Programme

Afterworld

A legend of Oulu metal and acclaimed also outside the Finnish borders, Afterworld are making a long-awaited comeback at Qstock – tighter than ever. What we have in store is not just a nostalgia trip but also fresh material from the upcoming album by a group that are famous for their original and powerful sound. One thing we can take for granted is that we will hear the classic single chart topper ”To The Afterworld” in the darkening Kuusisaari evening. “Come with me forever, come with me to the afterworld”!

Airbourne (AU)

The Australian hard rock scene is best known for one band named after electric currents, but Airbourne’s respect for the fundamental values of hard rock make them a worthy contender. High-energy rock, solid instrumentalism and groovy riffs are the cornerstones that make Airbourne one of the toughest acts in their genre. Airbourne tour the world actively and their music can be heard also in several video games.

Anna Puu

Anna Puu set out to make her fifth album with a new approach. She omitted her trademark acoustic guitar and replaced it with beats, synthesizers and electric guitar. Since its release last year, the album Nälkäinen sydän has been described as electronic pop that meets international standards. Besides her award-winning career as a solo artist, Anna Puu has displayed her expertise as a Voice of Finland jury member. Anna Puu is always an interesting and talented singer, and we are dying to hear her new electronic pop sound at next summer’s Qstock.

Apulanta

Apulanta have quite the career behind them, and there is more to come. With 21 number one singles, 12 albums and multiple awards on their belt, Apulanta sold out all of their own shows for 2018 in advance, including a massive spectacle at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki. Apulanta is no stranger to the Qstock audience either, but it seems that they have more and more energy with each visit, making their shows more amazing year after year. If, for some reason, you have never seen Apulanta live, we recommend you do so at Qstock 2019.

Arion

Arion’s career took off like a space rocket around six years ago when the power metal group released their much praised debut album and took part in the Finnish qualification for the Eurovision Song Contest. After that, the band took it easy for a couple of years while they were undergoing some lineup changes. Now the wait is over and Arion have released a new album. It is clear that they have grown up, and the album Life Is Not Beautiful has been described as more angry and multi-dimensional than its predecessor.

Asa & Band

During his career, Asa has never been one to follow others or ask anyone for their opinion. Touring with Asa now is a band called band, compiled from familiar musicians who have worked with Asa over the years. Nowadays the group’s sound is more about playing live, without forgetting more traditional rap elements such as drum machines. Asa & band put out their latest release early this year. the artist himself calls the album a combination of folk music, non-music, old-man AOR rap of the nineties, and psychedelia.

Barbe-Q-Barbies

The world needs more bands like these. Hailing from Finland, Barbe-Q-Babies are an honest rock band down to their very soul. Their music has been influenced by great bands such as AC/DC, QOTSA, Kiss and Motörhead, but Barbe-Q-Barbies have added their own Helsinki attitude and fateful female vocals into the mix. The band’s previous album came out in 2015, but that is not the most recent material we have heard from this original group: in 2016 they participated in the Finnish qualification of the Eurovision Song Contest and made it all the way to the national final. Check them out – we all need an extra dose of bold female rock.

Beast In Black

Founded in 2015, Beast In Black are a fairly young addition to the chronicles of heavy metal, but few bands have taken off with such super success so fast. Beast In Black are getting ready to release their second album in February and expectations are high for it to equal the debut’s success. In any case, we are guaranteed a decent dose of down-to-earth metal with high vocals and catchy riffs. Beast In Black, the Beast is back!

Children Of Bodom

Children Of Bodom are releasing their tenth album in March, with the title Hexed. Vocalist Alexi Laiho has said that the band’s music and lyrics are means of letting out the negative issues within his head, so we can be quite certain that COB have not come far from their former selves. And why should they – after all, they are one of the toughest names in their genre. Fast, furious and melodic riffs seasoned with hard and dark spices are what you can expect also at this summer’s COB show.

Chisu

Chisu is an extremely recognisable and luminous artist. She makes her own songs and interprets them in a way that touches every soul. Last year, Chisu took a stroll down a whole new path by switching into English and recording Johnny Cash’s legendary song I Walk The Line. She also made her very first featuring performance on another artist’s track by appearing on Paperi-T’s song Paniikki. We are happy to welcome this wonderful performer back to Qstock where she can make our day with her iridescent persona and intense music.

