November 2003:
- Features:
1) Finnish rock and electronica in Moscow
- Business news
- Live news
- Behind the Numbers / Behind the Scenes
Finnish rockers celebrate the countrys independence day by invading Moscow
Great eclectic mix of Finnish bands are scheduled to play in Moscow for Finlands independance day on December 6th. One of Moscows top venues B2 Club will host this Finnish music festival scheduled to play non-stop for eight hours on three stages. The “Independence Night” programme widely showcases Finnish rock, electronica and experimental music, featuring e.g. chart topping funky hip hoppers Don Johnson Big Band, thundering rockers The Flaming Sideburns, the crazy oompah phenomenon Eläkeläiset, self-made instrument maestros Cleaning Women and the accordion experimentalist Kimmo Pohjonen among others.
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BUSINESS
The majority of Finns oppose the illicit copying of music and films from the internet. A recent study conducted on Finnish peoples attitudes towards the illicit copying and distribution on the internet and to piracy show that a huge, 76% of Finns do not accept illegal copying for private use. Of these, a further 30% considered this to be a criminal act. One thousand Finns between the ages of 15 - 34 were interviewed.
Hip hop sensation Redrama has had a storming start this autumn. The straight talking charmer´s single Hang It Up secured the number spot for three weeks in the Finnish charts and the explosive video is currently in the top 3 at the MTV Nordic’s Up North chart. Redrama will also warm up the US group Gang Starr on their European tour, commencing on November 14th in Switzerland before continuing on to several other countries. Tour dates>>> Redrama´s acclaimed debut Everyday Soundtrack was released in September, being one of Virgin´s European priorities starting next year with album releases across Europe.
EXOGENIC wants to thank all those who came to the blast the roof off at the Desmet club for the Electric FINland showcase. Mac Mavis and Koneveljet rocked the house at the Amsterdam Dance Event on October 31st. The next release from Exogenic Records, will be the second album of the incredible trance duo Eraser vs Yöjalka, due out on the 21st November. Exogenic Breaks Records has also licensed two jazzy breaks tracks from So So and Uusi Fantasia to the French label Le Maquis for their compilation Life is Jazz.
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CHART
Finlands very own The Rasmus won a highly respected MTV Europe Music Award for the Best Nordic Act last week in Edinburgh. The award was unexpected for some spectators not to mention the band themselves, as rivals included top class acts such as mega-selling The Cardigans and the hip hop phenomenon Outlandish. The Rasmus is currently continuing their non-stop touring in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
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LIVE
High voltage stage action is guaranteed when The Flaming Sideburns take their show to Germany, Finland, Russia and France in November 10 December 20. Tour dates>>>
The ravenous Velcra will tour the UK performing in major cities such as London, Manchester and Liverpool. The eleven gigs are scheduled for November 11 23. Tour dates>>>
One of Finland’s leading World Music artists, Sámi joiker Wimme, will play his first ever concerts in India in November: Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi on November 26th and GD Birla Sabhagar in Calcutta on November 28th. Wimme is a fusion of ancient shamanistic vocal techniques of indigenous Sámi people mixed with modern electro-acoustic soundscapes. For the Indian tour Wimme´s live set-up will be joined by Kimmo Kajasto (Max Payne PC game composer, among others).
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Behind the Numbers: Finnish music sales saw a turn for the better in the third quarter of 2003 with total music sales up by 9,7% in units and 7,3% in value compared to last years figures between January and September, according to statistics collected by IFPI Finland. The share of local repertoire sales of total unit sales has already been more than 50%, but now local repertoire also accounts for over 50% in total music sales value. The share of local music sold in Finland is 54% in units and nearly 51% in value.
Behind the Scenes: The stunning world music group Värttinä has started composing for the first ever stage musical adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkiens The Lord of The Rings for Londons West End set to premiere in Spring 2005. The project is a fantastic way to celebrate the bands 20th anniversary, which has included extensive touring and the groups tenth album Iki being chosen among the 50 World Music Albums You Must Own All by Songlines magazine.