nylon sock and cooked in water with onion peel. Whenever they organise an event, they don?t forget to remind youngsters of their Slovenian roots, via the taste of traditional Slovenian cuisine such as nut roll ?putizza?, buckwheat mush and strudel. Legal Immigrants 6D gets to know what it?s like to be an everyday ?new local? in Finland. Shaden Kamel M ostafa Morsi is a 24-year-old Egyptian who has been living in Finland for around six years. He has experienced everything from studying, working and travelling around Europe as an exchange student. His friendship with a Finnish family has given him the opportunity to embrace the Finnish way of life. What are you doing in Finland? I originally came to Ylivieska as a 19-year-old student at Centria University of Applied Sciences. I just recently received my bachelor?s diploma, so that goal has been achieved. I have also been working during my studies. How did you end up in Finland? Before coming to Finland, I was studying nuclear physics at Alexandria University. I did not like studying there and I was not optimistic about receiving employment chances after graduation. I told myself that I could try my luck elsewhere in the world. I was first planning to study in Sweden; however, I didn?t get a placement. I knew a Finnish family who suggested that I pursue my studies in Finland where education is free and good. I didn?t even have time to think if I am doing the right thing, I just found myself in the middle of nowhere, in a small town surrounded by snow. What was you first impression when you arrived to the town? Really really cold! It was 27 degrees in Alexandria and it was also 27 degrees in Ylivieska, but of course below zero. I thought that this town is dead, nothing is happening here. Obviously, I couldn?t take the cold and darkness; from where I came from, it seemed a little bit too weird. How long did it take to get integrated into Finnish society? I was lucky in Ylivieska there were no Arabs or Egyptians, so I had to integrate myself somehow. Normally, when foreigners arrive to Finland, they are concentrated in the Helsinki region and what they do is look for people who come from their home country or at least speak their native language. I thought to myself I have to get to know the people and the country that I live in. Was it difficult to learn the Finnish language? Well it is definitely one of the hardest languages to learn, but I didn?t study it. I just heard people talking and I repeated what they said. I had to get by with what I know and in time it got better. Little by little you can build on what you can know and start learning new words. When I had free time, I really liked visiting the Finnish family I know who lived near Loimaa because I had to communicate in Finnish with the little kids and other people in the village because they didn?t speak any English. What were your worries when you came to Finland? And do you still have these worries? When I arrived to Finland I was 19, so pretty young. I haven?t been anywhere else outside Egypt before. Back then all my worries were about survival, I had to check my bank account all the time. I started to contact sawmills for a job because I was very interested in the forest. It went amazingly easy, I applied to one place and I immediately got a phone call the very next day to come for an interview. I think these worries, nowadays, are almost gone. I don?t feel the urge to check my bank account everyday. You told me that you have recently moved to Helsinki. How is it like living here? I like it here; there are more people and more happenings. However, services in smaller towns are much quicker. I come from Alexandria, there are around 6 million there, so I feel like home in a bigger city. What are your futures wishes for your life here? Well, very tricky question. I don?t normally have big wishes but I hope life goes as smooth as possible, get a new job soon, get more integrated in Finnish society and speak better Finnish. What is your favorite Finnish word? I think my favourite Finnish word is Pohjanmaan kautta which means ?bottoms up?. Only people from the Pohjanmaa area in Finland say it before they start drinking. I do like the word; I don?t know why, but it just sounds funny. Contact james@6d.fi if you?d like to share your thoughts for a future issue.
  • Lifestyle 10 Issue 7 2014 Kings on the road Fans of Helsinki football club IFK take their support to new levels, all around the country. Rasmus Hetemäki ?Allez, Allez, Allez, Allez, Allez, Allez, Aleeeez, Allez! Then it?s Monday, Then it?s Tuesday, Then it?s Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Then it?s Matchday! Then it?s Sunday, And then it?s Monday all over again.? S o sounds a bus at 5 pm on a Saturday somewhere in Central Finland, as the song is repeated at times in Finnish, at times in Swedish, but for the most part in German. Twenty minutes later the pace of the song is getting faster and more intense. Putting the brakes on, things gradually slow down again with ?Alleeez, Alleeez? stretching on with no end in sight. The bus left Helsinki seven hours earlier with a bus full of ?Stadin Kingit?, the IFK supporters group, on their way to Oulu for an away game. Butch had saved me a seat at the back of the bus when we first set off outside the Opera House in Helsinki. After the initial morning weariness had subdued it became apparent that the crowd in the back has been on tour before. Behind me sits Peter and in front of me JV, two of the eight original members of Stadin Kingit, who have followed IFK to the far corners of Finland ever since the supporters group was first established in 2001. Since then Stadin Kingit has expanded into a few hundred-strong group. Despite their relatively small size, they are well-known in Helsinki and much of the country for the atmosphere they create and the passion they feel for their club. They?ve also earned a bit of a reputation for being somewhat rowdy. On their website their slogan reads, ?No matter the sport, always IFK?, but for Stadin Kingit, watching football is the main treat on the calendar. Now they are travelling northwards 600 km to watch IFK play in the second highest football division against AC Oulu. Unheard of in Finland To ensure a good following for away games and also tackle the cost of such a trip (this one includes a return bus ride and one night?s accommodation in hotel), Stadin Kingit have taken matters into their own hands. They have introduced an away game season card, something completely unheard of in Finland and unique in much of the football-playing world. Everybody is welcome on the trips: Among the younger people sitting in the front of the bus is an older couple, who have followed Stadin Kingit to many away games before on their own but this is the first time they?d ventured onto the bus itself. Also along for the ride is Henning, representing German reinforcement from Hamburg. As a 27-year supporter of his local team St. Pauli, he is used to crowds of tens of thousands at the Millerntorn Stadium. Although he has been surrounded by one of the most well known supporter groups in Germany, he is still impressed by the noise levels that 30-odd Stadin Kingin produce. Images: Karsten Henning He was also more than partially responsible for the ?Allez, Allez? chants (especially the German version), which still ring in my ears. I suspect these chants will sound in the IFK stands for many matches to come this season. Freedom on the road During stops at the various ABC service stations scattered along the Finnish highways, chairs and tables were brought to the bus. Thomas, a Stadin Kingi with a guitar, breaks into song as the Kingit set up temporary camp outside the rest stop: ?I?m free to be whatever I want, Whatever I choose, And I?ll sing the blues if I want? The bus is in no hurry as this is the first time that Stadin Kingit are travelling a day ahead of the game. In the middle of the Finnish Lake District, the bus driver, Pate, suddenly announces that the first swim break is on the cards and makes a Uturn towards a nearby lake. Without further ado, the Kingit jump into the lake for a refreshing dip. Before long, onwards the wheels of the bus turn once again, without a worry in the world. This was largely due to Pate, a seasoned Stadin Kingit driver who knows that sporadic chanting and general noise is to be expected when the Kings are on the road. Closing in on Oulu, the air is still thick with chanting and song. We finally arrive at our destination around 8 pm. Even after 10 hours on the road, some still complain that the trip up has been too short. ?I could easily have gone another 250 km,? one Kingi laments. On the road again. The Kingit find plenty to cheer about. Welcome to the north Close the border of Lapland, Oulu is an inviting destination, greeting us with some glorious sunlight. After a long night amidst the Tivolis and Amarillos and whatever else the city?s nightlife has to offer them, the Kingit stumble out from the hotel after check-out the next day. Gathered behind some road works, cars pass by on both sides as they bide their time. With hours to kill before the game and sore heads to nurse, they move closer to the stadium, which is located on an island. Setting up camp in the harbour where the Sunday market is going about its business, no one seems to mind the sleeping, laughing and noisy visitors from Helsinki. Henning, who had a tendency to disappear, suddenly appears on a standing paddle board in the water next to where the Kingit sit. In a flash he is gone; off again on a new adventure. As the clock draws closer to kickoff, the Kingit enter the stadium, with a great view overlooking the sea and surrounds. A drinking area has been set aside for the travelling Kingit, helping to keep their lips from drying amidst the revelries. Another version of ?Allez, Allez,? is being concocted to the beat of a drum. It?s booming beat sounds all the way to the far end of the stadium where the Oulu supporters are trying to drown out the chants in vain. In contrast to the shenanigans around me, the football itself is quite dreadful. The match ends in a disappointing 2-1 loss for IFK. But this seems to have no effect whatsoever on the Kingit who are now chanting, ?We had more fun,? before jumping on the bus for the long journey home. In contrast, IFK showed some real class at a home fixture earlier in August. Fronting up against Division One leaders KTP, here they outplayed their opponents before a packed Töölö Football Ground, or ?Bollis?, teeming with atmosphere. After the 4-1 victory the IFK players sat down on the pitch in front of the Stadin Kingit end of the stadium. The Kingit sat quietly on the stands above for the first time, after standing and chanting for the duration of the match. As the captain standing in front of the players yelled: ?Give me an I!? The Kingit and players roared back, rolling into the familiar call and response: ?I? ?Give me an F!? ?F!? ?Give me a K,? ?K!? ?What is it!?? ?IFK!? ?What is it!?? ?IFK!? ?I can?t hear you!? ?IFK!!!? The players and fans then proceeded to jump up and down in seventh heaven. Unique creation The IFK and Stadin Kingit have been able to create a football fan culture where the club and the people around you are more important than the end result after the final whistle. It doesn?t necessarily have to mean smashed bottles and brawls. But this is not to say that there aren?t any other corners of Finland with a strong football culture and great supporters, but it can?t go unsaid that the largely empty football stadiums in Finland and the lower-than-low interest in the domestic league could use a bit of igniting. The Stadin Kingit is a great example of how it can be be done ? to a smaller extent. Although, at times it might feel like fixing a bent nail with a jackhammer. But in light of Finland?s unprecedented opportunity to qualify for the European Championship being held two years from now in France, it?s good to know that the country also has a grain of football fan culture that can match the ones found in the major football countries. Hopefully, this will flourish in time for when our boys take to the pitch for the first time ever in a major international tournament. At least I can think of a few people who will be there singing, ?Allez Huuhkajat, Allez Finland, Allez IFK!?