Crew of Me & You (SE)

If we lay down the names Maja Ivarsson and Felix Rodriguez, you might think of a million-selling Swedish band that also played Qstock stock a few years back. And yes: Ivarsson and Rodriguez were founding members of The Sounds. However, there came a point for the two where they felt like they had come to a dead end with their creativity in the unscrupulous music industry and needed a new kind of approach to making music. This led to the birth of Crew Of Me & You, an electronic duo described as brash, provocative and playful. Their debut album will be released later this year.

Don Huonot

Don Huonot is one of the cornerstones of rock music sung in Finnish. There are few Finns who lived in the nineties who have not turned their cassette or CD players up for Don Huonot’s faster tunes or danced to their slow ones. Nowadays, Don Huonot tour irregularly, going on a hiatus every now and then. But this is no hiatus – this is full on rock bliss as Kalle Ahola and his mates get the party started at Qstock!

Elastinen

As far as the Finnish music scene goes, this gentleman hardly needs introducing. Elastinen is a Finnish rap pioneer, hip-hop artist, music producer, CEO, breakdance artist, Idols and Voice of Finland judge, and TV host. This musical multitalent has managed his own record label, sold out arena shows and teamed up with Cheek for their duo effort Profeetat, and there is no doubt that he is one of the biggest stars in Finland.

Elias Gould

Elias Gould is perhaps known best as an actor, for he has played roles in many popular Finnish films. As far as music goes, he first became known as the singer of choruses for rap groups such as JVG and Gasellit, but Elias has released many songs of his own, too. His first single came out in 2015 and the debut album is almost finished. In 2017, the British magazine i-D mentioned Gould as one of the most magnetic artists in Finland along with Alma and Vesta. This is one singing actor who is definitely worth following.

Ellips

Even before the release of one single song, the name Ellips was on the lips of every follower of Finnish music. Famous for her leading role in the group Haloo Helsinki, Elli has managed to capture the hearts of even the most callous rock fanatics with her solo project. Now this talented musician is ready to do the same with all music lovers in Oulu.

Evelina

Evelina is a barrier-breaking musician and modern style icon. She boldly mixes urban pop, r’n’b and hip-hop and was the first Finnish artist whose debut album streamed platinum before its release. Evelina was awarded last year as the Finnish female artist of the year, and in the autumn she appeared on season 9 of the popular TV show Vain elämää. She has also featured on songs by JVG, Mikael Gabriel and Robin.

Full Nelson

What do you get when you combine a bunch of death metal blokes, an insane idea and way too much time? You get Finland’s tightest (because it is probably the only one) Limp Bizkit tribute FULL NELSON! Assume a relaxed position, put your baseball cap on and enjoy this extremely authentic nostalgia trip back to the turn of the millennium. GET THE F*CK UP!

Gettomasa

Gettomasa has been able to tick many boxes on his career to-do list: Finnish rap championship, record deal, hit albums, and huge success. His debut album Chosen One (2016) was a critical success and one of the most talked about albums of the year. Gettomasa is constantly in the process of creating new music and his most recent single suggests that this ”Chosen One” will be one of the biggest names in Finnish rap for years to come.

Infected Rain (MD)

This is probably the first time we see a Moldovan band on the Qstock stage. Infected Rain mixes up various modern metal genres, but the concoction could be described as female-led nu metal with a melodic death metal twist. Infected Rain vocals are either screamed high or growled low. This is something rarely heard, so if you have not already caught the Infected Rain bug, we highly recommend you do so now.

J.A. Mäki & Aavaa

J.A. Mäki is not only the vocalist of the legendary group Radiopuhelimet from Oulu but now also a solo artist: his debut solo album AAVAA was released in late March 2019. The album has been praised to no end, and we are proud to present this group on Qstock’s Saturday night! Performing together with Mäki are two seasoned musicians who participated in the intense recording sessions of the AAVAA album, namely Ossian Marttala (guitar, vocals) and Janne Mathlin (drums). They will be backed up live by distinguished gentlemen Joona (keys & synths) and Tommi Södö (bass).

