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Mr Greenin uusi virtuaalinen live-casino – hitti vai huti?

Blackjack, ruletti, baccarat, pöytäpokerit… Jos olet joskus vieraillut Helsingin Grand Casinolla tai jollain ulkomaalaisella kivijalkacasinolla, olet varmasti nähnyt, kuinka suosittuja nämä perinteiset pöytäpelit oikein ovat. Pelaajat rakastavat edelleen niiden verrattain yksinkertaista pelimekaniikkaa, jossa omilla valinnoilla on kuitenkin tärkeä rooli. Säännöt ja strategia on siis syytä opetella kunnolla, jotta saa peleistä kaiken irti.

Live-casinot tuovat nämä suosikkipelit casinopelaajien ulottuville ympäri maailman. Ne toimivat perinteisten netticasinoiden sisällä omina osioinaan, joihin ei tarvitse luoda erillistä tiliä. Avaamalla tilin netticasinolle saa käyttöönsä myös sen live-casinon – tai live-casinot.

Live Beyond Live – askel kohti aitoa virtuaalista casinokokemusta

Tässä artikkelissa katsastamme yhden Suomen suosituimman casinon, Mr Greenin, uuden live-casinopalvelun, jota kutsutaan vaikuttavalla nimellä ”Live Beyond Live”. Se ei korvaa Mr Greenin jo olemassa olevaa live-casinoa vaan pyrkii tarjoamaan vielä aidomman kokemuksen niille pelaajille, joille perinteinen live-casinokaan ei ole tarpeeksi. Vaan onko herra Vihreä yhtä tyylikäs livenä kuin kampanjoissaan?

Jos olet seurannut pelialaa viime vuosina, saatat muistaa, kuinka suuren hypen saattelemana virtuaalilasit otettiin vastaan. Moni casino alkoi välittömästi suunnitella omaa virtuaalista 3D-peliympäristöään, jossa hyödynnettäisiin virtuaalilaseja, kuten Oculus Riftiä. Idea oli hyvä, mutta toteutus tuntui jäävän kaikilla hieman puolitiehen.

Tästä ei kuitenkaan voi varsinaisesti syyttää casinoita. Virtuaalilaseilla pelaaminen ei ainakaan vielä ole ottanut juurikaan tulta alleen, sillä teknologian taso ja hinta eivät ole oikein tasapainossa. Vaikka Oculus on saanut hyviäkin uutisia, kuten huhtikuussa julkaistava Skyrim VR, joka tukee Oculus Riftiä, lienee hinta kuitenkin sunnuntaipelaajille edelleen liikaa. Esimerkiksi Oculus Rift ja Touch -paketista joutuu edelleen Oculuksen kotisivujen mukaan maksamaan 449 euroa. Ja kun ihmiset jättivät virtuaalilasit hyllyyn, haudattiin idea virtuaalisesta 3D-pelaamisesta myös useimmilla casinoilla hetkeksi.

Mr Greenin Live Beyond Live ei pyri aloittamaan virtuaalilasibuumia uudelleen. Se ottaa sen sijaan fiksusti idean parhaat puolet käyttöönsä ja muokkaa niistä jo yleisessä käytössä olevan nykyteknologian mukaisen tyylikkään sekoituksen. Pelaajat liikkuvat 3D-peliympäristössä ja pelaavat virtuaalisessa casinohuoneessa, mutta kaikki toimii silti nopeasti ja sulavasti, eikä lisälaitteita tarvita. Kaikki modernit älypuhelimet ja tabletit ovat tuettujen laitteiden listalla, joten kuka tahansa voi astua sisään tähän casinomaailmaan missä ja milloin vain.

Tervetuloa Los Angelesiin!

