This is a series of articles and interviews I intend to publish following the 2010 edition of the biggest metal festival of Finland, TUSKA OPEN AIR, that will happen on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of July in Kaisaniemi park, Helsinki, with 34 bands confirmed to set the capital of Finland on fire. Some of them? Devin Townsend, Megadeth, Nevermore, Satyricon, W.A.S.P., Testament and much more (http://www.tuska-festival.fi/en/?page=program).
To know more about the details, I had the pleasure of interviewing Niklas Nuppola, in charge for the press relations and festival´s logistics. As part of this heavy team, Niklas told me everything about Tuska´s organization, the line-up, some of its history and how it is to be part of this great happening which is a dream come true for many metalheads.
Before the interview, a little of the Festival´s history.
Tuska Metal festival was conceived in the winter of the year ‘98 by Tony Taleva, a real rock entrepreneur who´s been living and breathing heavy metal for the past 20 years. In this man´s CV, besides the production of the festival we can also find him as one of the masterminds of the Finnish pioneering metal magazine Suomi Finland Perkele and the Finnish Metal Expo, an annual metal fair hosted in Helsinki gathering all labels, recording companies, related stores, some of the most important artists of the Finnish metal scene and several bands. Want some more? Well, Tony is also the founder of the Stay Heavy Records.
And what about Tuska, the festival which year by year has become more and more a reference to the metalheads from all over the world? Well, it´s doing great and nowadays, for those who dream about being part of this kind of party, we can say that it´s almost even with Wacken Open Air (regarding quality), the biggest metal festival of the world, placed in Germany. And as they like to say, Tuska´s history is made of blood, sweat and lots of vodka - and maybe it justifies its name, since the meaning of the Finnish word is PAIN - having started at the most traditional rock bar of Helsinki, TAVASTIA, counting on 15 bands in two days (see who they were at: http://www.tuska-festival.fi/en/?page=history)
Years have passed, the festival grew up and helped push the Finnish metal scene to the world and bring all metal eyes to this cold and distant country that is no longer unknown in the music world, being the reference to metal in this first decade of the 21st century. Want a prove of how much Tuska has grown up? Well, the first edition at Tavastia counted on 700 people per day ´cause this is the venue´s capacity. In 2010, eleven thousand people are expected per day and tickets to the 4th of July are already sold out!
LONG LIVE TUSKA!
I will be there and promise to tell you everything but now I leave the words to Niklas Nuppola.
Stay Rock!
Wanna go? See how here: http://www.tuska-festival.fi/en/?page=tickets
INTERVIEW WITH NIKLAS NUPPOLA:
Tuska Open Air had its first edition in '98 and nowadays it´s a reference for metalheads all over the world. If you compare the festival now in 2010 to the previews editions, what big changes would you highlight?
The 2010 festival set up is pretty much the same as it has been for the past few years. The venue of Kaisaniemi Park is utilized to its capacity. In the festival’s history, the big changes have always been the changes of venue, to a bigger place. First from Tavastia club, with capacity to host 700 people, to the first open air location and from there to the present location. Those are the times that the festival has grown and faced the biggest new challenges. We are most likely changing to a different location for the 2011 edition because the present location is going under construction.
Nowadays Finland is considered the world´s metal cradle, do you think Tuska is one of the responsible for this achievement?
Tuska was possible to organize due to the fact that there are so many good bands in Finland. Although a big part of our bands come from outside Finland, Finnish bands are still the core. I’d like to think that having a festival such as Tuska has helped establish Finland as a country that is known for metal.
Besides you there are 4 more people working in the festival´s organization; Tony Taleva, Outi Alander, Hanna Kuosmanen and Jouni Markkanen. What does each one of you do?
Tony Taleva is the founding father of the festival. He consults in band booking and he organizes the Tuska after parties at Virgin Oil Co club. Tony is the one who got it all started, Tuska was his idea. Jouni Markkanen is the Promoter. He books the bands. Hanna Kuosmanen is the Managing Director. She runs the company, she is responsible for the infrastructure of the festival. Janne “Pööki” Hallenberg is the technical producer. Band production and technical coordination. My field is press relations and Artist logistics and accommodation.
How did you get involved in music business and events production? Are you also a musician?
I got involved in music business by accident, really. I haven’t studied music business or production at all. I have a basic business degree (BBA) and after my studies I went to do my civil service, which is the substitute for mandatory military service, at the Association for Live Music (ELMU). They run Nosturi club in Helsinki, and from there I got hired in Finnish Metal Events that was being founded at the time. I have always played in bands. Right now I play bass in Tukkanuotta and Famine Year. Death metal and grind/HC.
Tuska is a 3-day-festival and this year there are 34 bands confirmed. How long is it necessary to organize such a big event and which is the most stressful part of it?
Band booking for next year starts as soon as the festival is over. For the rest, I’d say it takes about 6 months. The last month is always the most stressful as then things start to come together.
How is the line-up building process, how do you select the bands?
We have a wishlist of bands we want and we start to work on those. But for the most part, we find out who are available at the time of the festival and start working on them. That is the reality of booking bands. We aim to get a good selection of different types of bands, that also dictates who’s getting on the bill.
Among these 34 bands selected for this year, which are the biggest headliners for each day?
Friday 2.7. Devin Townsend – Ziltoid The Omniscient. This is a one-off, world exclusive show. Sunday 4.7. Megadeth. Mastodon cancelled Saturday, we're looking for replacement.
How is the structure built to gather so many bands, artists and people?
We have 3 stages; Main Stage and 2 tent stages. The tents stages play at the same time, when the Main Stage is not playing. That way there is always someone playing.
What´s the expected attendance of the festival this year?
The maximum capacity is 11.000 per day. That is what we aim at.
Which edition do you consider the best so far and why?
I would have to say the 2008 edition is my favorite. Slayer, Carcass, Morbid Angel, need I say more?
Tell us a bit of a memorable moment of the Festival.
Having Slayer play our festival was an honor. Also, in 2008 Korpiklaani canceled their show on the showday because the airline lost their instruments. Before The Dawn came in to fill in, they got the call 37 minutes before showtime. Talk about short notice. Thanks Tuomas.
All bands interested in being part future festival line-up, what are the procedures to send material and apply for it?
We get tons of submissions all year round. And we listen to each one, even though we may not reply to everyone. If you have a good band and you’re serious, you’ll find a way to contact us.
Thanks a lot Niklas and everybody from the Tuska team. See you there!
Maila-Kaarina
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