  • Lifestyle 11 SixDegrees Trend of the Month Sports-related hobbies The final part in our series talks about the online offering of sports clubs. Olli Juusila Mika Oksanen Christian Zionists James O?Sullivan A s the world cringes in disbelief that the brutal IsraelPalestinian conflict rolls on, the lion?s share of people who had initially planned to make their way to the region during this period would have reconsidered their itineraries. Not so for a group of 60 Finns, mind you, according to a recent article in Helsingin Sanomat. Rather than shy away from what is going on, or bury their head in their hands in disbelief, these Finns have recently headed over to the war zone to assist and relieve the Israeli army. What makes them stand out even more in the crowd of volunteers, is that of all of those who have come to assist the army, they are the only group who are not Jews. Sar-El was founded in 1983 to support Israel, which was then suffering from a shortage of labour. By 2010 the volunteer group boasted over 3,000 participants, of which 85 were Finnish. These days, most of the volunteers come from France or the United States, pay for the trips themselves and also pony up the equivalent of a 68-euro fee to participate. Becoming more organised in Finland in 2008, 12 Finns headed to Israel that year. Nowadays, with the majority of them middle-aged and retired, the volunteers work in the Israeli army bases, warehouses and utilise service equipment such as communication tools. Work apparel is the Israeli army green field uniform. The volunteers? day begins with breakfast at seven and ends at four or five in the afternoon. Their evenings are filled with anything from lectures on the history of Israel to Hebrew lessons. Weekends allow the time to tour various parts of Israel to get to know the country. It is claimed that the IDF have saved over a million dollars each year by using these volunteers. The volunteer?s work helps to release the soldiers in service to complete other tasks. Member Kalevi Waris joined the Sar-El as a volunteer for the first time in 2003. ?We want to show solidarity with Israel and to stand alongside them,? Waris stated, in the Helsingin Sanomat article. ?It?s the mere love of adventure.? A lmost all sports clubs in Finland today have a website and may offer mobile services as well. Using the Internet, clubs and their members can exchange information, maintain contacts and fuel their fervour. Most clubs rely on voluntary effort; an example is the American football club Roosters in Helsinki. Olli Jussila, 52, is in charge of their physical training, but ? as is common for sports clubs with limited resources ? also has a hand in other matters such as club website maintenance. Is there a need English-speaking people as writers and in other tasks? ?We always have new roles for people who are interested in the sport and want to collaborate with us on a voluntary basis ? just get in touch with us,? Jussila concludes. Similar encouragement can be found on other sports clubs? websites. The rest, dear reader, is up to you. JOB HUNTING EVENTS AND INFORMATION SESSIONS Peer support group for unemployed immigrants, Mondays 1st of Sep - 20th Oct at 2-4 pm Drop-in CV clinic, Tuesdays: Sep 9th , Nov 4th , Dec 2nd at 2-4 pm Requirements for working at Seure, Sep 16th at 5 pm Application assistance, Sep 19th from 1-4 pm Itäkeskus Library. Need assistance with your applications concerning job, housing or social benefits? Study in Finland, Sep 29th at 1-2.30 pm How to start up a business in Finland? Oct 8th at 3-5 pm One day job hunting event, Oct 16th at 1-4 pm Services provided by the employment services (TEtoimisto), Oct 27th at 1-2.30 pm Food hygiene- training and test (50 ?), Nov 12th and 17th at 5-8.45 pm Social benefits and taxation for workers and students in Finland (InTo Finland and NeRå), Nov 24th at 1-2.30 pm SOCIAL AND LANGUAGE EVENTS Visit to Nordic Culture Point (Kulturkontakt Nord), Sep 2nd at 3 pm Meeting point- café, starting 4th Sep, every second week on Thursday at 5 pm Workshop: Develop your idea with the advisory ring-method, Sep 24th at 4-7 pm Svenska på ryska (nivå 4), Mondays 8th Sep - Dec 1st and Jan 12th -to Mar 13th at 5-7.30 pm Vi läser tillsammans! Let?s read together! Swedish for women with immigrant background, Tuesdays, 16 th Sep to 16th Dec at 5-8.45 pm Swedish Language cafés, Aug 28th, Sep 25th, Nov 6th and Dec 4th at 5 pm Working and housing in Helsinki ? open lectures Thurdays at 17.30-19.00 11th of Sep, Get advice for your job search 18 th of Sep, Fresh up your job application 25 th of Sep, How to find housing? How was it that he became webmaster? ?The online offering of Roosters got a big boost in connection with a general development program we decided to start after a rough competitive season. Right at the outset we defined external and internal communications as a development focus area. I took charge of web site development, inspired by the online offering of my son?s school during his exchange year in the US. A new player who studied media technology, Aliaksandr Kureichyk, said that he could get involved in digital imaging and set up a Facebook account and a YouTube channel. The club chairman?s daughter is our photographer, I and some other people shoot team practices and other stuff on video, and we try to get more people involved in things like article writing and player interviews.? To what extent is producing web content a team effort? ?Yep. The workload can be quite large, given that our club has a half a dozen teams and it would be good to put out content on all of them. Our writers have plenty of freedom to write the way they want, perhaps apart from materials related to our top team in the Maple League, which may be somewhat more regulated. Obviously we try to coordinate the writing to ensure broad coverage. At least the WordPress platform we use is easy to learn, and we apply advanced solutions to produce and publish our versatile video content,? Jussila explains. ?One thing we do is meet and greet foreign players already at the airport and publish this online, so that their families back home see that their guys are safe and sound.? t *OGPSNBUJPO BOE HVJEBODF GPS JNNJHSBOUT t *OGPSNBUJPO BCPVU JOUFHSBUJOH JO 4XFEJTI t .FOUPS QSPHSBN '*," t $PVSTFT BOE FWFOUT for more information: integration.luckan.fi ! 8PVME ZPV MJLF UP HFU UP LOPX NPSF BCPVU 'JOMBOE 'JOOJTI DVMUVSF BOE XPSLJOH MJGF +PJO UIF '*," NFOUPS QSPHSBN BOE HFU ZPVS PXO QFSTPOBM NFOUPS B HVJEF UP UIF 'JOOJTI TPDJFUZ 'PS NPSF JOGPSNBUJPO TFF fika.luckan.fi '*/% 64 0/ '"$&#00, 'BDFCPPL DPN -VDLBO*OUFHSBUJPO THE HANKEN PHD PROGRAMME We support your journey to the PhD degree with personally tailored guidance, a high-quality research environment, and excellent international networks. ?During the doctoral studies, I very much enjoyed the professional support from faculty, the good research network and the collegial environment at the department.? Syed Mujahid PhD, Hanken Alumnus APPLY 1 SEPTEMBER ? 29 SEPTEMBER 2014 HANKEN.FI/DOCTORALSTUDIES -6$,"/ */5&(3"5*0/ 4JNPOLBUV )FMTJOLJ JOUFHSBUJPO!MVDLBO ö CSJEHF MVDLBO ö
  • Feature 12 Issue 7 2014 Businesses become more socially responsible Faced with increased public scrutiny, companies are trying to instil morality into their operations. David J Cord L ARGE corporations have the potential to make a significant impact on our daily lives. Through their operations they can affect their employees, customers, suppliers and even their neighbours. Because their influence is so pervasive, companies today are more aware of their responsibility to society as a whole. Dickensian injustices It wasn?t always this way. Historically businesses were thought responsible only to their owners. In the early days of the Industrial Revolution all considerations other than profit were ignored. Workers had few rights, no safety equipment and little pay. Pollution was endemic. Income inequality between the owner and the worker was as great as that between the lord and the serf during the medieval period. Charles Dickens made his career writing about such social injustices. Gradually things began to change. A century ago workers started to gain more rights, either through their own union organisations, legislation, or even violent civil uprising. Soon corporations became responsible to their customers, too: they could not lie in their advertising or sell faulty products, for example. The theory was that companies were accountable to more people than just their owners, yet even this concept continued to evolve. Much of the modern corporate responsibility ideal grew out of the environmental movement of recent decades. In Finland, the first awards for good corporate reporting were based only on environmental disclosures. A company was responsible for its actions in the natural environment which affect broad swaths of society. This was a concept of corporate social justice which extended beyond those directly involved in a company?s activities. The concept of a socially responsible company continues to develop. Now society believes a business should consider gender diversity in their workforce and contribute voluntarily to charity, for example. Even a company?s willingness to pay taxes without channelling business through tax havens is often considered a sign they are socially responsible. Generally speaking, corporate social responsibility is a way to measure a company?s morality. Morality defined There is no universally accepted definition of corporate social responsibility, or CSR, but there are some broad guidelines. A company is considered socially responsible if they meet or exceed societal norms in human rights, labour standards, the environment and corruption. The European Union claims that CSR is ?the concept that an enterprise is accountable for its impact on all relevant stakeholders.? The World Business Council for Sustainable Development has a more concise definition: ?The continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families, as well as of the local community and society at large.? Each company needs a bespoke social responsibility program for their unique activities. Grocery stores may stock fair trade products. Airlines may focus on maintaining a fleet of newer planes which use less fuel and so are less polluting. Software businesses ? an industry notorious for being male-dominated ? might make a special effort to recruit good female coders. In all these cases a socially responsible company has priorities besides making the highest profit. A clothing company could earn more income by using sweatshops but makes the conscious decision not to do so. But how much profit should be sacrificed to be socially responsible? Responsibility leads to profits Minna Aila is head of communications and corporate responsibility for the engineering company Outotec, which is currently ranked the third most sustainable company in the world. She believes there isn?t a trade-off between profit and responsibility. ?We promise the best return on our customers? investment with minimised ecological impact,? she says. ?For us, sustainability is not an ?add-on?; it is our business. We are taking sustainability seriously, and believe that in the long term we are therefore able to deliver better business performance. Thus sustainability is a vital contributor to shareholder value creation. ?And even better, we are at the same time able to create value also to the society around us by finding solutions to some of the challenges our modern lifestyle poses towards the planet and generations to come. This also contributes to the motivation of our people.? There is some quantitative proof of Aila?s assertion. For example, the socially-responsible FTSE KLD 400 Index has outperformed the broader stock market over the past five years. It could be that successful companies simply have the resources to be socially responsible, but studies have shown it to be the other way around: being responsible improves the chances of success. Ruben Hernandez-Murillo, an economist at the American Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, wrote that there are theoretical and empirical analyses which indicate socially responsible activities increases profits. Outotec and Kesko Outotec is the Finnish leader in CSR. They are currently ranked as the third most sustainable company in the world by The Global 100, which rates companies by criteria such as energy productivity, the ratio of CEO to average worker pay, safety performance and leadership diversity. Finnish companies are no stranger to the list: two years ago Nokia, Kesko and Neste Oil made the cut. This year Nokia dropped off the list due to the divestment of the mobile phones division, but Outotec are now ranked higher than Nokia ever was. ?We have set ourselves clear and ambitious long term sustainability targets and are working steadily to reach them,? Aila continues. ?Our mission ? ?sustainable use of Earth?s natural resources? ? sets the direction for all our operations. It therefore follows quite naturally that we are doing a lot. Apparently we have also been successful in telling about our activities. ?Being ranked as the world?s third most sustainable company is a great source of joy and pride for us. However, even though it?s a cliché, sustainability is a journey, and a company can never be ?ready? ? there will be a lot to do also in the future.? The retailer Kesko has also received praise for their social responsibility. Besides being consistently ranked in the Global 100, Kesko