Virtuaalinen casino on siitä mukava paikka, että se voi sijaita missä tahansa. Mr Greenillä on päätetty sijoittaa Live Beyond Live sellaiseen paikkaan, jossa maisemia kelpaa katsella pidempäänkin. Los Angeles on tähän oiva valinta, ja yhteen sen luksuskattohuoneistoista on nyt viritetty tyylikäs pieni casino. Taustalla näkyy öisen kaupungin valoja ja taivasta, jota valaisevat lentokoneet sekä nousevat ja laskevat helikopterit.

Live Beyond Live sisältää kirjoitushetkellä neljä pelipöytää (kaksi rulettia, kaksi blackjackia), joiden ääressä kortteja jakavat ja rulettipyörää pyörittävät oikeat jakajat. Fyysisesti heitä ei toki ole Los Angelesiin saakka lennätetty, mutta virtuaalinen peliympäristö mahdollistaa sen, että pöydät pelinhoitajineen vaikuttavat todella sijaitsevan tyylikkäässä kattohuoneistossa.

Ei mikään aavecasino

Jakajien ja pelipöytien lisäksi casinolla liikkuu myös ihmisiä. Virtuaalicasinoilta tuttuun tyyliin pöytien ääressä istuvat pelaajat ovat todella paikalla, ja voit seurata heidän pelaamistaan samaan aikaan kuin pelaat itse. Neljä pöytää on viritetty pienehköön tilaan niin, että reaaliaikainen videokuva kattaa kerralla ainakin pöydän tai pari. Näin voit katsoa, kuinka muut voittavat viereisissä pöydissä, tai muuttaa kanssapelaajasi kateudesta vihreiksi osumalla itse suurvoittoon. Casinolla pyörii menossa mukana myös Mr Green itse – siis sivuston mainoskampanjoista tuttu vihreään pukuun sonnustautunut herrasmies.

Oman pelipöydän valitseminen onnistuu kahdella tapaa. Nopeimmin uuden pöydän saa valittua yksinkertaisesti klikkaamalla sitä omalla näytöllään. Jos istut esimerkiksi blackjack-pöydässä, mutta haluat siirtyä hetkeksi ruletin pariin, napauta vain pelaajasymbolia kyseisen pöydän ääressä. Pääset siirtymään uuteen pöytään välittömästi, ja olet valmis pelaamaan seuraavalla kierroksella.

Jos haluat kokea vielä aidomman casinoelämyksen, voit lähteä tallustamaan ympäri kattohuoneistoa minikartan avulla. Sen kautta näet kaikki jakajat ja pöytien tiedot, jotta sopivan tuolin valitseminen on helpompaa.

Pöydän vaihtaminen tuo pelaamiseen mukavaa vaihtelua, sillä samalla vaihtuu myös kamerakulma, josta casinoa katselet. Jos esimerkiksi haluat seurata ison panoksen pelejä, mutta jatkaa silti omaa pelaamistasi, voit valita pienemmän panostason pöydän, josta on suora näköyhteys haluamaasi pöytään.

Näin se toimii

Kuten sanottua, Mr Greenin Live Beyond Live on saatavilla ainoastaan mobiililaitteille. Mitään erillistä ohjelmistoa ei tarvitse ladata, mutta pelitili on luotava ennen pelaamisen aloittamista. Toisin kuin tavalliset casinopelit, live-casinopelit eivät ole yleensä kokeiltavissa ilmaiseksi, ja samaa koskee myös Live Beyond Liveä. Sinun on siis tehtävä casinolle pieni talletus, jotta pääset voittamaan virtuaalimuodossa.

Kun tili on avattu, pääset pelaamaan nopeasti. Avaa vain virtuaalicasino, valitse pöytäsi ja istu jollekin vapaista tuoleista. Panoksen valitseminen onnistuu rullaamalla laitteesi ruutua hieman alaspäin. Ole tarkkana, jotta ehdit valita oikean panoksen, ennen kuin pelikierros alkaa – muuten kierros jää sillä kerralla välistä.

