Sure, the flight from Australia to Helsinki was long and tiring, but it was well worth the journey to attend Flow Festival in Suvilahti, Helsinki, on a perfect Finnish afternoon, alongside 32,000 Finnish and international festivalgoers.
The evening started with Finnish pop star Olga, a real crowd-pleaser who brought plenty of energy to the main stage. Olga is known for her blend of electronic pop and rap influences, and on the night she delivered a high-energy performance. It’s easy
to understand why she is regarded as one of Finland’s most exciting young pop artists.
Olga was followed on the main stage by American hardcore band Turnstile. Blending the raw energy of punk and hardcore music, the Baltimore band delivered a powerful and energetic set, with songs including Never Enough, I Care, Holiday,
Mystery and Blackout.
One of my favourite performances on the night was Nu Genea Live Band, the incredibly talented Italian act from Naples. This is a tight, accomplished band, with some excellent musicianship. The three vocalists were impressive, delivering beautiful harmonies as well as strong individual performances. Keyboards, strong guitar work, drums, saxophone and tambourine added layers of colour and rhythm to a sound that was warm, rich and vibrant.
The headline act of the night was Florence + The Machine. In typical style, Florence Welch exhibited great stage presence, powerful vocals and plenty of energy. Moving effortlessly across the stage and connecting closely with the crowd, she delivered a powerful performance. Highlights included “Shake It Out,” “Spectrum (Say My Name),” “Hunger” and “Everybody Scream,” alongside songs from the recent Everybody Scream album. It was a quality performance and a fitting way to finish the
night.