Jarkko Martikainen ja Luotetut Miehet akustisena

A man of many cultural talents, Jarkko Martikainen has always had the gift of being present with his music, whether the format was a live show or a studio album. Known originally as the singer and guitarist of the group YUP, Martikainen was quite the prog punk rocker in the early 1990s. However, the years have polished his expression and the tone of Martikainen’s songs is more meditative than ever. He will appear at Qstock with a semi-acoustic set accompanied by the group Luotetut miehet, consisting of Ema Hurskainen, Anssi Salminen and Luis Herrero.

Jokrates

Jokrates is a fresh breeze in the Finnish rap scene. When he steps onto the stage, he will make even the stiffest of hips wiggle around euphorically. It is easy to rhyme with such breathtaking beats to back him up. We would also like to mention that Jokrates has a black belt in freestyle rap and he is not afraid to use it. Tag along and party ’til you run out of steam.

JVG

JVG have accomplished practically everything a group can in Finland, including several Emma Awards and sold-out arena shows. They were the first Finnish group to reach the limit of 10 million streams on Spotify. The song in question was their superhit Tarkenee from summer 2015. It was also the first Finnish song to be included in EA Sports’ NHL game series. The hugely popular rap duo always serve their festival audience with one of the most energetic shows of the summer.

Kaija Koo

Kaija Koo’s career has lasted for more than 30 years, and yet she has always managed to sound fresh and up-to-date. Whether it is a radio megahit from 1993, a dancefloor favourite from 2010 or a song from her latest album, Kaija Koo has always known how to perform her songs in a way that hits the souls of contemporary listeners. She is undoubtedly the queen of Finnish adult pop.

Kalevauva.fi

Has your husband eaten your child’s pudding? Why is contemporary music so horrible? You need to look no further for the answers to these mind-boggling questions on dedicated web forums: Kalevauva has googled everything up for you. This guitar/banjo duo has the knack for genious internet satire, as you will be able to witness live at Qstock this summer. If you have not yet heard of Kalevauva, we strongly recommend you get to know them as soon as possible.

Kasmir

Kasmir’s debut album was the first Finnish album to reach gold album figures merely on the basis of streaming listens. Since his huge summer hit about a raspberry boat a couple of years ago, Kasmir has appeared on the biggest national TV shows and this summer he will dock his boat on the shore of Kuusisaari to get the party started.

Kingston Wall by JJylli, Kuoppis & VHB

Kingston Wall is a boulder of a name in the Finnish psychedelic rock scene. This year the group is touring again, this time with a special line-up, for the crew includes talented musicians from many facets of the Finnish rock circles. Composer/lyricist/rock musician Jukka Jylli and drum maestro Sami Kuoppamäki will be accompanied by the ever-energetic Von Hertzen Brothers. Shine on Qstock!

Lauri Peisterä

”Life is a highway!” sings the gruff-voiced songwriter Lauri Peisterä, whose songs declare the gospel of pop and rock music. The earthy and groovy stories of summer, friends and love will bring you good vibes and make you dance. Lauri is currently finishing his debut album, and his EP from last summer has gained a lot of coverage on the radio and many streaming playlists. Lauri’s band is rock solid, consisting of seasoned music industry professionals who have played with the likes of Suvi Teräsniska, Eini, Mikko Pohjola and Mitra.

Leo Luthando

Also featured on the Oulu Stage is Leo Luthando, a young, fast-rising talent from the region. Leo became known to the general public through last year’s Idols TV show on which he finally came second. Finishing in the silver spot was no shame even this time around, and Leo was signed to Rähinä Records under the wings of Elastinen, the one true pioneer of Finnish rap music. Now Leo Luthando’s first EP is out and he is touring throughout the summer while also making new music at the same time. As Elastinen himself said, Leo’s stage presence and talent are exceptional, so this Qstock debut performance is well worth checking out.

Lxandra

Life brought Lxandra from the small community bubble of Suomenlinna island in Helsinki to the busy streets of Berlin. The artist’s music resonates with similar contrasts: electronic sounds mixed with classical piano plus figurative and atmospheric verses merged with big and powerful choruses. Lxandra herself describes her music as a combination of Berlin’s clubs and Finnish log cabins. Lxandra has already supported acts like Dua Lipa and is undoubtedly one of the most promising and potential Finnish artists on the road to international stardom.