Pelisysteemin oppii todella nopeasti, joten Live Beyond Liveä voi huoletta suositella hieman kokemattomammillekin nettipelaajille. Kyseessä on onnistunut kokonaisuus jo nyt, ja jäämme mielenkiinnolla odottamaan, laajeneeko konsepti jatkossa esimerkiksi uusien pelien merkeissä. Ja ehkäpä ne virtuaalilasitkin tulevat vielä…

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Cover story Interviews Misc

Interview with Finnish snowboarder Enni Rukajärvi

Enni Rukajärvi has already become a living legend in the history of Finnish sports after achieving her second Olympic medal at PyengChang during last winter. Bringing the focus and attention to female participation in winter sports in Finland, she is an example of endurance, perseverance and skills owning an adventurous spirit hungry to overcome the next challenge. FREE! Magazine had the chance to send her a few questions about her past, present and future. If you want to see her amazing snowboarding skills live, you can have soon the chance to see her competing in the incoming X Games to be celebrated in Norway between 18-20 of May.

First of all, thanks a lot for attending FREE! Magazine’s questions, Enni! You competed recently last February on the Olympic Games at PyeongChang, where you got a bronze medal in slopestyle and also competed in Big Air discipline. How was the general experience there in South Korea and your memories of the competitions?

-I liked South Korea, people were nice and food was good. Everything worked pretty well, slope style course was well built and Big air jump was nice too. Just the windy conditions were a down side and it was one of my scariest moments to compete in those crazy windy conditions during the slopestyle.

In what ways was similar or different to your previous first (silver) medal in Sochi in 2014?

-In many ways it was different, first of all Sochi was my first Olympics so I didn’t know what to expect at all and also during the Sochi games I was injured and not sure if I was even able to compete so it was a big battle to even make it happen. I felt way more pressure there and I got quite a lot media attention in Finland. After I landed my last run in Sochi I was just so happy to land a run after all the struggle I have had there and I was also happy that it was finally over.

Going to South Korea everything felt way more easier and less exciting because I already knew what to expect. I also felt less pressure. It was such a shame we had to compete in that crazy weather but again after my second run I was just happy to land a run and survive. Also all the media attention after getting the medal felt easier this time.

Was it demanding to participate in both slopestyle and air competitions during same Olympics? If I am not mistaken, this was the first time that Air was introduced in the Olympics. Do they require any particular separated training/mind set for each discipline?

-Yes and no, for sure slopestyle took a lot of energy already but Big Air is kinda easier especially after slopestyle when you only need to concentrate on one jump instead of a whole run. For me it doesn’t require different mind set or training, I think they go hand in hand.

Could you tell us how and why you started practicing snowboarding?

-My home is really close to a ski resort in North of Finland where the winters are long so it was kinda natural thing to do. I started skiing first and then I wanted to try snowboarding because it looked so cool. Also I was always interested to learn new things and tricks so snowboarding was perfect thing to do.

What is what you love the most about snowboarding?

-You can always learn new things and challenge yourself and do it with your friends without rules.

I have heard that you pretty much love practising many other kind of sports too. What do you do when you are not snowboarding?

-Skateboarding, gym, yoga, biking, jogging, different kind of games like basketball, beach volleyball etc..pretty much everything

Snowboard practice looks a lot of fun but certainly there is always a big risk of injuries. How do you face the situations when you have hurt yourself and then you are back on the snow? Do snowboarders have a bit of special mind set to disregard the risks?

-Always after injury it takes some time to get 100 % back, but best way for me is just start riding and doing really easy tricks to built the confidence back and when you do that at some point you just feel as good as before and you are ready to try new tricks again. For sure snowboarders have a bit of a special mind set for everything and you don’t think about the risks that much when you are snowboarding.

Following up the previous question, when the years pass by practicing the sport, do you always keep the attitude the same or is there some moment when you can think of a jump or a trick that you would have tried with no hesitation when being 17 but then you feel more cautious to try when you have competed for several years?

