Paris and movie stars
Helsinki’s biggest multiplex movie theatre Tennispalatsi hosts also a museum with the most interesting exhibitions of this spring. Get acquainted with the most famous Finnish film stars during the 20th century or see the photographs of renowned Parisian photographer Robert Doisneau.
The Star-Studded Sky and Robert Doisneau - Portraying Paris at the Tennis Palace Art Museum February 16th to April 22nd, tickets 5/7 e.
Asian faces
The Museum of Modern Art, Kiasma, offers three insights into contemporary Asian art. Ancient cultures of Indonesia, China and Thailand encounter contemporary art mixed with myths and reality. There’s a nice café and a good book shop for presents too.
Wind from the East at Kiasma February 17th to May 27th, tickets 4/6 e.
Let the dolls sing
The musical Avenue Q won three Tony Awards at the Broadway 2004, one of them being the price for Best New Musical. Avenue Q isn’t an exactly conventional musical, because it’s performed by nine actors and ten dolls. Now is time for its first Finnish production.
Avenue Q at Savoy Theatre February 23rd to May 19th, tickets 45 e.
Shakira, Liza and Maija
There’s a spring of strong female artist in Helsinki going on. See the legendary Cabaret-star Liza Minelli, honest hips of Columbian singer-songwriter Shakira or one of the best-selling Finnish female rock vocalists, Maija Vilkkumaa.
Shakira at Hartwall Arena March 14th, tickets 59-69 e. Maija Vilkkumaa at Savoy Theatre March 23rd and 24th, tickets 28 e. Liza Minelli at Finlandia House April 29th, tickets 113,60-163,60 e.
Fashion and Pop
PopFashion is a great place to come across the newest Finnish trends, fashion and hottest music artists. A new thing this year is also a Houte Couture fashion show. And of course there’s a party too.
PopFashion at Vanha March 23 to 24th.
Get funky
The funky music scene is surprisingly vivid in Helsinki. That can be proved at the Funky Elephant Festival, where there’s three days time to see the most exciting Finnish and international funk acts.
13th Funky Elephant Festival at Tavastia and Semifinal April 12 to 14th.
Something heavy
Finland is the land of thousands of heavy music diggers, which gather to a Tuska (Pain) Festival in July. To get a preview on this event of long-hair-black-clothes-people visit Tavastia’s Tuska Warm Up -nights. Something a little bit softer is offered by the Dutch band Within Temptation.
Within Temptation at Kulttuuritalo April 23rd, tickets 36 e. Tuska Warm Up at Tavastia May 8th, tickets 20/22 e.
The First of May
The First of May gathers everybody in the city to party the beginning of the spring. Attend to huge parties at the night before, and on the very day the tradition is to take picnic goodies and a blanket and head to the Kaivopuisto Park in the southern Helsinki.
Marianne Faithfull at Savoy Theatre April 30th, tickets 443/48 e. Finnish popgirl-duo PMMP at Nosturi April 30th, tickets 14 e.
Contemporary Circus
Contemporary circus is establishing its grounds in Finland with talented young artists of the field, who usually have gotten their education abroad. Cirko Festival gathers these youngsters together with some of the best international guests.
Cirko Helsinki Contemporary Circus Festival around town May 3rd to 10th.
Eurovision Song Contest
Finland went totally bonkers last year when Finnish Lordi against all odds won the Eurovision Song Contest with its Hard Rock Hallelujah. Now there’s a Eurovision-mania here and everybody expects a ravishing week with the contest and all its side effects.
Eurovision Song Contest at Hartwall Arena May 9th to 12th, tickets 10-195 e.
Mamma mia!
The Swedish band Abba is famous all over the world. The fans are pleased with this new Abba-musical Mamma mia, since the band Abba went to a break in 1982 and hasn’t been back since. This musical is an international production which tours all over the world.
Mamma mia! at Hartwall Arena May 16th to June 3rd, tickets 49-79 e.
Colourful moments
The World Village Festival has been arranged since 1995. It fills the Kaisaniemi Park with multicultural bands and performances for free. It’s also a place to have a very good and cheap dinner, because the ethnic restaurants are selling their excellent food.
World Village Festival at Kaisaniemi Park May 26th, tickets 0 e.
Three young designer´s shops
- Ivana Helsinki, Uudenmaankatu 15. Ivana Helsinki was founded by its designer Paola Suhonen a few years ago. Since it has been super popular. Collections are inspired by slavic themes.
- LUX Shop, Uudenmaankatu 26. This shop has been at the center of Design District since last summer. Selling such hot Finnish labels as Pusipusi, Sohjo and Rinne Niinikoski among foreigns too.
- Myymälä2, Uudenmaankatu 23. Myymälä2 is really an art gallery, but there´s also a small shop selling designer´s clothes, books and music among others.