Machinae Supremacy (SE)

The Oulu Stage is also a stage for Nordic collaboration: Machinae Supremacy from Luleå travels to Qstock as part of the Arctic Pulse project, the purpose of which is to offer the inhabitants and travellers of northern Finland, Sweden and Norway outstanding musical experiences beyond borders. Machinae Supremacy are a border-crossing band also musically as they boldly combine metal and games music.

Maustetytöt

The Finnish indie circles are in uproar once more: everybody is talking about the sibling duo Maustetytöt. Their music is a wonderfully identyifiable mix of romantic decadence and dreary everyday realism seasoned with vintage synth sounds and guitar. Anna and Kaisa Karjalainen used to be members of a group called Kaneli that was based in Oulu. Now living in Kallio, Helsinki, the duo was much talked about before any official releases, and their fresh debut single has been streamed in plenty during the first few weeks. The artists themselves have mentioned groups like Leevi And The Leavings, Noitalinna Huraa! ja PMMP as some of their references, so if you like these bands, you should definitely make a mental note of Maustetytöt. We recommend them warmly in any case!

messier

messier is a fresh rock trio with a sound that is based on classic power pop elements: their expression is a mixture of powerful melodies, vocal harmonies and a rough band sound. The group are currently in the process of finishing their first album, off which the singles ”Write Between the Lines” and “Simon Says” have been released so far.

Michael Monroe

Just like wine, Michael Monroe gets better year by year: the energy of his shows just keeps getting more and more intoxicating. The English rock magazine Vive Le Rock selected Monroe as last year’s best international artist, saying his career has reached a new peak in recent years. Michael Monroe is also preparing the release of a new album entitled One Man Gang. Among the guest artists featured on the album is Nasty Suicide, also a member of the legendary Hanoi Rocks. Counting Monroe’s bass player Sam Yaffa, a total of three Hanoi Rocks members appear on the release.

MMSP

MMSP from Helsinki have attitude and punk energy to share. The group released their debut album in 2017 and have toured Finnish festivals actively ever since. MMSP are currently working on their second album and released a double A-side single late last year. MMSP are definitely among the great future names of Finnish rock, with echoes of classics like Disco Ensemble and Biffy Clyro in their music.

Mouhous

Here is a rap lineup with an interesting, fresh sound and style. Hailing from Jyväskylä in central Finland, Mouhous combine contemporary electronic sounds with grim and cheeky lyrics. The band’s music videos are also worth seeing. Mouhous consists of SuperDuve, Monako and Van Hegen who do not mind confusing us listeners even further by mixing their music with influences of punk, for example. It remains to be seen what sort of intriguing aspects their live show has in store for the Qstock crowd!

Olavi Uusivirta

Olavi Uusivirta is one of those artists whose show you simply must not miss at Qstock. He is a Finnish pop elite staple who is guaranteed to lift you up and make you happy. Uusivirta’s eighth studio album will be released this spring. Spend the best moments of your summer at Qstock, together with Olavi Uusivirta!

Pariisin Kevät

What started out as a one-man studio project has become a cornerstone of Finnish indie pop. Pariisin Kevät has been quiet for a while, working on a new album. But now the time has come to leave the peaceful studio behind and rock the socks off festival audiences around the country. Pariisin Kevät will return to the Qstock stage sounding fresher than ever.

Peltokurki

Peltokurki is a folk-influenced band playing music that provokes emotion. They will capture you with powerful lyrics and Finnish melancholy seasoned with Disney-esque melodies. Hailing from Oulu, Peltokurki are on the rise with their honest and strong message that moves people all around. As far as we know, their live audiences have experienced goosebumps, laughed and cried, too – with heartache as well as joy.

Popeda

40 years on the road in Finland and still going strong, Popeda bring their hit machine to Qstock to delight the festival crowd in Oulu once again. Their high-energy stage presence is among the most impressive ever seen, and if you have never caught Popeda live before, it is about time!

Radiopuhelimet

Stop the press! Radiopuhelimet are playing at Qstock. Always hot, always fierce and always so punk. We’ll just have to wait and see what the distinguished local gentlemen come up with this year. 17th time is the charm, as they say.

