Thursday August 6: Madonna West Harbour, Helsinki, Finland
The sun is still with us as we cross on the ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki. The ride over is a laugh and the food excellent!
Arriving at the hotel its: out of the car, avoid being run down by cyclist, meet the promoter for tomorrow night club gig at Circus, then check into our hotel. As with all his club gigs on this tour, Paul has his DJ equipment from his rider set up in his hotel room on arrival. This allows him to listen to material for on-going projects (which there are many of) plus new tracks from CD’s to try out for that night’s set. It’s a good system that works on many different levels.
From the dock, we can view the staging on West Harbour (the site for tomorrows concert), it’s massive. Disembarking of the boat, Paul gets talking to a Finnish Madonna fan who praises what an amazing show it was in Tallinn, and how the Finnish crowd will be even better at the tomorrows show. We can believe that, Tallinn was a good crowd but the Finns are known more for expressing themselves.
The following day, leaving the hotel for the gig, the constant flow of traffic seems to head in the direction of the West Harbour. The closer we get, it turns into a procession of people; the whole of Helsinki’s is turning out for Madonna.
Once his arm is taped again, Paul is well enough to play. It’s awkward, but he arrives on stage to an absolute mass of (what later was recorded as) 98,000 people. Still, getting them to warm up and have a good time is no easy job. Gradually, the crowd follows his every gesture until being completely persuaded by the appearance of Madonna’s dancers, who are now a part of this ritual warm up. The sight of this mass of smiling people is 100% satisfying. This has been a most awesome crowd!
via.
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One of my very early sources of inspiration and fascination lands to Helsinki tonight. Jean Michel Jarre’s “Musik Aus Zeit Und Raum” was among the first LPs I’ve bought and as a teenager I was stunned by the TV broadcasts of his shows in Paris and other massive outdoor venues. This tour, however, is held indoors in its whole, but I’m expecting nothing less.
Jack organizes the unofficial afterparty at Redrum after the concert. Indigo, Orkidea and Matthew Dekay serve the beats. What comes to progressive house jocks, Mr.Dekay is certainly among my favourites. Beautiful Monday/Fucking Friday release on Deep Records turned my eyes on him in 2003 and his releases have been on heavy rotation ever since. I’m really happy that Jack had the possibility of bringing Matthew to Helsinki, really looking forward to his set. For more details, browse to Jack Facebook event.
“Kaikkien aikojen vaikutusvaltaisin elektroyhtye Kraftwerk esiintyy Helsingin Suvilahdessa torstaina 13.8. Flow Festivalin ja Live Nationin tuottama konsertti toteutetaan Flow Festivalin päälavalla festivaaliviikonlopun aattona.
Ensimmäisen albuminsa vuonna 1970 julkaissut saksalainen Kraftwerk on toiminut suunnannäyttäjänä erityisesti elektronisen musiikin varhaiskehityksessä. Myyttisen saksalaisyhtyeen diskografia sisältää useita yli genrerajojen tunnustettuja klassikkoalbumeita. Erityisesti Man Machine, Autobahn, Trans-Europe Express ja Computer World toimivat edelleen kiintopisteinä yhä useampaan suuntaan versoavan elektronisen musiikin kartalla.
Tapahtuman myötä debyyttinsä saa myös Flow Festivalin uudistunut, entistä suurempi ja yleisöystävällisempi päälava-alue.”
Photo: Die.Roboter
Legendary Jean Michel Jarre comes to Finland 16.5.2009. This show is a must. Even today the Oxygene album, recorded in 1976 (!!), sounds fresh and timeless – check the classic track above.