WELCOME TO HELSINKI, FINLAND – THE CAPITAL OF METAL
Who is it for?
- Music lovers who want to discover new exciting bands (buy a ticket for the live shows)
- Music industry professionals, who want to discover new exciting bands AND network with other industry professionals (register as a delegate)
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FINLAND – The land of a thousand lakes and a million metal bands. We at Nahka Agency and Music Finland thought it was about time to show the rest of the world the quality of those bands. That is why we came up with WTF (Welcome To Finland) Capital of Metal, a brand new international showcase and conference event, concentrating 666% on metal music. Sounds good? It keeps getting better.
Held in the country's capital Helsinki, the event will host 8 new and exciting metal & alternative acts on the verge of their international breakthrough, showcased not only to industry professionals, but also to the people that matter the most: THE FANS. That is why we wanted to host the event at Finland's (the world's) number one rock club TAVASTIA and it's atmospheric little sister SEMIFINAL, known for its intense underground shows throughout the year.
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In addition to 6 showcase sets by select artists on Thursday 22 May, the live event will expand to Friday 23rd with 2 more acts pre-heating the room for KIUAS, who will perform their 20-year-old classic album "The Spirit of Ukko" in its entirety.
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For the music industry professionals there will be a light program of panels and networking events on both Thursday and Friday. Most events will be held at Tavastia and Semifinal, making it hard to get lost (even if you've had one lonkero too many). You can expect an intense 2 days in Helsinki, the capital of metal.
THE REGISTRATION FOR MUSIC INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS IS NOW OPEN!​​​
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A two-day delegate pass costs only 76,66€ + VAT and includes:
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Two days of panels and keynotes
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Access to 6 showcase performaces on Thursday 22 May
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Access to 3 more performances on Friday 23 May (including Kiuas'
The Spirit of Ukko 20th Anniversary show) -
Exclusive pre-parties and afterparties​
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TICKETS FOR THE LIVE SHOWS ARE NOW ON SALE!​​​
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Thursday 22.05.2025:
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6 bands on 2 stages (Tavastia & Semifinal) with 1 ticket
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Awake Again, Cvlt Ov The Svn, Rabbit Cult, St. Aurora, Stoned Statues, Vermilia
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Friday 23.05.2025:
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3 bands on 1 stage
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Brymir, Kneel Before The Death, Kiuas – The Spirit of Ukko 20th Anniversary Show​
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THE SHOWCASE​​​
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​Thursday 22.05.2025​
Tavastia (T) & Semifinal (S)
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19:00 doors open to Tavastia & Semifinal
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19:30 RABBIT CULT (S)
20:05 VERMILIA (T)
20:40 AWAKE AGAIN (S)
21:25 ST. AURORA (T)
22:00 CVLT OV THE SVN (S)
22:35 STONED STATUES (T)
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Friday 23.05.2025
Tavastia
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19:00 doors open
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19:20 KNEEL BEFORE THE DEATH
20:10 BRYMIR
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(21:20 KIUAS – The Spirit of Ukko 20th Anniversary Show)​
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THE CONFERENCE
Starting with welcome speeches (& drinks) by our organizers at 14:30 on Thursday 22 May, the WTF Conference program spreads over two afternoons and is held at the very same location where the shows will take place later in the evening.
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The bar will be open for coffee and refreshments throughout the conference and there are countless restaurants for lunch and dinner nearby, catering for all tastes and budgets.
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THE PROGRAMME
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Thursday, 22 May
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14:30-15:00 welcome drinks & speeches
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15:15-16:00 Metal Festivals – how many is enough for one city?
- A deep dive into the buzzing metal festival scene in the capital of metal, Helsinki.
Speakers:
Toni Törrönen (Hellsinki Metal Festival), Ilkka Laaksonen (Helsinki Death Fest), Jyri Kuukasjärvi (Sonic Rites Festival), more TBA
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16:15-17:00 Music Finland presents: TBA
- speakers TBA soon
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17:30-19:00 PRE-PARTY @ Ravintola Ilves
- Delegate-exclusive pre-party held at atmospheric bar Ilves, just a few steps from the live music venues Tavastia & Semifinal
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19:00-23:20 LIVE SHOWS at Tavastia & Semifinal
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19:30 RABBIT CULT (S)
20:05 VERMILIA (T)
20:40 AWAKE AGAIN (S)
21:25 ST. AURORA (T)
22:00 CVLT OV THE SVN (S)
22:35 STONED STATUES (T)
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23:30-05:00 Afterparty TBA
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Friday, 23 May
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11:00-12:30 TBA
12:30-14:00 lunchtime
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14:00-14:45 Comebacks vs Supergroups
- Countless comeback acts are filling the festival line ups while supergroups formed of ex-members from this-and-that are being signed to big labels. All of this happens while young band just waits for their turn. Is that so?​
Speakers: TBA
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15:00-15:20 Case: IKINÄ – Jumalatar
- 18 female vocalists on a single metal track, why? And HOW? IKINÄ vocalist and Northsound CEO Katariina Sorsa tells us the story behind the project, where Helsinki-based metalcore band IKINÄ, with two female frontwomen of their own, decided to invite 16 other vocalists to feature on their newest single Jumalatar ("Goddess").
Speakers: Katariina Sorsa (IKINÄ, Northsound)
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15:20-16:05 TBA
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16:20-17:05 TBA
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18:00-19:00 PRE-PARTY
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19:00-23:30 live shows at Tavastia
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19:20 KNEEL BEFORE THE DEATH
20:10 BRYMIR
21:20 KIUAS – The Spirit of Ukko 20th Anniversary
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