Ricky-Tick Big Band & Julkinen Sana

As far as we know, this is the only group in the world to combine big band jazz and hip-hop to this extent. Ricky Tick Big Band & Julkinen Sana released their third album last year. On the release it is easy to hear how the artists are even more in touch with their fresh and different style of music. An RTBB show is always quite an experience, too, as three first-class rappers (Paleface, Redrama and Tommy Lindgren) perform with the 17-piece Ricky Tick Big Band led by Valtteri Laurell Pöyhönen. This January, Ricky Tick Big Band & Julkinen Sana announced that they would stop touring with this lineup at the end of 2019. This is all the more reason to mark this gig up in your calendars.

Ruusut

Last year, the music scene was buzzing and whispering about a band who were playing electronic pop that was totally new and different in Finland. The band was Ruusut, a collective of musicians from acts like The Hearing, Eleanoora Rosenholm and Disco Ensemble. Already last summer they toured the biggest festivals, having released only a few songs by then. Their self-titled debut album came out in early autumn, and the positive feedback proves that the buzzing around the group was not purely coincidental. Ruusut are a band with a wonderful future ahead of them. Don’t miss this!

Rytmihäiriö

”An arrhythmia describes an irregular heartbeat – the heart may beat too fast, too slowly, too early, or irregularly.” This is what Medical News Today says about arrhythmia, the English translation of Rytmihäiriö, the name of this Finnish group from Helsinki. To know just how this fits the band’s music, you had better see them live. What we can tell you right now is that their range of musical output varies from hardcore punk and death metal to heavier grindcore.

Samuli Putro

Samuli Putro has been verbalising the emotions of Finns for more than two decades. He has been interpreting them with a simple but hypnotic recipe in which minimalism equals beauty, and the man and his guitar are at the heart of it all. This year Putro did a concert series at the Finnish National Gallery under the title Pienet Rukoukset (Little Prayers), which is also the title of his latest album released in March. The concerts were special audiovisual experiences which also worked as the basis for a new kind of gig concept in which surround sound brings the music close to the listeners, filling all their senses.

SANNI

SANNI has performed in the Vain Elämää TV show, sold platinum with an album prior to its release and sold out Helsinki Arena. She is recognisable, strong, sensitive, skilful and extremely identifiable. SANNI’s lyrics about diluted coffee and Ikea sofas bring the artist close to the listener, so we all can imagine se is singing expressly to us. This makes SANNI amazingly popular, and she is one the most listened to artists in Finland. The music scene is already eagerly waiting for SANNI’s fourth album as several samples off it have been released by now. You should also check out the singer’s short film Dracula from last November – it is also a music video for a song by the same name.

Sini Yasemin

Sini Yasemin is one of the most popular female artists in Finland over the past few years. She is remembered for multiple hits of her own, but she has also made music for other artists, such as Raappana. A singer of modern pop, Sini Yasemin released a brand new album last winter, reflecting her growth as a person during the last couple of years. After the album’s release, Sini has been touring Finland quite actively. Her live presence is strong and her attitude relentless.

Smash Into Pieces (SE)

Smash Into Pieces are a hugely popular Swedish rock group that like to play around with electronic sounds. They have released four albums and gathered nearly 50 million streams on Spotify plus 10 million views on YouTube. They always bring up social topics in their lyrics, questioning the modern way of life. What is more, Smash Into Pieces shows are always interesting and entertaining – one of the must-sees at this year’s Qstock!

Stam1na

The energy we have seen at Stam1na shows over the years makes seismographs react. The band’s eighth album was released in October, and the group themselves say they sound more relaxed and honest than ever. Stam1na manage to re-invent themselves for each new album. You had better join the earthquake and come see Stam1na as they shake the earth at Qstock in 2019.

Stereo

It’s time to throw your worn-out ear buds in the trash and turn up the bass! Stereo is here and they will outdo all Finnish EDM to date. Consisting of two Haloo Helsinki! guitarists, Leo Hakanen and Jere Mattila, the duo will stomp the island of Kuusisaari so deep below sea level that no one can afford to miss this party.

Teflon Brothers

If the space for the band’s name says Teflon Brothers, you can be sure that the crowd is in for a party. Voli, Heikki Kuula and Pyhimys will make both the young and the old shake it. Few artists can say they have sold double platinum before the release of an album, but these guys can: their 2017 album Circus made history by being the first Finnish album that crossed the double platinum limit before even coming out. Teflon Brothers songs have been streamed more than 100 million times. This band is guaranteed to pick your festival mood up!