  • Feature 13 SixDegrees Finland?s most respected companies 1. KONE 2. Rovio 3. Fazer 4. Fiskars and Konecranes 5. Paulig 6. Alko and Veikkaus 7. Wärtsilä 8. Valio and Stockmann 9. Snellman and Raha-automaattiyhdistys (RAY) 10. Altia and Helsinki Energy Source: TNS Gallup was awarded for having Finland?s best sustainability report late last year. Kesko has tried some orthodox ideas to be socially responsible ? such as a youth hiring scheme ? but has also been innovative, such as a smartphone app which allowed consumers to track the source of their freshwater fish. ?Assured indicators and descriptions in a corporate responsibility report provide a more comprehensive picture of the company?s operations and sustainable development than the traditional income statement and balance sheet,? Kesko?s CEO Matti Halmesmäki said in a release. Palm oil problems Neste Oil is another Finnish company which has been frequently praised, being placed on the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Index as well as the Global 100 list. Yet it has also been the target of considerable criticism. The problem is palm oil. Palm oil can be used as a renewable biofuel, which is generally seen as good for the environment. Yet clear-cutting primeval rainforest for monoculture palm oil plantations is devastating for the ecosystem. ?Now the technology itself is quite alright,? Greenpeace?s Juha Aromaa told this publication in an earlier interview. ?The problem is with the raw materials they are using.? Neste Oil has tried to make its operations friendlier to the environment. Its suppliers must be members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, all of its purchases are traceable, and the palm oil is certified by systems approved under EU legislation. In 2013 they also adopted additional guidelines where they pledge not to purchase raw materials from recently deforested land. Greenpeace has been a tough critic of Neste Oil, even opening parody websites such as Nestespoil.com to voice their concerns. Neste Oil sued to have the website closed down, but failed when it was deemed to be non-commercial criticism as part of the freedom of expression. It is no surprise Neste Oil tried to close down Greenpeace?s critical website, because the public perception of a company?s social morality will influence their behaviour. According to a survey conducted this spring by TNS Gallup, three out of four Finns believe it is important for companies to participate in social activities, help develop society and contribute to solving social challenges. This has an effect on the bottom line, as 42 per cent of respondents said their purchasing behaviour was affected by a company?s social responsibility. Immoral industries? A business?s reputation for social irresponsibility can even infect an entire industry. The mining company Talvivaara experienced the death of an employee at their Sotkamo site which raised questions about their safety procedures. Multiple toxic waste water leaks practically destroyed the company?s environmental credentials. Both the Lapin Kansa newspaper and Erkki Virtanen of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy claimed Talvivaara had damaged the reputation of all of Finland?s mining companies. Some industries are considered fundamentally unethical because of their products, customers or operations. Coal mining, petroleum production and weapons manufacturing are sometimes cited as irresponsible industries. Many large investors engage in ethi- cal investing and avoid such industries. The Kingdom of Norway refuses to invest any of their pension funds in companies which produce tobacco or anti-personnel mines, two activities which they see as immoral. Yet there might be hope for any industry. Greenpeace?s Aromaa thinks that even an oil company can be considered environmentally responsible. ?Yes, of course they can,? he said during the earlier interview. ?But what it requires is a change in business strategy.? Deception and greenwashing Companies know that being perceived as socially responsible is integral for their public image. A 2004 study found that Danes and Norwegians considered social responsibility more important for a company?s reputation than visionary leadership or financial performance. With this in mind, sometimes the temptation is too great for company marketers. According to Advertising Age the notorious Product Red campaign had corporate sponsors who spent 100 million US dollars in advertising to tell the world they raised 18 million US dollars for HIV programs in Africa. Finnish companies didn?t partake in Product Red, but they have occasionally been accused of greenwashing. The term greenwashing has been coined for marketing which is used deceptively to claim a company is environmentally friendly. Neste Oil has frequently been accused of this by Greenpeace. In contrast, Nokia?s mobile phone division did exactly the opposite: they had an excellent CSR program but barely marketed their credentials at all. ?Our marketing was about products, while sustainability was about processes,? explained Esko Aho, former head of Nokia?s corporate relations and responsibility, in a previous interview. Good corporate citizens Despite the occasional stumbles of companies like Neste Oil and Talvivaara, Finnish businesses are generally seen as good corporate citizens. The Finnish business community has a history of paying attention to corporate social responsibility. FIBS?s annual award for best CSR report dates back to 1996, when Neste Oil took top honours. The Finnish public also tends to pay close attention to companies? social activities. For instance, the gambling companies Veikkaus and RAY are not in an industry with a particularly good reputation, but their social goals of spending their income on domestic charities make them highly admired. Both companies are among the ten most respected Finnish firms. ?I dare say that sustainability and corporate responsibility are more a norm than an exception in most Finnish companies,? says Aila. ?It is getting very difficult to operate without a strong ethical value base, because all faults are quickly visible in the era of social media.? Liisa Rohweder, the head of WWF Finland, is pleased that Finnish companies pay attention to their concerns, but wants to see more. ?Finnish companies should take stronger actions,? she says. ?There has been a discussion about CSR for more than 20 years. No more concepts and discussions are needed. We need to act now.? Finnish companies in the Global 100 list of most sustainable corporations 11. 3) Outotec 12. 6) Neste Oil 13. 98) Kesko Source: Corporate Knights Some indicators of Corporate Social Responsibility ? Convictions for corruption ? Cost of employee health and safety ? Local purchasing ? Percentage of staff in unions ? Staff breakdown by gender ? Taxes paid ? Training for staff ? Voluntary contributions to civil society ? Work days lost due to accidents and illness Source: United Nations Past winners of Finland?s best CSR report 2013: Kesko 2012: Fortum 2011: Kesko 2010: Wärtsilä 2009: Outokumpu Source: FIBS Ry. http://www.outotec.com/en/Search-material/
  • Come and enj oy learning the ea s i e s t language in the wo rl d ! Finnish for Fore i g n e r s S ee our vast and absolutely fabulous course pro gramme! h e l a o. f i I nstitute of Adult Educ ation in Helsink i Helsingin aikuisopisto Tö ölöntullink atu 8, 00250 Helsink i
  • Tastebuds 15 SixDegrees Photo , s i h t s i t Wha exactly The weird and wonderful tastes of your local Asian grocery store. Heat! M ost people might think that food from afar has only one kind of heat ? the type that sears your taste buds and renders you semi-conscious. This of course, is not true. So how do you employ spices and chillies in a way that flavours your food without overpowering the palate? Read on gentle reader, read on. *note ? Chillies differ from Chile. The latter is a fruit of a plant while the other is most certainly a country of the South American variety! For the purpose of this article we will concentrate on the chillies used in Asian cookery. Not your average salmon soup (left). Seating spills outdoors (above). Favela flavours A breath of genuine South American air arrives in Töölö. Mari Storpellinen It?s Wednesday evening and restaurant-bar Favela is buzzing. Having been open for only a day, the amount of people is almost surprising. The age span of the clientele seems to stretch from 20-somethings to middle aged and beyond. And most importantly, everyone seems visibly in good spirits. As the name implies, the new restaurant takes its inspiration from South America. The place is painted in bright colours and spreads into three different rooms, seating around 70 people. In addition, there?s a terrace outside on Mechelininkatu. ?The menu is also influenced by South American tastes,? manager Niko Peltomaa confirms. Favela has replaced his previous fine dining restaurant in this same location. In Peltomaa?s own words, the fine dining has turned into fun dining. ?We wanted to keep it simple this time ? relaxed, easy, no fuss. Everyone?s welcome. Also, street food is something different in this part of town. In Kallio there are already lots of places riding the street food wave, but Töölö was still missing its own.? The Favela menu consists mainly of sandwiches and salads. With the sandwich, there are three different options: beef, salmon and bean. I opt for the beef, which proves to be a great choice. The bread is of great quality: firm, yet soft, and soy-chilli sauce compliments the beef filling wonderfully. A perfect snack for when that late evening hunger hits you, or when you?re out for the night and need something sturdier than just liquids to fill your stomach with. ?We bake the bread here ourselves every morning from a sourdough starter so it?s always fresh,? Peltomaa tells. Apart from sandwiches, the menu offers beef or crayfish salad, fish soup and a bean and rice dish. Peltomaa specifically recommends the soup. ?It?s got a twist to it, definitely not your average salmon soup.? And average it is not. The spicy, zesty taste can be tamed with some mint yoghurt that comes alongside the dish with a piece of white bread. With the sandwich and soup priced 6 and 7 euros respectively, I would say the quality easily meets the price. If you also crave for something sweet, there?s a healthy fruit salad for dessert. ?In terms of food, we wanted to bring something different to Töölö. We ourselves like the South American flavours and thought that those cultural vibes would add something fresh to the already quite extensive restaurant scene of Töölö,? Peltomaa says. Space for all A young woman walks in and interrupts us by asking if you are allowed to bring your dog. Peltomaa replies that pets are not a problem here. ?Great, then we will definitely become regulars!? the woman beams. In the near future, Peltomaa would also like to see live gigs played in Favela. ?We have been thinking about arranging acoustic nights or getting a DJ here at some point.? Street food has become a bit of a trend in Helsinki of late. Peltomaa observes that the usage of less expensive meat has generally become more popular in restaurants due to the economic situation. ?The recession has definitely played its part in the transition, as the street food style of dining and food making is quicker and more cost effective.? However, the Favela crew think that calling it a trend is an understatement. Although brought on primarily by the current economic situation, Peltomaa himself sees that the fun dining has come to stay. ?I think that the whole eating out habit has taken a new shape recently. People don?t cook at home so much anymore but go out to eat more regularly. Dining out in Helsinki is not such a big deal anymore as it used to be. People are more relaxed about it and we have responded to that easygoing mentality.? Favela Mechelininkatu 13, Helsinki Tues-Thu 15:00-24:00 Fri-Sat 15:00-02:00 Sun-Mon closed tel. 010 2928090 Dried chilli Long and dark red sometimes almost black, dried chillies have a strong and smoky flavour and a longer, more intense kick than fresh chillies. To use, crush or chop into segments and remove seeds for a lesser burn. You can also soak and grind dried chillies if the flaky skins bother you. Dried bird?s eye chillies A pretty fiery kick, dried bird?s eye chillies are often sold as ?extra hot? chillies. Caution is needed when using these babies ? fry alongside aromatics and remember to crush before adding to your dishes. No one wants to bite into one of these guys. That would be a night to remember for sure. Fresh green chillies A floral, refreshing flavour alongside the heat. Use green chillies in fish dishes and with eggs. Green chillies have a kick but can be more flavoursome compared to red chillies. Remove the seeds and the white membrane from the inside to utilise the flavour without the heat. Fresh red chillies Long and lethal looking, red chillies can differ in heat levels. In my experience, the red chillies that are available from normal grocery stores in Finland are less spicy than the ones from Asian stores. Nevertheless, red chillies can be used in cooking, chopped and served in soy sauce as an accompaniment to Chinese food or as a garnish. Its flavour is floral and sweet and the heat varies from chilli to chilli. Scotch Bonnet chillies Lethal yet fruity, the scotch bonnet chilli may look like a miniature bell pepper but it will take the top of your head off! Use them stews, to make hot sauces, tomato-based sauces, African dishes, with lentils or meat dishes, its uses are endless! Just remember that if you haven?t used scotch bonnets before, handle with care. Cut with gloves on, or holding the stem with a pair of kitchen scissors. The base of the chilli is usually the mildest while the seeds are the hottest. Do not use the whole chilli in your dish if you aren?t accustomed to spiciness! The flavour of the Scotch bonnet is delightful however, and gives a lovely fruity flavour and intense spicy kick to dishes. Szechuan peppers Mouth numbing and with a slow intense burn, this variety of pepper is not your normal peppercorn. Use the dark ruby husks of the Szechuan pepper as an integral spice for Mapo tofu or in fish dishes. It can be ?activated? by frying with aromatics and then simmered in sauces. Be warned however, the slow burn of the Szechuan pepper is totally addictive but will burn twice as much the day after. Bird?s eye chillies A relative newcomer to the Asian chilli scene here in Finland, this chilli is intensely floral and also wickedly hot. It immediately sears the taste buds but imparts a long and sweet finish. Use sparingly, best as an accompaniment to food in a side dish, chopped with care. With chillies, the smaller they are, the hotter! Tania Nathan is a Chinese-Sri Lankan Malaysian who loves her food and is often to be found rummaging through a freezer somewhere in Hakaniemi. Come say hi!
