Helsinki Festival brings city to life in August

Helsinki Festival will once again take over the city between 13-30 August. During the festival it will be possible to see concerts, ranging from chamber music to alternative rock, poetry recitals, a circus and dancing. There will also be a programme specifically for the smallest members of the family.

Part of the festival includes the traditional Night of the Arts, which will take place on 21 August, when it will be possible to smooch in a voting booth on the steps of the Finnish Parliament or swim in an underwater art gallery in the Olympic Stadium.

Jazz will also be played again on the island of Suomenlinna. Viapori Jazz will be held from 26-29 August. It will be given an international flavour by the presentation an audiovisual composition based on the paintings and drawings of Akseli Gallen-Kallela's time in Africa. Kimmo Pohjonen, who makes most of his appearances abroad, will also be turning up on Suomenlinna.

Friends of the most urban music will be able to enjoy the music of the popular Lily Allen at the Flow Festival, which will be held at the Suvilahti power plant between 14 and 16 August. The Flow programme will boldly combine modern art, culture and the different genres of music that are of interest at this moment.