-For me I think that goes other way around actually, I have always been pretty hesitated and thought through really well before I try anything new. I’m way better rider now so I know I can try crazier things now than when I was 17 so with my experience I have got to be less hesitant about trying new stuff.

When you are competing, do you have any particular routine to concentrate in the minutes/seconds before being ready to start on the ramp?

-I kinda do. I like to listen music, think about my run and be on my own a little bit and just before I drop in I try to think about something else.

What are your favourite places for snowboarding that you have visited around the world? And favourite competitions?

-Japan for sure, I love snow and Japan has a lot of snow! And my favorite competition has always been European Open called Laax Open nowadays. Laax is also a really fun place to ride because they have everything from jumps to rails, pipe and pow!

When seen from outside, the atmosphere around snowboarding always looks happy and easy going. Is it easy to make new friends around the tour circuit?

-I think it is, especially on the girls side we all hang out together. I think the atmosphere is pretty welcoming for the new younger riders.

Are there any other snowboarders that you particularly admire?

Markku Koski and Arthur Longo and many more

Have you thought in the future what would you like doing when you will stop competing at high level? Would you like to continue linked to the sport, or try some other areas?

-I hope next I could start filming video parts and riding more pow. After that I’m not sure, I think I will always stay in snowboarding somehow maybe do some other stuff too, will see.

You are confirmed as one participant in the incoming X Games in Norway that will take place in May. What are your expectations about the event?

I’m really excited about it, I think it’s gonna be a really different experience again. I also like Norway so it should be fun!

Anything else you would like to add for your readers?

-Let’s go snowboarding!

For more information about X Games in Norway, visit: http://xgames.espn.com/xgames/norway/

Photos by ESPN IMAGES

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Articles Misc

Helsinki Tourist Information to move to Central Railway Station

As of this May, visitors to the Finnish capital will be served by Tourist Information at two new locations. Tourist Information will focus even more on digital services and face-to-face interactions. Other seasonal services for visitors will also begin at the start of May.

In addition to Helsinki Region Tourist Information at Helsinki Airport, tourist information services will be available at the Central Railway Station and inside Stockmann’s department store beginning this May. The main Tourist Information office that has been located for the past fifty years on the Esplanade will move to the ticket hall of the historic Central Railway Station. The current office on the corner of Pohjoisesplanadi and Unioninkatu will remain open as normal until Sunday 22 April.

In addition to the new office at the Central Railway Station, a MyHelsinki service point will be set up inside Stockmann’s department store in the city centre. The new service point will offer digital services for finding information, as well as maps and brochures.

The new locations will open in May. During the move, Tourist Information services will be available from Virka Info inside City Hall.

Visitors rely on the internet these days to search for information, so the needs for traditional tourist information services have changed. At the same time, personal recommendations and face-to-face interactions are still a vital part of the visitor experience. Our new locations will help us serve visitors even better in the places where they are most likely to have questions,” says Laura Aalto, CEO of Helsinki Marketing.

Personal recommendations also digitally and courtesy of Helsinki Helpers

Helsinki Marketing has taken major steps in the development of digital services for visitors. The award-winning MyHelsinki.fi website serves visitors in six languages, and all the content is based on local recommendations. In addition, services for Chinese visitors are also being developed in collaboration with Tencent, one of the world’s biggest digital service providers.

Visitors to Helsinki in summertime are also served on the streets of the city by the Helsinki Helpers in their easily identifiable green jackets. This year they will begin their season already in May. In addition, tourist information will still be available in the historic centre of Helsinki during the summer season at the convenient Info Container by the Market Square. The Info Container will serve visitors next to the Havis Amanda fountain starting from Thursday 3 May.

Tourist Information premises on the Esplanade now available to new tenants

Following the move to the Central Railway Station, the Tourist Information premises on the Esplanade will be available to new tenants. The Tori Quarters commercial district is currently looking for a suitable business for the premises, which occupy a prime location in the historic city centre.