  • 16 Q&A Issue 7 2014 Chi Modu Caption The othertext side of the lens ? Chi Modu finds something to laugh about. Chi Modu Hip-hop, up close and personal. Yannick Ilunga S ixDegrees sits down with American street photographer Chi Modu, whose exhibition Uncategorized is on display at the Pori Art Museum until 14 September. The show showcases pictures of the biggest icons of the hip-hop movement, including Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige and Snoop Dogg during the 1990s, before many of them were famous. Today you are a world-renowned photographer, you have shot for publications such as The Source (the world?s second longest running hip-hop periodical), Rolling Stone and JazzTimes, and this summer you have brought Uncategorized to Finland. A long journey, how did it start? The minute I picked up the camera ? at Rutgers University ? I felt really comfortable with it. It was a way for me to move around and enter different environments with my camera in hand. Sure, in my family there was a camera, like when my father was taking pictures of me and my brothers and sisters as kids, but it was when at Rutgers that I really went for it. Was there any photographer that inspired you growing up? As you may know, in the States, with the exception of a few names like Gordon Parks and Roy DeCarava, there aren?t many commercially famous African-American photographers. So when thinking about inspirations, I lean more towards street photography, and more specifically into French street photographers of the early 20th century, such as Brassaï and Eugène Atget. In terms of contemporary photographers there hasn?t been anyone in particular that I would say inspired me. You have been enjoying a successful career for many years now. How would you describe yourself as a photographer? What is it that you try to achieve? The camera allows me to stare at people. Most documentarian photographers are very curious, so, as such, you want to learn more about others. Where they go, what they do, what they eat? What I want to do with my style is showing the community from inside the community, I don?t want to be just an observer ? I want to be both an observer and a participant. In addition to this, I also try to get the ?other picture?. Here?s what I mean by this. In July I attended the Pori Jazz Festival but, unlike most photographers at the event, I wasn?t in the front row that often. I was more in the back, trying to access and capture the moment from a different angle. My mission is to try to show you a perspective that you may not have already seen. That?s the creative challenge. You have been shooting for The Source, as Director of Photography in the ?90s. What does it mean to be a photographer for the world?s second longest running hip-hop periodical? When I started doing freelance work at The Source, it wasn?t nearly as popular. Hip-hop was starting to bubble up; people began to hear about the movement. At those times, there wasn?t much competition and that definitely helped me. When I was in photography school in 1990, I kept hearing about this hip-hop ?thing?. I knew it was going to get big. I mean, already in the 1980s there had been groups like Run DMC, but it was in the 1990s that the hip-hop revolution began to take place. And at the beginning, I didn?t even realise that the musical revolution was starting! And then you went on and became the most important photographer of the hip-hop movement. You took pictures of stars like Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J and Mary J. Blige when they weren?t famous. How did it feel to shoot those big names, when they weren?t that known at the time? The thing with very big stars is that you notice right away that they?re not like everybody else. Take Tupac for example. For my generation Tupac is like Elvis or Bob Marley. Some may even argue that he was even bigger, in a strange kind of way. He was my generation?s voice. Like within every kind of art form, there are different people. There are good rappers and then there are the Tupacs. I?m comfortable saying that I have been able to spot the stars right away. You can?t look away from them; you know you?re in the presence of a star as soon as they enter the room. I covered hip-hop during what some people like to call the ?Golden Era of hip-hop? ? in rock ?n? roll that would be the 1960s ? and I?m very happy about it. I think that it?s been great to be involved in hip-hop during those defining years. I don?t want to disrespect anyone, but I don?t think anybody is going to motivate me more than the Tupacs and the B.I.G.s I shot pictures of at that time. I also think that today there?s a different level of honesty compared to those days, so I?m glad I got the chance to did what I did, when I did. Until 14 September, art and photography enthusiasts in Finland have the chance to see Tupac, LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg and all the other hip-hop stars up close at the Pori Art Museum with your exhibition Uncategorized. What can people expect? With Uncategorized I try to bring a specific kind of photography to a part of the world, where people may not have the opportunity to get access to these subjects from so close. In June and July I had the chance to be at the Pori Art Museum and host my show? it was an incredible feeling to see visitors of all kinds! Through Uncategorized you can look into the eyes of these young black superstars, which I think is a very unique thing. Sure, people hear about them and read about them, but don?t get the chance to get so close to them. I believe that people having a better understanding of each other encourages peace. A lot of problems we have around the world are based on people being afraid. Fear triggers a lot of racism, insecurity and many other things. So, I tried to take the fear away by exposing things that some might be too afraid to ask about, even though they?re curious. Look at the Uncategorized pictures: these guys are human beings! The way I see it, the exhibition is not for the art per se, but for the people. I?d like to thank all the people at the Pori Art Museum, curator Pia Hovi-Assad in particular. She was really remarkable, I can?t say enough about her! She embraced the show and my work and really pushed Uncategorized to where it is today. I hadn?t been to Pori before the exhibition, but managed to do this kind of production ? which was done remotely, using a 3D computer model in New York, and then produced in Finland ? and the result was simply amazing. You can only do this kind of show when you have great people on your team. I can?t really express the amount of love and respect I have received from Finnish people. Unique and inspirational, like no other place! Earlier you talked about observing people, what they do, where they go, etc. Today, with social media, smartphones and apps it really looks as if pretty much anyone can be a photographer. What are your thoughts on photography apps like Instagram, are they good? They?re absolutely fantastic! I?m one of those photographers who loves the fact that there are more photographs being taken by all people. That really helps photography. And to those who would like to become photographers, be it using a smartphone or a camera, I would say this: make sure to have your own vision, to know what you would like to achieve by taking pictures. Have your own voice and make sure to take a lot of pictures? today, that?s a lot easier and cheaper than it used to! And what about honesty? A moment ago you said that today there is a different level of honesty compared to the past. Does this also apply to social media and apps, where people don?t always publish pictures that have been taken spontaneously, but rather a little staged? You see, that kind of photography ? where you ?arrange the environment? before taking a picture ? has always existed, even among professionals. There?s plenty of people that make heavily styled, staged photo shoots. We even included a social media aspect to the Uncategorized exhibition where we encouraged people that visited the museum, to upload a selfie taken in the hall to our social network ephotos.com in order for their image to be included in the show. So, even though it?s true that with social media you?re going to get more of that kind of photography, you?re also going to get more spontaneous, street and photo-journalistic photography. When it comes to me, I?m a documentarian, who doesn?t like to alter the environment, both online and offline. What are your plans for the future? We?re thinking of moving the exhibition around Europe for a couple of years. No other Finnish city, though. For now, I would like to leave Pori as the place that welcomed Uncategorized in Finland. If you?re reading this interview, but are living outside of Finland keep your eyes open, because the show may be coming to your city soon! More info: www.chimodu.com
  • Cultitude 17 SixDegrees A snapshot of Helsinki Live Nation Niklas Kullström James O?Sullivan T A detail from Flexing II. #snapshot Until 18 January Finnish Museum of Photography Cable Factory Tallberginkatu 1 G Helsinki HE digital age we reside in has ensured that almost everyone has a camera on their person at all times. In fact, never before have ordinary people generated such a wealth of photographs, and had the ability to share them with such wide audiences. On display until 18 January, the Finnish Museum of Photography?s #snapshot exhibition explores this concept, set in the context of our modern era. Seeking to update the snapshot concept, the exhibition primarily consists of shots taken by ordinary people. Drawing on images found online and historic snapshots, the exhibition takes a closer look at the phenomenon of selfies. Offering an overview of the history of the selfie, the exhibition also features new works by international artists that comment on the recent phenomenon. But what does this mean for the industry as a whole, when everyone has access to the tools to create? What of the quality of pics? Does this dilute the work of artists, when everyone has the means to express themselves? The exhibition exists as an interactive experience that can be enjoyed both on-site at the Museum and online. With the ?Curate your own life? section incorporating visitors? own images the extensive programme of activities also includes an Instagram walk and a selfie workshop. Elsewhere, contemporary artwork by the likes of Catherine Balet, Erik Kessels, Niklas Kullström, and Sisse Stroyer also forms part of the exhibition. Live for the ?90s primetime.fi James O?Sullivan W Armed with his huge early-?90s hit What is Love, HILE we continue moving forward, the temptation Haddaway is coming to Helsinki in late August to to look in the rear vision mirror at what has come help celebrate pop music of the era. before us for inspiration is a little too hard to resist at times. Keeping this in mind, the We Love The ?90s festival is being held at Helsinki?s Suvilahti on 29 and 30 August. Taking over the former gasworks, the two-day bill packed with familiar names of a former, more fluorescent-coloured time, including the likes of Thomas from Modern Talking, Bad Boys Blue, Mr. President, DJ Sash, E-Rotic and Captain Hollywood Project. Looking next door, guests from Sweden number Dr. Alban, E-Type, Pandora, Basic Element, Rednex and Gunther in their midst. Italian favourites of yore are also coming to Helsinki, including Alexia and Cappella. Last, but not least, local faves such as Aikakone, Waldo?s People, DJ Matti Airaksinen, Hausmylly and CatCat are We Love The ?90s sure to create surges of nostalgia amongst punters at Suvilahti. 