- Feature:
* Music and Media 2006 Rising Stars and Business Pros
- Business
- Live News
- Behind the Scenes
- Behind the Numbers
Music and Media 2006 Rising Stars and Business Pros
On October 27-29, music industry professionals from around the world will get together for the 18th time to spot the freshest Finnish talent, as well as to mingle and sample the unique nightlife of the small but lively town of Tampere. Hear what delegates said about last years conference:
I thought it was a fantastic weekend, one of the most enjoyable events I have attended. Good bands, good people and interesting panels.
Stuart Clarke, Music Week, UK
It was a very good event with real focus. I was impressed.
Sat Bisla, A&R Worldwide
This year, Music & Media will present selected showcases of timely Finnish acts, including:
22-Pistepirkko (BONE VOYAGE), brightboy (HELSINKI MUSIC COMPANY), Lapko (FULLSTEAM), Nicole Willis & the Soul Investigators (TIMMION), Von Hertzen Brothers (DYNASTY).
More showcases and the panel programme will be announced soon, so keep an eye on this weblink listing all confirmed delegates: www.musex.fi/mm2006.
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BUSINESS
Great news for all you hockey-rockers! Platitude by rock-grunge-metal band Bloodpit (MERCEEDEES) is included in the soundtrack of the NHL 07 ice-hockey game from Electronic Arts. The soundtrack is due for worldwide release. This is the first time a track by a Finnish artist has appeared in EA Sports NHL series. Bands featured on previous soundtracks include System of a Down, Faith No More, Franz Ferdinand, Queens of the Stone Age and Deftones.
In 2004, UMO Jazz Orchestra and The Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre teamed up to create a long-term, independent jazz network spanning the Gulf of Finland. Now the project, dubbed Jazzbryggan, or the Jazz Pier, is on its final round. Following last years successful ten-concert tour, the jazz sailors on this years tour, October 26 - November 5, are MP4 (TEXICALLI) from Finland and the Jonas Kullhammar Quartet from Sweden.
For two of Stupido Records artists this is one of the hottest summers on record, in more senses than one. Eläkeläiset, those crazy folk-dance fiends, are to record a new live album, for release in 2007, at the Ilosaarirock Festival and during their autumn tour. In the autumn, Stupido will release an electro-acoustic solo album from Tuomas Toivonen, lead singer of Giant Robot. The CD will include a two-hour audiovisual installation.
Hoedown has announced the North American release of Maria Kalaniemis latest album Bellow Poetry. This spent three months at the top of the European World Music Chart, and is due for release by Alula Records USA in autumn 2006. Other international releases by Hoedown artists include Finnish fiddle legends JPPs new album Artology, on OArt Music. Artology is being released in Japan by Koruna Music, and will soon be launched in North America by NorthSide.
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LIVE
With a recent contract with Universal Music under their belts, and the release of their album First Aid Kit all over Europe in the early fall, alt.rock outfit Disco Ensemble (FULLSTEAM) are also going strong on the live front. Their forthcoming co-headlining tour of the UK with Brigade and The Scare includes a dozen dates, August 20-31. Look for details here >>>
The notoriously energetic live act Boomhauer (STUPIDO) will generate garage and countrybilly musical explosions on their club tour of England, August 4-12. The gig-per-day tour includes appearances in Leicester, Cambridge, Birmingham and London. See tour dates here >>>
The rock-spectacular group Leningrad Cowboys (SONYBMG FINLAND) will play their first ever gig in their imaginary hometown of St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad), at the Port Club on July 7. This appearance in Russia follows their show at the Berlin Kulturbrauerei, Germany, on July 2. On top of that, the tour calendar includes two gigs in Switzerland, at the Vogellisi Festival on July 28 and at Postplatz Open-Air on July 29.
Among numerous Finnish groups criss-crossing Europe to play summer-festival stages are The 69 Eyes (EMI FINLAND), with German dates at the Battle of Metal Festival and Amphi Festival on July 21-22. Also due to perform in Germany are Lapko (FULLSTEAM), who head out for a show at the Bochum Total city festival, July 14, and Eläkeläiset (STUPIDO), who are holding their very own Masters of Humppa festival in triplicate, in Berlin, Nürnberg and Frankfurt, July 21-23.
Jazz news includes a concert by Juhani Aaltonen Trio at the Clusone Jazz Festival, Italy, July 30. The group will pay another visit to Italy on October 29 to appear at the Jazz & Wine of Peace Festival in Gorizia. Before that, they play two festivals in Norway: Varangerfestivalen, August 9, and Trondheim Jazz Festival, August 28.
Other artists performing at Norwegian jazz festivals during the summer include Iro Haarla Quintet (Molde Jazz, July 20), Pekka Kuusisto (Olavsfestdagene, July 27), Kimmo Pohjonen (Nordland Musikkfestuke, August 7), as well as Alexi Tuomarila Trio, The Five Corners Quintet and Antti Sarpila at the Oslo Jazz Festival, August 18.
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Behind the Scenes
Spotlights galore for brightboy, Helsinki Music Company’s debutantes, who have just released an acclaimed first album Love For The Streets and are now starring in a short film. Not bad for newcomers who play melodic, romantic, 80s-tinged rock. Singer Antti and drummer Eero will feature in a short film that will be used to advertise the Helsinki Love & Anarchy Film Festival in movie theatres, on television and on the festival’s website. More rock presence comes from scriptwriter and director Finn Andersson, who plays retro sounds in Kevin.
Behind the Numbers
At 8am the bulls are let loose for the bullrun in the streets of Pamplona, Spain. 3 minutes is how long people usually run with the bulls towards the bullfighting arena, but sometimes the run can last 12 minutes. 825 metres is the length of the route. 14 people have been killed and 200 seriously injured in the last 100 years. 45 Degree Woman (KHY SUOMEN MUSIIKKI) is a 6-man Finnish band that joined in the running this year. The result is a music video for The Wait, off the album How To handle Pain along with a fair share of bruises, no doubt.