The Tourist Information office on the corner of Pohjoisesplanadi and Unioninkatu is without doubt one of the most attractive premises in the city centre. The location welcomes visitors coming from the Esplanade Park and Market Square to the historic Tori Quarters. We are looking for an attractive business that could further enhance the diverse offerings in the Tori Quarters for locals and visitors alike,” says Peggy Bauer, Operative Director for the Tori Quarters commercial district.

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Articles Misc

Tallinn Music Week introduces best restaurants in town, popular street food, craft coffee, flashy cocktail bars and cooking workshops.

The TMW pop-up bar that has become one of the most popular hotspots among the festival’s visitors in the last four years will again open its doors at the centrally located Design and Architecture Gallery. Renard Coffee Shop will offer a quality coffee from Scandinavia’s top micro-roasteries and culinary duo Raba Peet will take care of the taste experiences.

Keit Lillemäe, one of the founders of Renard Coffee Shop, a small coffee bar with a big spirit that operated near Telliskivi Creative City until January of this year, promises to create a lovely meeting place for the festival’s visitors: “TMW has always been a very inspirational festival for me. This time, the expectations are especially big and challenging. Together with my sister Kadi Maidre as the culinary duo Raba Peet we promise that nobody shall leave the cafe with an empty stomach.”

In addition to the pop-up bar, there are 25 eating and drinking spots in the TMW restaurants selection which offer special TMW menus carefully crafted by their head chefs as well as special offers to the owners of the festival passes.

Among others, the restaurants presented include the pre-eminent plant-based restaurant Von Krahli AED, healthy vegan buffet BlissTray, cozy cake shop & cafe Ristikheina Kohvik, brasserie restaurant and Golden Era-style cocktail bar Tabac, creative “fusion-confusion” restaurant Kolm Sibulat, coffee pantry KOKOMO and a unique beer shop TapTap at Rotermann Quarter, restaurant Korsten, Armastus ja Hea Toit based at the Tallinn Creative Hub, and restaurant Sfäär with rooms inspired by the aesthetic universe of Estonian artist Tõnis Vint.

As part of the TMW and in cooperation with the Estonian Refugee Council, there will be cooking workshops followed by dinners “Let’s get to know each other!” held in the demo kitchen at Balti Station Market. Knowledgeable nutritionists can participate in sustainable brunches by Korilase Köök and fans of the Latin American kitchen can join home dinners “Taco night with Mexicans”.

All TMW 2018 passes include special offers at the TMW Tastes restaurants. Clients of festival’s presenter Telia get a 20% discount on all pre-sale tickets and passes.

The project “Let’s get to know each other!” is financed by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Estonian Ministry of the Interior.

Additional information:
tmw.ee/festival/tastes

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Articles Misc

Musiikkiaiheiset pelit toimivat tribuutteina suosikkiartisteille

Musiikki on etenkin nykyaikana paljon enemmän kuin pelkkiä säveliä. Bändien ja artistien ympäriltä löytyy yhtä sun toista oheistuotetta aina erilaisista fanituotteista nimikkojuomiin ja toimintafiguureihin. Onpa joistakin aikojemme merkittävimmistä yhtyeistä ja legendaarisimmista artisteista tehty elokuviakin. Aivan oma lukunsa ovat musiikin ja bändien maailmasta tehdyt pelit, jotka ovat hieno tapa tehdä kunniaa loistavalle musiikille.

Kitaran varteen Guitar Hero ja Rock Band -peleissä

Hyvin toteutettujen pelien siivellä pääsee paitsi maistamaan aitoa rock-tunnelmaa, myös nauttimaan suosikkiyhtyeensä musiikista. Pelit voivat myös tarjota mahdollisuuden olla tähtenä bändin riveissä – tällainen peli on esimerkiksi todella suosittu The Beatles: Rock Band. PlayStation 3:lle, Wii:lle ja Xbox 360:lle vuonna 2009 julkaistu peli pitää sisällään 45 The Beatlesin kappaletta, joita pelaajat pääsevät soittamaan sekä laulamaan yksin tai porukalla. Rock Band -pelisarjaan kuuluu myös samaan henkeen kasattu laatupeli Green Day -yhtyeestä.