29-30 August All together, over 20 international and Finnish artists can be found at the same festival, bringing Suvilahti, Helsinki together sounds rarely enjoyed in the same environment in Finland since their heyday of the ?90s. Live Nation Multi-national operatic quartet Il Divo is performing in Helsinki and Turku in Spetmeber Operatic quartet James O?Sullivan I N SUPPORT of their most recent release, A Musical Affair, multi-national operatic quartet Il Divo is coming to Finland to perform a duo of concerts in Helsinki and Turku, on 9 and 10 September. Consisting of French pop singer Sébastien Izambard, Spanish baritone Carlos Marín, American tenor David Miller, and Swiss tenor Urs Bühler, the quartet was formed in 2004 by Simon Cowell. Known for bringing pop stardom within reach of the everyman with the likes of TV?s Idol, their famed manager came up with the concept after listening to Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman?s rendition of Con Te Partirò. The quartet set out to recreate the classic sound of the Three Tenors, Plácido Domingo and José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti. Their self-titled debut release arrived in 2004, quickly hitting the top of the charts. Five subsequent releases did almost as well, with the quartet?s profile cemented by performing the 2006 FIFA World Cup official song, The Time of Our Lives, with R&B singer Toni Braxton. Enjoying some 26 million album sales worldwide, the group continues going from strength to strength. Recently seen onstage in honour of this year?s Commonwealth Games, the singers arrive in the midst of a European jaunt showcasing tunes inspired by Broadway shows, under the moniker of The Greatest Songs of Broadway Live. Il Divo ? The Greatest Songs of Broadway Live 9 September ? HK Areena, Turku 10 September ? Hartwall Areena, Helsinki The beard is back Music fans get to spend some time with living legend Leon Russell, when his tour touches down in Helsinki in early September. James O?Sullivan A FTER numerous years in the musical wilderness, American musician and songwriter Leon Russell recently returned to the limelight, teaming up with Elton John for 2010?s The Union. However, this was not the first time the Texan had joined forces with other artists, having collaborated with the likes of Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Phil Spector and the Rolling Stones during his career, to name merely a handful of the greats. After many years working with different artists in various capacities, Russell stepped out on his own in the 1960s. With his charming voice residing atop of a fusion of country, blues and gospel, eventually his output would become less inspired as the decades wore on. And so, many decades later, after playing a joint tour with John and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2011, Russell eventually returned to the road on his own terms. His solo comeback release, Life Journey, which appeared in April this year, fittingly received rave reviews, completing his path back to the limelight. Leon Russell 4 September, 19:30 Tickets ?46 Savoy Theatre Kasarmikatu 46-48 Helsinki A comic look at Finland Tommi Mustaniemi Festivaal artist Joonas Rinta-Kanto. James O?Sullivan T he largest comics festival in Northern Europe, the 29th Helsinki Comics Festival is being staged at Lasipalatsi Square from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 September. Featuring a comics market, Small Press Heaven, artists, exhibitions, discussions, presentations, live drawing performances, competitions, animation, kids? events and clubs, the theme of this year?s gathering is LGBT comics, and the guest country is Germany. The German theme sees visiting artists, exhibitions, residencies and workshops on offer during the weekend. German artists such as Olivier Kugler, Sascha Hommer, Anna Haifisch, Birgit Weyhe and Marijpol will be in attendance among others. Furthermore, visiting artists and exhibitions from Switzerland and Austria are also going to be on hand. French comic book artist Charles Berberian is attending. In his latest book Berberian depicts Helsinki from the perspective of expatriates and tourists. With his wife Anna Rozen they reveal the city?s small, intimate and often unknown or unseen qualities. Other highlights include works from two of the most prolific Finnish LGBT artists, Moomin creator Tove Jansson and Touko Laaksonen, a.k.a. Tom of Finland. Helsinki Comics Festival 2014 5-7 September Lasipalatsi Square www.sarjakuvafestivaalit.fi
  • Reviews 18 Issue 7 2014 Forthcoming flicks Helsinki on film HIFF UPI Media Guess who?s coming for dinner? Icelandic offering Metalhead is one of the many noteworthy films that are on offer at this year?s HIFF. The Boxtrolls bring some old school stop motion animation (and beardage) to a cinema near you. Magic in the Moonlight It?s time for another Woody Allen flick, as he continues his prestigious output of a film a year. In contrast to recent years spent as a critical darling, his latest arrives in a year that has seen his off-screen life once again grabbing headlines. A romantic comedy set in the 1920s French Riviera, a surprising series of events eventuate after a master magician attempts to expose a psychic as a fraud. Colin Firth and Emma Stone costar. Typical for an Allen film, the cast is packed with top shelf thespians, including the likes of Marcia Gay Harden and Jacki Weaver. After the financial and critical smash that was Blue Valentine last year, reviews have been somewhat tepid this time around. But have no fear, his next film is already well into production, offering another chance next year to witness his brilliance. Premieres 29 August Clouds of Sils Maria (K7) Following its debut screening earlier this summer at the Midnight Sun Film festival, director Olivier Assayas? latest follows the goings-on of Juliette Binoche?s successful actress in the later stages of her career. When a budding young actress is chosen to interpret one of the roles onstage that made the aging icon famous, Binoche?s world begins to crumble. Asked to take the decidedly more mature role opposite the young thespian, the star retreats to the Swiss town of the film?s title along with her assistant to rehearse, as she is haunted by her past life. Premieres 5 September As Above / So Below Anyone who has visited the catacombs that weave their way underground beneath the streets of Paris can vouch for their undoubtedly eerie nature. Walls lined with skulls doth maketh a prime setting for illogical thoughts, deep down, surrounded by the remains of hundreds of souls. So, why not set a horror film there? Ka-ching! And so, two archaeologists set off in search of some lost treasure, and come up trumps with a little more that they had bargained for. However, just when it appears as if their journey can?t possibly get any more nightmarish, their past demons resurface with a vengeance. Premieres 12 September The Boxtrolls Given the saturation of computer animation these days, it?s with genuine surprise and thrill to discover that the makers of Coraline and Corpse Bride are back to offer some classic stop-motion animation fun. Based on Alan Snow?s novel Here Be Monsters!, the filmmakers have managed to scoop up a stellar voice cast to match their vision. Those stepping behind the mic include the likes of Isaac HempsteadWright, Ben Kingsley, Elle Fanning, Toni Collette, Jared Harris, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade and Tracy Morgan. Premieres 19 September Solutions for crossword on page 5 James O?Sullivan L OVERS of cinema rejoice ? Helsinki International Film Festival ? Love & Anarchy is on the horizon, being held from 18?28 September. Organised for the 27th occasion, this year sees more than 170 feature films and some 150 short films being screened. Kicking off proceedings this year is opening film Whiplash. The debut film of Damien Chazelle, here Miles Teller?s young and talented drummer is accepted to a prime American jazz conservatory. The legendary J. K. Simmons plays his bandleader, who, in a change of pace for the fine comedic actor, demands nothing less than blood, sweat and tears from his star apprentice. A documentary on British band Pulp also can be found on the opening day, with a screening and DJ performance being held at the opening club. Director Florian Habicht, producer Alex Boden and Pulp drummer Nick Banks will be on hand. Elsewhere, as the festival unfolds, the bill is packed with numerous note-worthy flicks. Local films take a bow, with the Finnish Film Gala selection arriving in the shape of J-P Valkeapää?s road movie They Have Escaped, as two teenage outcasts head off on the run. Excitingly, the latest from Belgian brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne?s Two Days, One Night is also screening. Following up their masterful The Kid with a Bike, here Marion Cotillard returns to work after sick leave only to find that her colleagues have all agreed to have her fired in order to secure their own bonuses. Advance word has been very positive. The Love & Anarchy Gala film this year is Alejandro Jodorowsky?s much-anticipated The Dance of Reality, the surrealist director?s first film in 23 years. Meanwhile, The Skeleton Twins offers some pitch-black comedy starring Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig, as twins who reunite after ten years in bleak circumstances. Rebecca Zlotowski?s acclaimed Grand Central takes place in the surroundings of a nuclear plant as a young, unschooled man lands a job, falling in love with the boss? wife in the process. HIFF frequentors of last year will recognise 2013?s festival guest Tahar Rahim (A Prophet, The Past), starring alongside Léa Seydoux (Blue is the Warmest Color). Premiering at Cannes this year to rave reviews, Abrerrahmane Sissoko?s Timbuktu follows events when fundamentalists take over a small Malian village and start interpreting sharia law in their own radical way. Winner of the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at this year?s Sundance Film Festival, Alejandro Fernández Almendra?s To Kill a Man can also be found on the bill, as the life of a man is turned upside down when local thugs start tormenting his family. Fresh from the Midnight Sun Film Festival, Icelandic eccentricity is front and centre in Benedikt Erlingsson?s Of Horses and Men. The festival closes with one the most anticipated films of the year: Richard Linklater?s Boyhood. Following the life of a six-year old boy through his childhood until he turns eighteen, the movie was filmed over the course of 12 years. Utilising the same cast for each shoot, this process allows viewers to witness them aging in real time with their characters. Following on from the likes of Danny Boyle, John Woo, Gaspar Noé, Tilda Swinton, Jan Kounen, Aleksandr Sokurov, Baz Luhrmann, Philip Ridley, Nicolas Winding Refn and Jacques Audiard in previous years, the festival once again promises a number of guests in attendance in 2014. Much, much more is on offer. Check out the website. Helsinki International Film Festival ? Love & Anarchy 18-28 September www.hiff.fi Game review August 2014 Nick Barlow Diablo 3: Ultimate Edition (PS4/Xbox One) 1. Filmata 5. Näyttelijä 2. Käsikirjoitus 6. Komedia 3. Ohjaaja 7. Draama 4. Animaatio 8. Viihde Much like buses, you wait ages for one and then three come along at once. With Diablo 3: Ultimate Edition, owners of the latest consoles have at their fingertips probably the best version of the game. For a start there?s a lot of content: the original game of course ? replete with enhanced graphics and smooth framerates ? along with the Reaper of Souls expansion and all contained therein. Happily it?s easy importing a character from last-gen consoles so you don?t have to play over things you?ve already gone through once. As you might know, Diablo is all about killing monsters so you can get dropped loot from them that in turn enables you to go and kill bigger monsters, and a? steady stream of upgrades means progress is easy to notice. With the visual upgrades and addictive core gameplay this ultimate edition comes
  • See everything with the day ticket. Buy for 1?7 days from an R-kiosk, HSL sales point or ticket machine. hsl.fi/en/dayticket Helsinki Region Transport
