Revisiting Flow Festival
As the festival season is coming to an end, summer is also wrapping up with us. That is why I want to introduce to those new to Helsinki (I’m definitely a newbie to the city too) the Flow Festival - defined as a cutting-edge, sustainable event. In their own words: “It was born out of the founders’ passion for culture. Feeling that Finland and Helsinki, in particular, were lacking a high-quality alternative music festival.”
Flow Festival 2024 - X Garden // Sunday 11.08.2024 - (C) Konstantin Kondrukhov
In addition, we are talking about Helsinki, a city that prioritizes well-being and an all-encompassing sense of respect for both its people and the environment. Flow Festival reflects these values by not only showcasing a diverse lineup of artists but also by promoting sustainability in every aspect of its organization.
This year's edition of Flow Festival, held from August 9th to 11th, featured over 100 bands spread in three sessions, across various stages. The interesting bit here is not only the multitudinous selection but also its broadness when it comes to music genres, career stages, and newness.
First of all, we find Halsey, who started her career as an independent singer-songwriter before ascending to the pop sphere in 2014. In contrast, there is Raye, who is now at the beginning of her own journey. Her main hit, “Escapism”, was featured in a wide amount of social media content, being lip-synced or used in the background, specifically at the end of the “Now it’s back to the bar” verse, but even the first sentence and the beat are recognizable. But circling back to very well-loved and established musicians, on the first day of the festival, Janelle Monáe also performed, with her mix of Soul, Funk, and R&B. To top it all off, James Blake graced the crowd with his dance music and electronic soundscapes. Blake is one of the festival staples and a must-see act at events all over the world.
Flow Festival also featured the quintessential British Band, Pulp, making it even more obvious that the artistic director of the festival really gave the crowd what they wanted. Pulp’s presence, in fact, added a sweet layer of nostalgia and excitement that made the crowd feel “everything, everywhere, all at once”. The same goes for PJ Harvey, whose ability to remain an alternative music icon still stands the test of time. Punkers would have found their perfect place at the Idles show, which never fails to impress with their raw energy and rebellious attitude. Being a Finnish festival, of course, many local artists were present, like Yeboyah, DJ Aleksi & Handshaking, or Jussi Kantonen B2B Juuso Tervo.
Flow Festival is not only about the music - it is also a space meant for community building and creative expression. Set in the Suvilahti area, the festival benefits from an industrial/urban backdrop that adds a unique atmosphere to the experience, with art installations and other interactive elements. So, if you are looking to broaden your horizons in the European music scene, by all means, give Flow Festival a try.