Klassikkobändit mukana kolikkopeleissä

Myös netin kasinoilla on useita musiikkiaiheisia videokolikkopelejä, joita pelaamalla pääset sukeltamaan esimerkiksi Motörheadin ja Guns N’ Rosesin maailmaan. Kummatkin pelit ovat nettikasinoalan valmistajajätti NetEntin käsialaa ja ne on julkaistu vuonna 2017.

Asennetta näistä peleistä ei totisesti puutu – taidolla toteutettua Guns N’ Roses -kolikkopeliä pelatessaan voi miltei tuntea olevansa mukana jollakin yhtyeen legendaarisista ja ylistetyistä keikoista eikä Motörheadin nimikkopeli jää vertailussa huonommalle sijalle sekään. Riippuneekin ennen kaikkea omasta musiikkimausta, kumman pelin puikoissa on parempi meininki!

Peliseikkailua rankalla heavy metal -mausteella

Perinteisempää seikkailupeliä kaipaavat metallin ystävät nauttivat taatusti vuonna 2009 julkaistusta Brütal Legend -pelistä. PlayStation 3 ja Xbox 360 -konsoleille julkaistu strategia-seikkailupeli on Double Fine Productionsin kehittämä ja sen ääniraidalta löytyy 108 kappaleen verran metallimusiikkia aina Judas Priestista Ozzy Osbourneen. Pelissä vilisee myös genrestä tuttuihin legendoihin pohjautuvia hahmoja, jotka ovat tunnistettavuudessaan todella hauskoja. Ääninäyttelijöinä toimivat hahmojen esikuvat, muun muassa Motörhead-legenda Lemmy Kilmister. Pelivalmistajan mukaan huippusuositusta pelistä on vielä jossain vaiheessa luvassa jatko-osa ja sitä moni heavyn ystävä odottaakin kieli pitkällä kuin Gene Simmonsilla konsanaan.

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Articles Misc

Video: Surviving 24h in Helsinki with no money

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Articles Misc

Two special two-euro Finnish commemorative coins will be released in 2018, along with a series of commemorative five-euro coins

Two Finnish special two-euro commemorative coins will be released in 2018. The theme of the special commemorative coin released in the spring will be Finnish National Landscape Koli and the autumn’s special coin will pay tribute to Finnish Sauna Culture. The launch of nine five-euro commemorative coins in honour of Finland’s National Landscapes is also in the works.

Finland’s national landscapes symbolise the Finnish character and have a generally recognised significance in Finland’s national culture, history and perception of nature. The total mintage of the special two-euro commemorative coins paying tribute to Koli National Park in North Karelia will be one million. Mint of Finland is also planning a 2018 release of nine commemorative coins themed around Finnish national landscapes. The nominal value of each base-metal commemorative coin will be five euros.

The first special two-euro commemorative coin to be released in 2018 will share its theme of Koli with the opening coin in the series of five-euro Finnish National Landscapes coins. In the summer of 2017, Mint of Finland coordinated an online poll in which the Finns voted for nine of their most beloved national landscapes to be featured on the commemorative coins. Koli National Park received the most votes in the poll.

The obverse of the Finnish National Landscapes Koli commemorative coin depicts the view from the summit of Koli, while the reverse bears an image of the map of Finland. The commemorative coin is designed by Erkki Vainio (obverse) and Mari Metso (reverse) on the basis of a photograph taken by Juha-Pekka Järvenpää.

The maximum mintages of commemorative coins released in the Finnish National Landscapes series will be 3,000 proof-quality coins and 15,000 UNC-quality coins per release.