  • Out&See SixDegrees Greater Helsinki 20 Issue 7 2014 By Anna-Maija Lappi Music _ Clubs 28 Aug. All Out War (USA) // Metallic hardcore. Kuudes Linja, Hämeentie 13. Tickets ?20. www.kuudeslinja.com 28 Aug. A Night With Iiro // Jazz musician Iiro Rantala. Huvila Festival Tent, Eläintarhantie 8. Tickets ?48.50. www.helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi 28 Aug. Club Koko Kesä Kalliossa // Paula Koivuniemi. Koko Jazz Club, Hämeentie 3. Tickets ?22/27. www.kokojazz.fi 28 Aug. Dark Concert // Jukka Perko, saxophones, Jarmo Saari, electric guitar & Samuli Kosminen, electronic and percussive utensils. Ruutikellari, Suomenlinna. Tickets ?27.50. www.viaporijazz.fi 29 Aug. Uniklubi // Rock/pop. Le Bonk, Yrjönkatu 24. Tickets ?11.50/15. www.lebonk.fi 29 Aug. Nopsajalka // Reggae/pop/ soul. Sello Hall, Soittoniekanaukio 1A. Tickets ?17.50/18. www.sellosali.fi 29 Aug. Jus-Ed (USA) // Electronic. Kaiku, Kaikukatu 4. Tickets ?10.50. www.clubkaiku.fi 29 Aug. Arion // Melodic metal. Tavastia, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6. Tickets ?11.50/12. www. tavastiaklubi.fi 29 Aug. Sophie Ellis-Bextor // Pop. Huvila Festival Tent, Eläintarhantie 8. Tickets ?37.50. www. helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi 29 Aug. The Death of Gagarin, The Empire Strikes // Rock. Semifinal, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6. Tickets ?7.50. www.semifinal.fi 29 Aug. Tuomari Nurmio & Nälkämaan Marssiorkesteri // Jazz/rock/blues. Tenalji Von Fersen, Suomenlinna. Tickets ?25. www.viaporijazz.fi 29 Aug. Scandinavian Music Group // Pop. Virgin Oil Co., Mannerheimintie 5. Tickets ?22. www.virginoil.fi 29 Aug. INVSN (SWE) // Postpunk. Kuudes Linja, Hämeentie 13. Tickets ?15. www.kuudeslinja.com 29 Aug. Eva & Manu // Acoustic folk pop. Korjaamo Culture Factory, Töölönkatu 51 B. Tickets ?13.50. www.korjaamo.fi 29 Aug. Honningbarna (NOR), Lords of Chernobyl, Yrtsky // Punk. Bar Loose, Annankatu 21. Tickets ?13.50/14. www.barloose.com 29 & 30 Aug. We Love The 90´s Festival // Dr. Alban (SWE), Bad Boys Blue (UK/GER) , Pandora (SWE) etc. Suvilahti. Tickets ?47.50-123. 30 Aug. Mehudisco // Teksti-TV 666 & I Was A Teenage Satan Worshipper. Kuudes Linja, Hämeentie 13. Tickets ?5. www.kuudeslinja.com 30 Aug. Insomniacs 1Y Anniversary & Venue Closing Party // Santé (GER). Venue, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 21. Tickets ?12.70. www.clubvenue.fi 30 Aug. Karkkipäivä, Vapaat kädet, Sodom Truckers // Rock. On The Rocks, Mikonkatu 15. Tickets ?5. www.ontherocks.fi 30 Aug. Salsa Celtica // Latin beats blended with the sound of ancient Celtic melodies. Huvila Festival Tent, Eläintarhantie 8. Tickets ?37.50. www.helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi 30 Aug. Sanni // Pop. Virgin Oil Co., Mannerheimintie 5. Tickets ?13.50/14. www.virginoil.fi 30 Aug. Pariisin Kevät // Pop. Tavastia, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6. Tickets ?19/20. www.tavastiaklubi.fi 30 Aug. Gospel evening with Johanna Försti and friends // The pilot of Finnish gospel. Suomenlinna church. Tickets ?22.50. www.viaporijazz.fi 30 Aug. New Better Spring Band // Pop. Juttutupa, Säästöpankinranta 6. Free entry. www.juttutupa.com 2 Sep. Secret Chiefs 3 (USA) // Experimental instrumental. Kuudes Linja, Hämeentie 13. Tickets ?36. www.kuudeslinja.com 3 Sep. Tomi Salesvuo East Funk Attack // Funk. Tavastia, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6. Tickets ?13.50. www.tavastiaklubi.fi 4 Sep. Klub Kalma // Nolla Nolla Nolla & Silent Scream. Bar Loose, Annankatu 21. Tickets ?6.50. www. barloose.com 4 Sep. Leon Russell (USA) // Country/ rock/gospel/folk. Savoy Theatre, Kasarmikatu 46-48. Tickets ?46. www.savoyteatteri.fi 4 Sep. Ellery Eskelin, Obed Calvaire and Antonio Faraò meet the Sibis Jazz Faculty // Koko Jazz Club, Hämeentie 3. Tickets ?19/24. www.kokojazz.fi 4 Sep. Colossus-klubi // Dr. Hilma af Klint A Pioneer of Abstraction Until 28 Sep. Kunsthalle Helsinki The Bad Ass Brass Band 12 Sep. Sello Hall Movie Picnic 29, 30 & 31 Aug. Kansalaistori Looptroop Rockers 27 Aug. Virgin Oil Co Race Horse Company: Super Sunday 29-31 Aug. Helsinki City Theatre Bogenboom, The Outer Sonics. On The Rocks, Mikonkatu 15. Tickets ?9.50. www.ontherocks.fi 5 Sep. Dark Side of the Soul ?klubi // Willie West & the High Society Brothers (USA/FIN). Kuudes Linja, Hämeentie 13. Tickets ?10. www. kuudeslinja.com 5 Sep. Janna // Pop. Tavastia, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6. Tickets ?13.50/14. www.tavastiaklubi.fi 5 Sep. Claudia Campagnol (DEN) feat. Jukka Eskola // Jazz. Koko Jazz Club, Hämeentie 3. Tickets ?16.50/22. www.kokojazz.fi 5 Sep. Freddie Gibbs (USA) // Rap. Tavastia, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6. Tickets ?14.50/15. www.tavastiaklubi.fi 5 Sep. Die So Fluid (UK) // Hard rock. Le Bonk, Yrjönkatu 24. Tickets ?11.50. www.lebonk.fi 6 Sep. Casualties of Cool (CAN) // Country rock. Savoy Theatre, Kasarmikatu 46-48. Tickets ?35/40. www.savoyteatteri.fi 6 Sep. The 69 Eyes // ?Goth´n´roll?. Tavastia, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6. Tickets ?22/23. www.tavastiaklubi.fi 6 Sep. Kari Rueslåtten (NOR) // Norwegian solo singer. Semifinal, Urho Kekkosen katu 4 ? 6. Tickets ?14.50. www.semifinal.fi 6 Sep. Jontti & Shaka, Solonen & Kosola // Rap. Virgin Oil Co., Mannerheimintie 5. Tickets ?11.50. www.virginoil.fi 9 Sep. Jennie Abrahamson (SWE) // Indie pop. Tavastia, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6. Tickets ?16.50/17. www.tavastiaklubi.fi 10 Sep. Erottaja, Lotta Sandholm // Pop. Semifinal, Urho Kekkosen katu 4 ? 6. Tickets ?6.50. www.semifinal.fi 10 Sep. Eläkeläiset // Humorous Finnish ?humppa? band. Tavastia, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6. Tickets ?18/19. www.tavastiaklubi.fi 10 & 11 Sep. Lenny Pickett & UMO // World-famous saxophonist with UMO. Savoy Theatre, Kasarmikatu 46-48. Tickets ?30/34. www.savoyteatteri.fi 11 Sep. 22-Pistepirkko, Mama Rosin (SUI) // Rock. Bar Loose, Annankatu 21. Tickets ?13.50. www.barloose.com 11 Sep. Nok Nok, Kaneli, Antti Autio // Rock. On The Rocks, Mikonkatu 15. Tickets ?5. www.ontherocks.fi 11 Sep. Jazzoom // Jazz. Koko Jazz Club, Hämeentie 3. Tickets ?11.50/16.50. www.kokojazz.fi 12 Sep. Nite of Big Money // Black Magic Six, The Country Dark, The Shrieks. Bar Loose, Annankatu 21. Tickets ?8.50. www.barloose.com 12 Sep. The Bad Ass Brass Band // Energetic brass performance. Sello Hall, Soittoniekanaukio 1A. Tickets ?14.50/15. www.sellosali.fi 12 Sep. Viitasen Piia, Nopat // Folk/ Pop. Korjaamo Culture Factory, Töölönkatu 51 B. Tickets ?7.50. www.korjaamo.fi 12 Sep. Moonsorrow // Metal. Virgin Oil Co., Mannerheimintie 5. Tickets ?13.50. www.virginoil.fi 12 Sep. Club New Tones // The Man, Buddha Surfers. Semifinal, Urho Kekkosen katu 4 ? 6. Tickets ?8.50. www.semifinal.fi 13 Sep. Redrama ? silent gig // Nosturi, Telakkakatu 8. Tickets ?16.50. www.elmu.fi 13 Sep. Stöö & Aztra= MNTTT, Tuuttimörkö x Kube, Horse Attack Sqwad // Rap. Korjaamo Culture Factory, Töölönkatu 51 B. Tickets ?10/12. www.korjaamo.fi 14 Sep. Pink Mountaintops (CAN), Black Lizard // Indie rock. Kuudes Linja, Hämeentie 13. Tickets ?16.50. www.kuudeslinja.com 16 Sep. Yob (USA), Pallbearer (USA) // Doom. Tavastia, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6. Tickets ?24/25. www. tavastiaklubi.fi 17 Sep. Mikko Malmivaara, Johannes Westö, Nevala // Folk rock. Semifinal, Urho Kekkosen katu 4 ? 6. Tickets ?6.50. www.semifinal.fi 17 Sep. The Hollies (UK) // Rock´n´roll. Finlandia Hall, Mannerheimintie 13. Tickets ?59.50. www.finlandiatalo.fi 18 Sep. Jonna Tervomaa // Pop. Tavastia, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6. Tickets ?18. www.tavastiaklubi.fi 19 Sep. Negative Approach (USA) // Hardcore punk. Tavastia, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6. Tickets ?24/25. www.tavastiaklubi.fi 19 Sep. Stig // Pop/R&B/Country. Virgin Oil Co., Mannerheimintie Timo Wright Joona Halonen and Guillermo Sarduy in Nolla Nolla. Zodiak - Center for New Dance, Tallberginkatu 1B. Tickets ?14-25. www.zodiak.fi Contemporary dance at Zodiak Early autumn season at Zodiak ? Center for New Dance is again full of interesting pieces of contemporary dance. The season started with choreography Nature Dances by Satu Herrala, Eeva Muilu, Anna Mustonen and Masi Tiitta. The performance, being part of the Helsinki Festival, explores the nature of dance, nature in dance, and the nature of four artists meeting to make a dance together. On Thursday 4 September, Joona Halonen´s new choreography Nolla Nolla (?Zero Zero?) will get its premiere. Nolla Nolla is a performance of two men, one riot shield, a pair of ice skates and 30 minutes of time. Halonen´s, whose works inventively explore humanity, latest piece Straight garnered lots of positive attention in Spring 2013. Alongside Nolla Nolla there will be Anne Hiekkaranta´s piece Conus Marmoreus!!!. The work, blending contemporary dance with comic book imagery, is a kinetic journey through the cartoon classic Magica de Spell?s Enchanted Sea Snails. The double-bill evenings are between 4 and 17 September. On 20 and 21 September, Berlin-based dancer/choreographer Jeremy Wade will be bringing his solo work Necronancy, a lecture, performance and concert at the same, on stage. 5. Tickets ?15.50. www.virginoil.fi 19 Sep. Mirel Wagner // Brilliant acoustic guitar and vocals. Korjaamo Culture Factory, Töölönkatu 51 B. Tickets ?13.50. www.korjaamo.fi 19 Sep. Club We Jazz // Mopo live. Lavaklubi, Läntinen Teatterikuja 1. Tickets ?13.50. www.lavaklubi.fi 20 Sep. Jex Thoth (USA) // ?Hippie doom.? Kuudes Linja, Hämeentie 13. Tickets ?19/21. www.kuudeslinja.com 20 Sep. Club Soul Kitchen // Irrationals. Kuudes Linja, Hämeentie 13. Free entry. www.kuudeslinja.com 20 Sep. The Souls // Rock. Bar Loose, Annankatu 21. Tickets ?11.50/12. www.barloose.com 20 Sep. Reckless Love // Glam metal. Tavastia, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6. Tickets ?15.50/16. www.tavastiaklubi.fi 20 Sep. Jazz Finland Festival // Top Finnish jazz. Korjaamo Culture Factory, Töölönkatu 51 B. Tickets ?20-39.50. www.korjaamo.fi 22 Sep. Håkan Broström Quartet feat. Joey Calderazzo (USA) & Jeff ?Tain? Watts (USA) & Daniel Franck (SWE) // Jazz. Koko Jazz Club, Hämeentie 3. Tickets ?16.50/22. www.kokojazz.fi 22 Sep. Ben Frost (AUS) // Electronic. Tavastia, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6. Tickets ?20/21. www.tavastiaklubi.fi 24 Sep. Tango A La Yona // Finnish tangos. Sello Hall, Soittoniekanaukio 1A. Tickets ?19.50 /20. www.sellosali.fi Theatre _ Dance 28 Aug. Herrala, Muilu, Mustonen, Tiitta: Nature Dances // Dance piece explores the nature of dance, nature in dance, and the nature of four artists meeting to make a dance together. Zodiak - Center for New Dance, Tallberginkatu 1B. Tickets ?15/22/25. www.zodiak.fi 28-30 Aug. Michael Clark Company: animal / vegetable / mineral // Punk and classical ballet clash. Finnish National Opera, Almi Hall, Helsinginkatu 58. Tickets ?27.5048.50. www.helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi 28 Aug.-5 Sep. John Cranko: Onegin // One of the finest full-length narrative ballets of the 20th century.  Finnish National Opera, Helsinginkatu 58. Tickets ?17.50-87.50. www.opera.fi 29-31 Aug. Race Horse Company: Super Sunday // Brilliant contemporary circus. Helsinki City Theatre, Main Stage, Ensi Linja 2. Tickets ?27.50-48.50. www. helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi 29 Aug.-24 Sep. W. A. Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro // A tangled web of relationships set to one of Mozart?s most brilliant scores. Finnish National Opera, Helsinginkatu 58. Tickets ?26.50-125.50. www.opera.fi 2, 3 & 4 Sep. Ken Mai: Dhyana/ Meditation // Dance piece by Japanese Butoh dance artist, choreographer and dance teacher. Malmitalo, Ala-Malmin tori 1. Tickets ?12/20. www.malmitalo.fi 4-17 Sep. Joona Halonen: Nolla Nolla & Anne Hiekkaranta: Conus Marmoreus!!! // Double-bill of contemporary dance. Zodiak - Center for New Dance, Tallberginkatu 1B. Tickets ?14/22. www.zodiak.fi 5 & 6 Sep. Women in me, Lonh // An evening of two flamenco per formance s. Kanneltalo, Klaneettitie 5. Tickets ?15/20. www.kanneltalo.fi 19, 20 & 23 Sep. Hore?ná-GodaniRobbins // Triple bill features urban energy, brilliant movement and macabre humour. Finnish National Opera, Helsinginkatu 58. Tickets ?21.50-108.50. www.opera.fi 19-21 Sep. Of(f) Course // Performance featuring Finnish top names in various dance styles. Stoa, Turunlinnantie 1. Tickets ?9/13. www.stoa.fi 20 & 21 Sep. Jeremy Wade: Necronancy // Zodiak - Center for New Dance, Tallberginkatu 1B. Tickets ?15/22/25. www.zodiak.fi Exhibitions From 6 Sep. Edvard Munch - The Dance of Life //   One of the major visual artists in Northern Europe of the 20th century.  Didrichen Art Museum, Kuusilahdenkuja 1. Tickets ?0/8/13. www.didrichsenmuseum.fi
  • 2 Q&A 21 ? 27 FEBRUARY 2013 Out&See Tampere By Jutta Vetter Until 7 Sep. Tove Jansson // Major centenary exhibition presenting Jansson?s impressive career as an artist, illustrator, political caricaturist, author and creator of the Moomin characters and stories. Ateneum Art Museum, Kaivokatu 2. Tickets ?0/10/12. www.ateneum.fi Until 7 Sep. Alfredo Jaar // Jaar?s experiential works address humanitarian crises, collective memories left behind by dictatorships, and media imageries with their concealed racism. Kiasma, Mannerheiminaukio 2. Tickets ?0/8/10. www.kiasma.fi Until 21 Sep. Ilmari Tapiovaara // Interior designs, furniture and previously undisplayed sketches from archives.  