About Me
It doesn’t get much darker than Helsinki in late December - and there’s more than a fleeting chance that it’s bloody freezing as well! Yet hundreds of people from all over the world make their way to the capital of Finland in the dead of winter. Across the ocean they travel, from sunny L.A. and Mexico City; from the suburbs of Moscow and the shores of Japan. From all over Europe they’re drawn like leather & PVC clad moths to the lights and sounds emanating from Tavastia, the rock and roll haven of Helsinki. Or Hellsinki, as they affectionately call it.
"I’ve always seen it as a global congregation of the bastard sons and daughters of Black Sabbath", HIM front man Ville Valo muses.
It all started in the late Nineties when Hellsinki’s very own HIM decided to pencil some R&R time into their tight touring schedule. You know, spend the holidays among friends and family. Over the years their New Year’s Eve’s gigs have grown into an institution - and by this I don’t mean an institution of the rigid and stuffy kind! These gigs have always been quite special as they are played in front of, that’s right, friends and family. There’s that vibe you simply cannot create artificially.
Last year this ’gig’ was turned into a bona fide three day indoor festival, Helldone, a festival as unique as they come. On two stages, Tavastia’s main stage and its neighbouring ’kid brother club’ Semifinal’s smaller one, HIM and the friends they’ve made on the road rocked like it’s the end of the world.
The first Helldone festival was a total success and only a few weeks into the New Year Tavastia’s office was besieged by emails and phone enquiries about Helldone 2006. Same story continued during year 2007 too so now the good people of Helldone, that mysterious lot, are proud to present to you Helldone, Vol. 3. And tradition continues.
Helldone 2005 - HIM (FIN) , The 69 Eyes (FIN) , Negative (FIN) , Charon (FIN) , Sunride (FIN) , Bloodpit (FIN) , Deep Insight (FIN) , Bleak (FIN) , Underdogs (FIN) plus Hevikaraoke .
Helldone 2006 - HIM (FIN) , Cathedral (UK) , Anathema (UK) and Katatonia (SWE) , plus the homegrown talent of Amorphis (FIN ), 45 Degree Woman (FIN) , Blake (FIN) , Diablo (FIN) and Sara (FIN) .
Helldone 2007 - HIM (FIN) , Fields of the Nephilim (UK) , Von Hertzen Brothers (FIN) , Swllow the Sun (FIN) , Mokoma (FIN) , Ajattara (FIN) , Blake (FIN) , Skreppers (FIN) , The Black League (FIN) , Mannhai (FIN) , Snipe Drive (FIN) , One Eye Shut (FIN) , Barbe-Q-Barbies (FIN) and Kings of Fools (FIN) .
And presumably this year won..t make an exception on the fact that HIM will start their set at midnight on New Year’s Eve, preceded as always by an illuminating New Year’s speech held by Tavastia’s legendary manager Juhani Merimaa .
It is a hell of a way to wellcome a new year!! So come along!!
THANK YOU FOR THE YEAR 2007
We want to thank you all who were working, in audience or just keeping up the spirit in Helldone 2007. Let..s hope we can work out something nice for you this year also. Below is some links for photos and reviews so check them out and enjoy the memories!!
REVIEWS and PICS from HELLDONE 2007:
http://www.suezine.fi/liveraportit?t=1&sid=527
http://www.musicheadquarter.de/v1/konzert-festival-event-bil
der-fotos/helldone-festival-tavastia-klubi-helsinki_217.html
http://judakris.buzznet.com
http://www.stalker.cd/index.php?lang=2&c..22&kat=sta
lker_special&id=114&=2
http://www.stalker.cd/index.php?lang=2&c..66&kat=sta
lker_special&GALERIE=Helldone_2007
http://tell-you-what.blogspot.com/2008/01/hyv-uuttavuotta.ht
ml
http://www.gothicandart.com/PORTAL/jml/index.php?option=com_
content=view=658=1
HELLDONE 2008 – bands?
The time has come to start planning the upcoming Helldone 2008 and now is your chance to get your voice heard.
..till Sunday (May 4th) you will have time to suggest bands you would like to see this year @ our New Year..s Eve jamboree so get involved and maybe your dreams come true!!
But please notice that due the lack of time and slots we cannot listen demos, Cd’s or any kind of material form a showcase bands. Please keep your suggestions realistic. Sorry for this but we hope you understand the situation.
Official Helldone merchandise: www.verkkopaita.com