The 69 Eyes

The Helsinki Vampires are back. The first sounds of Goth ’n’ Roll rang out from guitars in 1989, which means that 2019 marks the 30th anniversary for 69 Eyes. To celebrate this, the band will put out a new album which is the 12th one on their career. The group tour actively around the world, but luckily there was a slot in their calendar for a visit to Oulu during Qstock!

The Offspring (US)

If you ask almost any nineties teenager about the soundtrack of their youth, you will find one thing in common: The Offspring were playing. More than 40 million albums sold and a list of songs with one hit after the other: Self Esteem, Come Out And Play, All I Want, Pretty Fly (For A White Guy), The Kids Aren’t Alright… The Offspring are yet another punk band whose story began in the garage – a story to which a new chapter will be added about Qstock 2019.

Thirty Seconds To Mars (US)

It is rare to see Academy Award winners in these latitudes, but this summer even that is possible: the brilliant Jared Leto and his brother, drummer Shannon, are bringing their group Thirty Seconds to Mars to Qstock. The band were formed in 1998 and have since become known for their immaculate style of alternative rock, social themes and very active touring: Thirty Seconds To Mars even made it into the Guinness Book of Records for the longest tour in history. During their career, the group have snatched numerous awards and sold millions of records around the world. Last year saw the release of the band’s fifth album, America. This is a show worth checking out – Thirty Seconds To Mars gigs often make their audience reach states in which Mars has never been closer.

Vesala

Originally known as a member of massively popular Finnish band PMMP, Vesala has a very convincing resume: she is a singer, musician, lyricist, actor, dramatist and documentarist. She has written the lyrics for many leading Finnish artists and been awarded for her work, too. Her first solo album, Vesala, sold platinum quickly after its release and the singles off it have had a lot of airplay on Finnish radio stations. During the past year, new songs from Vesala have been popping up, and the releases show that her artistry is immensely versatile and plastic.

Vesterinen Yhtyeineen

Vesterinen Yhtyeineen is a hugely popular live band at the moment, and they deserve it, too: the band have proved themselves one of the best at what they do in Finland. The sixth album from this now ten-piece band will be released in March, and their form prior to next summer’s festivals will be tested on a tour of ten shows at concert halls and clubs over the spring. Vesterinen & co. can make you rock but they can touch you, too.

Viikate

Guitar-driven metal or schlagers from the beyond. Melancholy lyrics that cut through the Finnish mindscape like a scythe reaps the northern grain. This is probably the most fitting way to describe this band. Viikate are celebrating a new milestone this year: their 2009 album, Kuu kaakon yllä, is ten years old this year. When the gold-selling album was released in September 2009, it went straight to number one on the official Finnish albums chart and spent a total of 25 weeks in the charts.

Ville Valo & Agents

Late last summer we got happy news as former HIM frontman Ville Valo and Finnish guitar group Agents announced they would be making an album of Rauli ”Badding” Somerjoki’s unreleased material. This combo interpreted Badding together for the first time around the turn of the millennium and displayed instant hit potential. The mixture of unique, original artists and great music cannot possibly fail, as we have heard on the very first single off the upcoming album. And thus it is our pleasure to inform you that Ville Valo and Agents will also appear at Qstock next summer.

Wheel

This is a group that is difficult to place in a single genre box. On the one hand Wheel is metal, and on the other hand it is rock. Fortunately we do not have to categorise them and we can let the music speak for itself. The group’s frontman James Lascelles moved from Great Britain to Finland a few years ago and formed Wheel with some like-minded friends of his. Wheel’s debut album is an original and interesting mix of progressive rock, grunge and film music, and it has been acclaimed all around Europe. If you do not know Wheel by now, your time has come.

Ylva Haru

Hear the wonderful, fresh and rootsy sound of Ylva Haru! The singer/songwriter’s debut album was released in January and the first single was greeted with enthusiasm all over the airwaves. Since then this future star has received acclaim on playlists and the Finnish music circles. Like the artist herself says: ”Come on and join the stories of Ylva Haru!”