Design Museum, Korkeavuorenkatu 23. Tickets ?0/5/8/10. www.designmuseum.fi Until 28 Sep. Hilma af Klint - A Pioneer of Abstraction // Extensive exhibition of af Klint?s works. Kunsthalle Helsinki, Nervanderinkatu 3. Tickets How did you ?rst come to ?0/8/12. www.taidehalli.fi live in Africa? Until 21 Oct. Tatzu Nishi: Hotel Manta My father got a job lecturing of Helsinki // Japanese artist Tatzu Nishiatinvites everyone to of view their in the University Lagos familiar urban environment through It Nigeria, from 1968-1970. new eyes. Market Square. Tickets was an overwhelming expe?3. www.helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi rience, because at that time Until 27 Oct. Tommi Toija: Mutatis Finland mutandis // was In such Tommia different Toija?s country it is ?tosculptures we from discoverwhat ourselves and day. our friends ones. It was and suchloved a contrast Amos Anderson Art Museum, from the cold and dark FinnYrjönkatu 27. Tickets ?0/2/8/10. ish winter to go straight to a www.amosanderson.fi ily to our new life in Nigeria, although ofOthers course we missed many things from Finland. I 29, 30 & 31 Aug. Movie Picnic // had wanted to bringonmythe best Easy-going screenings friend with meKansalaistori, to Africa, and KoeHelsinki lawn. Alvarwas Aallon katuupset 1, 21:00. very whenFree this entry.wasn?t www. helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi allowed! And at that time the differences were so big ? there was no email or texting or Skype, of course, and even making a phone call The event listings in the Out&See was very dif? cult and very expensive. So onthe sections are based the distances availfelt very big, and you couldn?t able at back the time justinformation call or go forof short visits.the issue. SixDegrees printing is not responsible for possible But was it a good experience changes, mistakes, cancellafor a young Finnish girl? It was I tions or lackwonderful of information?con- have told my parents since that it cerning was the theevents bestmentioned. decision they ever made as parents! I experienced many totally new things, and really started to SixDegrees Music _ Clubs Aug. Cool Quartet // Live music right in the heart of the city centre. Paapan Kapakka, Koskikatu 9. Free entry. www.paapankapakka.fi 28 Aug. Black Royal, Schrapnel Storm // Music on the Vastavirta stage. Vastavirta-klubi, Pispalan valtatie 39. Tickets ?1-3. www.vastavirta.net Not every Finnish girl dreams of living in Ethiopia, Tunisia, Benin and28Nigeria, but after// aShowtime childhoodat Aug. Nymans 23:00.Bank Rock & World Kitchen Jack the growing up in Lagos and a career spent working for the African Development and Food Pro13 inB. gramme, Johanna Maula got to crisscross Africa and the world ? with Rooster, occasionalSatakunnankatu periods in Finland Tickets TBA. www.jacktherooster.fi between. On the publication of her memoir, My Jasmine Years, David Brown sat down for a chat with her. 29 Aug. Paappa?s Group // Live music right in the heart of the city centre. Paapan Kapakka, Koskikatu 9. Free entry. www.paapankapakka.fi Aug.gotMequite and fed My up Monkeys// you see, it?s everything that 29 er he with music, showtime at 00:15. you experience: the heat, the Live all the travelling, and didn?t Rock & Kitchen Jack the Rooster, humidity, even the colour of Satakunnankatu want to move13toB. any more Tickets TBA. the earth and sky. countries. I had to respect www.jacktherooster.fi 29 Aug. Blues Brothers Band that, so The we are here now, but Presented wonder why there were so As a white person living in //I hope that asbyanNem adultAgency he will& Radio City, showtime at 21:00. many beggars in Africa, but Africa, did you ever experi- Klubi, look back on it and ?nd that it Tullikamarin aukio 2. Tickets not in Finland. And it was in- ence racism yourself? has been great for him. starting from ?41.50. www.klubi.net teresting that I noticed my No, never. And perhaps this 30 Aug. Crawfish Kings // Live music the heart theofcity centre. son going through the same has also been a motivating right The in images weofsee Africa Kapakka,seem Koskikatu Free process when we lived in Ethi- factor for me, because I have Paapan on TV always to be9.war www.paapankapakka.fi opia ? this process of trying always felt very welcome in entry. and poverty. How do you feel 30 Aug. Sammakka-Pop // DJ sounds. to make sense of those differ- Africa. about that? Gastropub Soho, Otavalankatu 10. ences. Undoubtedly one of the We only about war and Free entry. hear www.gastropub.net/soho/ reasons why I became a social And how about the oth- 30 famine, and those issues// are Aug. Avaruuden Cowboyt Plays at 00:15. scientist was because I want- er white people you lived Tehosekoitin, important, showtime but countries & Kitchen Jacknever the Rooster, ed to understand more about around? What were their at- Rock like Finland have real13 B. Tickets TBA. different cultures. titudes towards Africa and Satakunnankatu ly understood that Africa is www.jacktherooster.fi Africans? changing very rapidly. There 31 Aug. Jam Night // Feat. Vince, What did it feel like I think the worst I saw was in showtime is a sizable middle in at 00:15. Rockclass & Kitchen Satakunnankatu to come back to Finland? Tanzania. There were a few Jack the the big Rooster, cities, and now some13 Tickets TBA. www.jacktherooster.fi There were many things that other Finns there, and I was B. Finnish companies are start5 Sep. Tero-Petri & Korvaamattomat I missed from Africa. I was sometimes appalled by the //ingSupport to wake by up toEpilä. the potenYo-talo, always hoping that I would way they talked about Afri- Kauppakatu tial, but they a longstarting way 10.are Tickets move back there. I stud- cans, without knowing much from behind even the rest of Eu?5. www.yo-talo.com 5rope. Sep. Angel Hours // Music NokiaWitching has been very acESPOO ADULT EDUCATION CENTRE by DJsbut Vivian Anger & Enola Gaylord. tive, you don?t see many Gastropub Soho, Otavalankatu 10. other companies there. Free entry. www.gastropub.net/soho/ It?s Walking also interesting whenby 6 Sep. bass // Music we think of aid.Gastropub Some PerusDJ Balttikoira. Soho, Otavalankatu 10. Free have entry. suomalaiset politicians www.gastropub.net/soho/ claimed that Finland gives a 12-13 Sep. Monsters of Pop // lot of aid money to Africa, but Two days filled with urban music. that is notprogramme, really so. Ethiopia Detailed venues ied here, but I always knew about the history or culture. and is said to beprices one ofTBA oursoon majoron ticket that I would go back, and Maybe people from other www.monstersofpop.net ?partner countries?, but I once Viikate // Doors open then when I was 26 I got the countries were just as bad, 13 sawSep. a list of international do-at at and 23:30. Yo-talo, chance to go to Tanzania and but the Finns were so blunt 22:00, nors toshowtime Ethiopia, Finland Tickets ?15/17. carry out research for my ? especially when they were Kauppakatu did not even10. make the Top 15! www.yo-talo.com doctoral dissertation there. drunk. People perhaps real16 Sep. Royal Southerndon?t Brotherhood I?d been away for 15 years, that every //iseGenuine NewAfrican Orleanscountry rhythms. Hall (Small Auditorium), and was now in East Afri- How did your son feel about Tampere has its own character. Even 55. Tickets ca for the ?rst time, but my growing up in Ethiopia and Yliopistonkatu internally, there can be ?24/29. huge www.tampere-talo.fi childhood memories came Tunisia? differences within the coun20 Sep. Pub Disco // Music by DJ We offer a wide range of legal services. Our legal specialities back toinclude me so strongly: the He?d lived in ? ve different tries,Dangerous. with dozens of different Jere Gastropub Soho, immigration law, criminal justice and family law. sights and sounds, the feel- countries by the time he was Otavalankatu languages and10. cultures. Free entry. Streng Ky ing of sun Contact: on my Attorney-At-Law skin. Africa Asianajotoimisto 12. He adapted very well to www.gastropub.net/soho/ Linnankatu 2, 00160 Helsinki Aug. been Vibrations poetical is such an overwhelming exour life in Ethiopia when he 29 There?s a lot //of Atalk reTel (09) 7269 6730, mob 040 565 8146 performance. Tampere Hall perience. It is not only what www.strenglaki.fi was small, but as a teenag- dance cently about Mali and the rise joonia.streng@icon.fi, (Studio), Yliopistonkatu 55. Tickets STUDY PROGRAMME Autumn 2014 Out of Africa and dusty //city with sevUntil hot 18 Jan. #snapshot Photographs takeneral by million ordinarypeople. people, images sourced from the internet, historic snapshots and selfies as well as an Growing up in Nigeria, overview of the history of the selfie. did you miss Finland? The Finnish Museum of Photography, As young children, my sisTallberginkatu 1 G. Tickets ?0/6/8. www.valokuvataiteenmuseo.fi ters and I adapted very eas- 21 HELSINKI TIMES I?d been away for 15 years, and was now in East Africa for the first time, but my childhood memories came back to me so strongly: the sights and sounds, the feeling of sun on my skin. Criminal case? If you are on a low income, you may get free trial. 16 Sep. at 20:00, Tampere Hall (Main Auditorium), Yliopistonkatu 55. Tickets ?38/58/61. www.tampere-talo.fi of Islamic extremism ? what so much easier!? but really it are your thoughts on that? is the people that I miss when Of course there are elements I?m away. On the other hand, we should be concerned about living outside your own coun? like Al Qaeda. But when I try, you also learn to appreciWithofmore than the 50 years of solidate stage experience all over think Tunisia, people things like thefrom education world,there the pioneering rock?n?roll The Hollies will now thattheI knew were mainandband healthcare systems, thebe performing in and Tampere! Founded in 1962, this legendary ly very moderate tolerant. status of women and theband sowashave named after rock icon Buddycial Holly. The band?s melodic vocal Many family in Europe, welfare system. brought with themthe instant chart hits such andharmonies they are familiar I?msuccess always with hoping that as I I?m Alive, Bus Stop, Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress), Stop Western way of life. It?s hard can settle more permanentStop Stop, The Air That I Breathe and He Ain?t Heavy, He?s My to imagine that the majority ly in Africa, and perhaps afBrother. could ever become extremists. ter my son graduates I?ll look The band was awarded with the Ivor Novello Award in 1993 for The biggest problem eve- into that again. their significant contribution to British music. In 2010 The Hollies rywhere is young men, who made it to the great Rock?n?Roll Hall of Fame. Since the retirearement oftenof well-educated but theWhat youbeing thinkledFinland singer Allan Clarke, band do is now by Tony can?t ?ndand work. Particularly could learn from Africa?of the Hicks Bobby Elliott who both have been members in countries they?can attitude towards band sincewhere 1963. Now straight Their from Manchester ? they are life here clearly seeaway the corruption theiraudience! friendliness. We to rock the eveningand with theand Finnish the wealth being controlled Finns ? myself included ? so by one family or clan, as hap- often seem to get upset about ?15/20. www.tampere-talo.fi www.tampere.fi/english/sarahilden/ pened with Ben Ali in Tunisia. little things: neighbours leavexhibition/upcoming.html ingPermanent things inexhibition the laundry or Moominvalley Theatre How did you come _ Dance something. In Africa so often // The unique and Iinternationally to write the book? had such great neighbours; so renowned Moominvalley is a museum fromalways 1 Sep.wanted Evita //toThe kind, devoted to the original moomin I Starting think I?ve and helping us in many legendary musicalAfrica, by Andrew themedThere worksis of something Tove Jansson. tell people about ev- ways. Webber and Tim Rice now Tampere Art Museum Moominvalley, erLloyd since my childhood. It?s from us all to learn from that.more premiering in Tampere! TTT-Theatre, Puutarhakatu 34. For been a dream that I?veFor always the ?exibility of people, Hämeenpuisto 28-32. detailed And information and ticket prices, see had. There on areshow so times manyand misway they can ?nd humour information ticket the www.muumilaakso.tampere.fi/en/ prices, please see www.ttt-teatteri.fi conceptions, because peo- and show generosity even in Others 4 Sep. Improv Improv in very modest circumstances. ple haveJadaJada so little real //contact English, starting at 20:00. Irish Bar with Africa. Of course people O?Connell?s, Rautatienkatu 24. Free 11 Sep. Club Harha // Close-up have of Kenya and Tan- And whatstarting is next entry.heard www.oconnells.fi magic, at for 20:00. Irish Bar zania, knowMoominvalley very lit- you after TheRautatienkatu Jasmine Years? 16, 19but Sep.they Dancing O?Connell?s, 24. Free tle French-speaking already started writing // A about dance performance based on I?ve entry. www.oconnells.fi the famous Tove Jansson?s 17 Sep. Food Gallery A surprise Africa and North Africa. books. So my12,next book, about// great Dance MD (Hällä-stage), buffet withwomen a selection of Tampere far the Theatre only comments have Ethiopian from the Hämeenkatu 25. Tickets ?10/15/18. Hall?s finest specialties. Tampere been positive, which is lovely. Queen of Sheba through to www.tanssiteatterimd.fi Hall (Café Soolo), Yliopistonkatu 55. businesswomen. In18 Sep. Comedy O?Connell?s // Stand modern Tickets ?25, including a presentation Where home starting for you?at 20:00. creasingly, women there are Up in is English, of the menu. www.tampere-talo.fi Irish Bar O?Connell?s, Rautatienkatu Even living away from Fin- becoming entrepreneurs and 24. Free land so entry. muchwww.oconnells.fi I never real- role models, and it?s an interThe event listingsfrom in the Out&See ly miss the country as such. esting contrast the im-secExhibitions tions based on the ?available It?s people you miss; family ages ofare poverty and ghting.inforat the timeto of printing issue. and friends. Of course in Af- So mation my next trip Africathe will SixDegrees is not responsible for posStarting from 20 Sep. Marika Mäkelä rica the bureaucracy can be be sible to Ethiopia, but this time changes, mistakes, cancellations and that colourful art work. to interview people for the so// Expressive frustrating I think or lack of information concerning the Sara Hildén Art Museum, Laiturikatu ?Oh, in Finland this would be next book. events mentioned. 13 (Särkänniemi). Tickets ?3/4/6/8. The Hollies You?ll love the way we print it www.iprint.fi
