RUISROCK 2008 Finska, Turku, Ruissalo, 04.-06.2008 Ruisrock, the festival held in Turku on the west of Finland is the festival that can commend as second biggest in Europe. This year the festival happened 39th time so it isn't surprise that interest for the festival, the same as its visitors, arrives from all sides of the old continent, and probably wider. Report and photo: Ivana Sataić - Ivy |
about Nighwish before Anette Olzon we left behind in the moment when the band, followed by impressive pyrotechnics, appeared on the stage. Anette Olzon from the very first moment showed how great she's play the role she won after Tarja Turunen was excluded from this mega popular band. Nightwish at Ruisrock played some of their biggest success' as "Whishmaster", "Nemo" or "Dark Chest Of Wonders" and also some newborn success songs from the last album "Dark Passions Play" like "Bye, Bye Beautiful", "Amaranth" or "The Islander" and showed how compact the band is. Because the band on the stage works flawlessly leaded by one and only Tuomas Holopainen, heart and soul of Nightwish behind the keyboards. Anette Olzon and Marco Hietala is great vocal match and the whole show spiced by pyrotechnics throws the audience into transatic moods.
and the guitarist is the leaded personality of this band that will, if there won't be some unexpected events, in a few years become Finnish alias of great R.E.M. Because beside really strong songs they have also devoted show and the audience that at 14:30 in the afternoon patiently waits for them to embolden them singing the songs from the latest album "Revolution Roulette" as "The Ultimate Fling", "Clevermind" or 
When Opeth ended their show on the stage named Paviljonkilava, in front of for Finland a bit surprisingly enthusiastic audience appeared The 69 Eyes. What followed was - an explosion. Because this band doesn't approve borders so their one hour long show was filed by non-stop moving on the stage. This bend could be described as rock'n'roll machine. But not exhausted, uninteresting and already seen but always again innovative, energetic, hard and better. Almost unbelievable! During their festival time The 69 Eyes played the songs that even those who just came to see what is going on there on the stage forced to enthusiastic reaction - "Frame In Blood", "Gothic Girl", "The Chair", "Brandon Lee", "Feel Berlin", "Ghost", "Rocker", "Perfect Skin", "Lost Boys", ... The 69 Eyes showed once again why are they one of the most popular Finnish bands. And why is that easy for them to throw the audience in the wilderness of notes. They locked their show with their vision of legendary "L.A. Woman", which made me especially enthusiastic! Now let's wait and see what will bring the new album and the next tour!
After The 69 Eyes on the Rantalava appeared legend of Finnish but also world glam/rock scene - Hanoi Rocks! And another explosion! Because Hanoi Rocks hardly can be described different but explosion of energy, shine and everything that makes glam so interesting. "A Day Late, A Dollar Short", "The Devil In You", "Teenage Revolution", "Street Poetry", "Fashion", "Love's An Injection", "Lost In The City", "Malibu Beach", "Oriental Beat" ... all this songs pushed the audience in the madness. It's a real shame Hanoi Rocks are so rare in our area because you should see this band live on stage to understand what the pith of glam rock is!
The second festival day closed another heroes of Finnish music scene - HIM. Already an hour before their show it was almost impossible to get close to the stage named Niittylava because fans were gathered in front of it impatiently waiting for their idols. As I didn't have the chance to see HIM in a last few years I also joined the impatient crowd, for the beginning in the photo pit. Musically even more then just solid, when they appeared on the stage and when Ville Valo with a smile on his face took his place in front of the microphone the audience literally lost the common sense on the songs "Right Here In My Arms", "Wings Of The Butterfly", and especially "Join Me" that, it seems, became the anthem for the fans of this band. HIM really thrilled the people, I was a bit less thrilled because there were some moments when Ville just something mumbled in the microphone, so in first moments it was hard to recognize the songs, and HIM imposed us into the third festival day - Sunday.
Bullet For My Valentine was the first band we saw on Sunday. Incredible British guys at Ruisrock gave their best. And played definitely the strongest show at the festival! The audience was in front of Rantalava, the same as with HIM the night before, gathered even few hours before the show was burning during the energetic and loud show of this band. Ecstasy that was in the air ended an hour later with liters of sweat, lost voices because of the loud support for the band and bruises that had those who were in the first rows because of the boozing and head-banging that was pretty weird for usually calm Finnish audience. "Scream, Aim, Fire" is name of their latest album and their show is exactly that!
Apocalyptica replaced Apulanta but on Rantalava. Now I wonder do I need to say anything else but Apocalyptica? Because this band is each time more energetic, devoted and cogent to the message it delivers and the audience follow them with the same energy and devotion. The connection between the band on the stage and the audience in front of it was established in the moment when the guys appeared and it lasted until the last second. "Somewhere Around Nothing", "Helden" by David Bowie, "I'm Not Jesus", "Bittersweet", "Life Burns", "Inquisition Symphony" and "Seeman" are just some of the songs that boiled then already hot atmosphere at Ruisrock.