  • Out&See Oulu 22 Issue 7 2014 By James O?Sullivan Kasperi Teittinen Music _ Clubs 29 Aug. Kyösti Mäkimattila & Varjokuva // 2013?s Tango King takes the stage. Nightclub Tähti, Pakkahuoneenkatu 19. Tickets ?14. www.nightclubtahti.fi 30 Aug. Juhamatti & Timangi // Iskelmä favourite. Nightclub Tähti, Pakkahuoneenkatu 19. Tickets ?14. www.nightclubtahti.fi 30 Aug. Full Steam Ahead Tour: Reino Nordin // Reino & The Rhinos frontman goes it alone for one of his many projects. Club 45 Special, Saaristonkatu 12. Tickets ?7.50. www.45special.com 30 Aug. Clock Paradox, Skein // Local metallers. Nuclear Nightclub, Uusikatu 23. Tickets ?6. www. nuclear.fi 5 Sep. TOOT TOOT, K+K-Tactics // Helsinki two-piece celebrate the relase of their new album. Nuclear Nightclub, Uusikatu 23. Tickets ?7. www.nuclear.fi 6 Sep. Yölintu // Schlager sounds Nightclub Tähti, from Pori. Pakkahuoneenkatu 19. Tickets TBA. www.nightclubtahti.fi 12 Sep. Eva & Manu // Mellow vibes from noted duo. Club 45 Special, Saaristonkatu 12. Tickets ?7.50. www.45special.com 12 Sep. Boar, Slug Mammoth, Laserdrift // Rock, doom, drone, psychedelia and stone. Nuclear Nightclub, Uusikatu 23. Tickets ?6. www.nuclear.fi 19 Sep. Jex Thoth // Psychedelic Rock and Doom Metal from the States. Nuclear Nightclub, Uusikatu 23. Tickets ?18. www.nuclear.fi 20 Sep. Vainaja + support // Early ? 90s death metal and doominfluecned three-member outfit. Nuclear Nightclub, Uusikatu 23. Tickets ?8. www.nuclear.fi Exhibitions Until 31 Aug. Maarit Kontiainen, Piia Lehti, Päivi Somppi, Susanna Suikkari, Hanna Varis // Exhibition. Neliö-galleria, Asemakatu 37. Free Entrance. www.neliogalleria.com Until 7 Sep. Jouko Korkala: ?REAL / FICTIO / 50? // Paintings. Galleria 5, Hallituskatu 5. Free Entrance. http://galleria5.artoulu.fi Until 7 Sep. Karoliina Paappa: Tyttö ja tiikeri // Photo exhibition. Northern Photography Center. Hallituskatu 5, Oulu. www.photonorth.fi Until 7 Sep. Kati Leinonen: Reflections // Photo exhibition. Northern Photography Center. Hallituskatu 5, Oulu. www.photonorth.fi Opens 7 Sep. Juha Meuronen // Paintings. Neliö-galleria, Asemakatu 37. Free Entrance. www.neliogalleria. com 10-18 Sep. Maija Paavola: ?Parasta ennen? // Paintings. Galleria 5, Paulina Persson 11 Sep. Club 45 Special, Saaristonkatu 12. Tickets ?10. www.45special.com Jennie Abrahamson Last seen here singing backup vocals for Peter Gabriel?s concert in May, Swede Jennie Abrahamson returns for a show of her own. Celebrating the release of her fifth album, Gemini Gemini earlier this year, the Stockholm-based singer reflects the wide scope of her musical experience, having performed on stages around the world. With Abrahamson taking three years to follow up her previous release, The Sound of Your Beating Heart, her latest sees her using a number of the same musicians as her good friend Ane Brun. This Oulu gig falls in the middle of a five-date Finnish tour that also takes in Helsinki, Turku, Tampere and Vaasa. Hallituskatu 5. Free Entrance. http://galleria5.artoulu.fi Until 1 Jan 2015. Ajantaju // Oulu Art Museum?s 50th anniversary exhibition. Oulu Museum of Art, Kasarmitie 7. Tickets ?4-6. www. ouka.fi/taidemuseo/ Sports 30 Aug. OPS ? OLS // Football at the second highest level. Raatin Stadion, Raatintie 2. Tickets ?5/15. www.ops.fi Out&See Jyväskylä Music _ Clubs 29 Aug. Penatonics // Fresh and energetic party tunes. Poppari, Puistokatu 2-4. Tickets ?5/3. www. jazz-bar.com 6 Sep. Jukka Orma & Jukka Takalo // Guitar legend and singer hit the stage. Red Neck, Asemakatu 7. Tickets ?8. www.punaniska.com 10 Sept. Afrobeat night// A unique and special show of African music and dance. Poppari, Puistokatu 2-4. Tickets ?7/5. www.jazz-bar.com 10 Sep. Jyväskylä Sinfonia: Idyllic Joy // Orchestral sounds. Jyväskylän kaupungintalo, Vapaudenkatu 32. Tickets ?15. 11 Sep. Lord Bishop Rocks (USA), 22 Hotsawce (AUT) // Self-styled Hendrixian Motör Funk. Lutakko, Schaumaninkatu 3. Tickets ?8. www.jelmu.net 12 Sep. Gaspard Oil & Jeavestone // Self-dubbed ?Catchy bastards with a pop mission?. Poppari, Puistokatu 2-4. Tickets ?5. www.jazz-bar.com 12 Sep. Red Eleven, Sumia // Local rock, alt and metal. Lutakko, Schaumaninkatu 3. Tickets ?6/0. Out&See Turku www.jelmu.net 13 Sep. Nicky Rothen?s Graveyard Boogie // Red Neck, Asemakatu 7. Tickets ?4. www.punaniska.com 13 Sep. Eva & Manu // Mellow duo on tour. Lutakko, Schaumaninkatu 3. Tickets ?10/8. www.jelmu.net 17 Sep. Jyväskylä Sinfonia: Stars in the Town // Orchestral enjoyment. Jyväskylä City Theatre. Vapaudenkatu 36. Tickets ?26/24/12 18 Sep. Jex Thoth (USA) // Psychedelic rock and doom metal from the States. Lutakko, Schaumaninkatu 3. Tickets ?10/8. www.jelmu.net 20 Sep. Dave Lindholm // Jazz guitarist legend. Red Neck, Asemakatu 7. Tickets ?10. www. punaniska.com 20 Sep. Arch Enemy (SWE) // Swedish melodic death metal. Lutakko, Schaumaninkatu 3. Tickets ?27/26. www.jelmu.net 23 Sep. The Haunted (SWE), Tuoni // Swedish metallers. Lutakko, Schaumaninkatu 3. Tickets ?15/13. www.jelmu.net 24 Sep. Edguy (GER), Freedom Call (GER) // Power metal from Germany. Lutakko, Schaumaninkatu 3. Tickets ?26/24. www.jelmu.net 21 Sep. OPS ? JBK // Football at the second highest level. Castrén, Paulaharjuntie 43. Tickets ?5/15. www.ops.fi The event listings in the Out&See sections are based on the available information at the time of printing the issue. SixDegrees is not responsible for possible changes, mistakes, cancellations or lack of information concerning the events mentioned. Music _ Clubs 30 Aug. Sisare, Achiote, Sons of Kings // Local bands play hard and progressive rock. Portti, Hämeenkatu 7. Tickets ?5. www.anniskeluliike.fi 5 Sep. Offering at the altar of Art // Turku Philharmonic Orchestra?s autumn season starts with works by Gubaidulina and Brahms. Concert Hall, Aninkaistenkatu 9. Tickets ?20/15/8. www.tfo.fi 9 Sep. Il Divo // Operatic pop vocal quartet sings memorable tunes from classic Broadway shows. HK Areena, Artukaistentie 8. Tickets ?82.50 /72.50 /62.50. www.hkareena.fi 10 Sep. Jennie Abrahamson // Swedish singer-songwriter describes her music as ?sopranino pop?. Klubi, Humalistonkatu 8. Tickets ?12. www.klubi.net 12 Sep. Ilmiliekki Quartet // Acclaimed Finnish jazz group?s show is part of Flame Jazz concert series. Åbo Svenska Teater, Eerikinkatu 13. Tickets ?15/10. www.flamejazz.com 13 Sep. Synamiitti // A convention for synthesizer enthusiasts ? instruments on display during the afternoon and electronic music groups (EMG Lux Ohr, Siniaalto, Teersom, Tampere Acid Front) perform in the evening. Klubi, Humalistonkatu 8. Tickets ?4 for the concerts, day programme admission free. www.synamiitti.com 19 Sep. Katatonia, Barren Renowned Swedish metal supported by Finnish prog Klubi, Humalistonkatu 8. ?29. www.klubi.net Earth // band is rockers. Tickets Nabb + Teeri From 12 Sep. Ars Nova, Itäinen Rantakatu 4-6. Tickets ?8/7/5.50 Nabb + Teeri: The Leftovers of an Unknown Party Artist pair Janne Nabb (b. 1984 in Kannus) and Maria Teeri (b. 1985 in Oulu) have been working together since 2008 and in last autumn they were selected Finnish Young Artists of the Year 2014. Their art comprises of recycled, donated, found or loaned materials along with videos and sounds. An important aspect of their art is the sense of place ? both of the materials? origin and the exhibition surroundings ? and dialogue between the material and immaterial. Theatre _ Dance Première 5 Sep. Ennen viimeisiä ajatuksia // A dance performance by legendary Finnish choreographer Jorma Uotinen. Manilla, Itäinen Rantakatu 64. Tickets ?22/20/13. www.aurinkobaletti.com Première 5 Sep. Kvartetti // A comedy about retired opera singers practising to perform once more. Logomo, Köydenpunojankatu 14. Tickets ?38/35/32. teatteri.turku.fi 5?21 Sep. Tehdasfestivaali Manifesti // Specialised in modern dance and circus, the festival brings in guest performances from all over Finland and other countries. Manilla, Itäinen Rantakatu 64. See more info on www.manillantehdas.fi Première 13 Sep. The Last Five Years // An intimate musical by Jason Robert Brown tells the story of a relationship from beginning to end. Åbo Svenska Teater, Eerikinkatu 13. Tickets ?36? ?10. www.abosvenskateater.fi Exhibitions From 5 Sep. Kaarina Kaikkonen // Installations by one of Finland?s most prominent artists. Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art, Itäinen Rantakatu 38. Tickets ?6/4. www.wam.fi 6?7 Sep. Kulkulupa // Open days at local artists? workrooms. See more info at: www.kulkulupa.net Sports 12 Sep. TPS - Kärpät // Ice hockey club TPS faces last season?s champions in the first game of the Finnish Liiga season. HK Areena, Artukaistentie 8. Ticket prices TBA. hc.tps.fi 17 Sep. TPS ? FC Inter // Last football ?derby? of the season and perhaps for some time ? can TPS fight against relegation? Veritas Stadion, Hippoksentie 6. Tickets ?15??3, free admission for children under 12 years. fc.tps.fi Others 6?7 Sep. Antique Fair // Over 50 sellers: furniture, glassware, art, jewelry etc. Turku VPK house, Eskelinkatu 5. Tickets ?8. 13?14 Sep. Babyboom & Kids // A fair for families: concerts, kid?s fashion shows, play areas, pet shows etc. Turku Fair and Congress Center, Messukentänkatu 9-13. Tickets ?14/5, free admission for children under 7 years. www. turunmessukeskus.fi 21 Sep. Turku Day // Various events celebrating the city: markets, open houses, guided tours etc. See more info on www.turku.fi 24?27 Sep. Stand Up Turku // Comedy festival featuring 30 performers in seven different venues, including New Zealand?s Al Pitcher. See more info on www.standupturku.com The event listings in the Out&See sections are based on the available information at the time of printing the issue. SixDegrees is not responsible for possible changes, mistakes, cancellations or lack of information concerning the events mentioned. Beerfest By James O?Sullivan Exhibitions Until 27 Aug. Markku Ojala// Exhibition. Galleria Becker, Seminaarinkatu 28. Free entry. www. jkltaiteilijaseura.net/galleria.htm 30 Aug. ? 17 Sep. Rita Vargas // Exhibition. Galleria Becker, Seminaarinkatu 28. Free entry. www.jkltaiteilijaseura.net/galleria. htm Until 7 Sep. Kuutti Lavonen: Amanda ja Lavinia // Jyväskylä Art Museum, Holvi. Kauppakatu 23. Tickets ?6. www.jyvaskyla.fi/taidemuseo Opens 19 Sep. Hannes Heikura ZONE // Jyväskylä Art Museum, Holvi. Kauppakatu 23. Tickets ?6. Galleria Ratamo, Veturitallinkatu 6. www.jyvaskyla.fi/taidemuseo Opens 20 Sep. Anne-Maria Björninen ja Jaana Tuomisto // Exhibition. Galleria Becker, Seminaarinkatu 28. Free entry. www.jkltaiteilijaseura.net/galleria. htm Until 21 Sep. Marjo Hyttinen // Exhibition. Galleria Ratamo, Veturitallintie 6. Free entry. www. jyvaskyla.fi/ratamo Sports 30 Aug. Rugby Finnish Championship // Palokan liikuntapuisto, Rovastintie 6. www.jklrugby.fi 1 Sep. JJK - HIFK // Premier division of Finnish football. Harju Stadium, Ihantolantie 1. Tickets ?5-15 22 Sep. JJK - Jippo// Premier division of Finnish football. Harju Stadium, Ihantolantie 1. Tickets ?5-15 Others 30 Aug. Trotting race // Killeri Equestrian Centre, Vesangantie 24. Free entrance. www.killeri.fi 6-7 Sep. Orien t eering Finnish L ong Dis t ance Ch ampion ship / / Kilpailukeskus Muuratsalon koulu, S aaritie 2. w w w. suuntajy vask yla.fi / kilpailut / smpitka2014 10 Sep. Trotting race // Killeri Equestrian Centre, Vesangantie 24. Free entrance. www.killeri.fi 14 Sep. Trotting race // Killeri Equestrian Centre, Vesangantie 24. Free entrance. www.killeri.fi 12-13 Sep. Lutakonaukio. http://beerfest.fi Beerfest Finland 2014 Touting itself as ?probably the world?s first beer festival on the road?, after kicking off in Lapeenranta, the beer is flowing into Jyväskylä. Heading also to Kuopio, Tampere, Turku and Helsinki, the festival aims to bring people together to enjoy good-quality food and good company. With the tables designed for dancing on, the festivities are bound to brighten up the autumn gloom, offering something different for those who have grown tired to the standard festivals on offer around the country.
  • A gift that keeps coming Give a Helsinki Times gift subscription to your expat family member or friend. Helsinki Times is published weekly in print and is updated online daily. Print subscribers get free access to the online and iPad editions of the paper. Since 2007, Helsinki Times has brought important and useful information about Finland to the expat community and internationally-minded Finns. Helsinki Times now includes quality articles from Helsingin Sanomat, Foreign Policy Magazine, The Washington Post, Bloomberg News, Slate Magazine, ScienceNOW, The Japan News and The Root. www.helsinkitimes.fi Receive a free copy of Finnish After Dark with every gift subscription to Helsinki Times, to give as a gift, or to keep for yourself! One year gift subscription costs 96? (normal price 120?). Contact us by e-mail: subscribe@helsinkitimes.fi or by phone: 03 424 65340. Mention both the billing and delivery addresses. Visit www.helsinkitimes.fi for a daily Finnish news update in English. AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT PHOTOS BY JANI SALONEN city of light Jyväskylä is a forerunner in urban lighting. The example set by the city is followed elsewhere in Finland, as well as abroad. Jyväskylä is committed to reducing its energy consumption. The aged lighting technologies were updated and smart control system was installed. From the beginning of 2014, staggered breaks in the lighting and particular night-time shutdowns in street and park lightings were put into effect. Kuokkala Bridge lamp changes The column lights on the bridge of Kuokkala bridge were swapped for more energy-efficient LED lighting in 2013. The energy savings from the light replacements approximated that of the annual consumption of three electricheated private homes. In addition the quality of light is better and the lighting levels meet current standards. Read more: www.cityoflight.jyvaskyla.fi/english Kuokkala bridge lighting uses 76% less energy than the old lighting.