The mintage of the Finnish Sauna Culture special two-euro commemorative coins released in the autumn of 2018 will be one million. The special commemorative coin is designed by Erkki Vainio.

Special two-euro commemorative coins can be obtained as change in regular circulation or purchased from the Mint of Finland online shop, www.mint.fi, and from retailers. Finnish National Landscapes commemorative coins will be available from the Mint of Finland online shop and the mint’s retailers.

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Articles Blogs FREE! Blog Misc

Finnish stand up comedian Ismo shows us how ass is the most complicated word in English language

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Concerts Music

Anathema at The Circus in Helsinki, concert on November 9th

Helsinki likes Anathema and Anathema likes Helsinki. The British band visits often the Finnish capital during their “The Optimist” tour, having increased the capacity of their gigs from Tavastia to a middle size venue as The Circus is, during their last appearances here. A tour that certainly has been packed with a lot of dates in just a few months, the day before Helsinki the band had also performed at Pakkahuone in Tampere, so they are really pushing the pedal with not much rest for several months in a row.

Even when being a cold Thursday and with the concert starting at a late hour after 22 p.m. the Finnish audience once more was faithful with a packed venue (although many people did not stay for the last songs of the Encore as probably they needed to head home for an early start at work next day Friday).

We will save here from commenting the gig of the opening band, the French metallers Alcest, as we just arrived on time to see the main performers, but they have been receiving quite a positive praise along this extensive tour, so we hope we have a chance to check them out later on.

With some minutes of delay after 22, Anathema, the band from Liverpool, took finally the stage appearing in their positions one by one slowly while the instrumental theme San Francisco sounded in the background.The 3 Cavanagh brothers taking the front of the stage with Portuguese drummer Daniel Cardoso supporting from the drums and the always unmistakable beautiful female voice of Lee Douglas to support the band through most parts of the show.

What came next was one of my favorite moments in the whole concert, the amazing 2 parts of “Untouchable“, a really epic work of melodic metal. Later on the setlist that followed was maybe not the best one for my taste, I would have expected a few more classic themes (for example the setlist of their release live concert Universal filmed in Bulgaria with an orchestra is superb for my taste) and we have to be honest with the weak reception of their latest album, as for many fans is the worst they have released in many years. But understandably, the band was touring with that new album, so the setlist had to be adjusted.

Some funny moments with guitarist Danny Cavanagh being very talkative to the audience “are you calling me a prick?” asked with some dose of British accent or “if you consider me a good songwriter, and I think I am ok, I hope you like next one” while his brother, vocalist Vincent Cavanagh jumped from one place on stage to the next hyperactive and cheerful, singing or hammering drums, spiking up the good energy levels of the show for the Finnish fans.

The show ended as traditionally with a powerful version of “Fragile Dreams” with a very tasty intro of Shine on you Crazy Diamond from Pink Floyd, so I would dare to say that, without diminishing the rest of the show with some pearls like “The Lost Song” or the crazy utopia of “Closer“, the start and the end were the best parts of the gig. See you soon Anathema!

Setlist:

San Francisco

Untouchable, Part 1

Untouchable, Part 2

Can’t Let Go

Endless Ways

The Optimist

The Lost Song, Part 3

Universal

Looking Outside Inside

Thin Air

Barriers

Pressure

The Beginning and the End

A Simple Mistake

Closer

Encore:

Firelight

Distant Satellites

Springfield

Back to the Start

Deep

Lost Control

Destiny

Fragile Dreams
(with Shine on You Crazy Diamond/See Emily Play intro)

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Art Exhibitions

EMMA brings art by Hans Rosenström under the Tapiola sky as part of the Helsinki Festival

Hans Rosenström + Stormglas: Off Seasons
17 August–3 September 2017, The WeeGee Exhibition Centre forecourt, Tapiola, Espoo

EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art takes part in the Helsinki Festival by presenting its’ new collection acquisition Off Seasons. The work is on display on the museum forecourt in the sculpture park in front of the WeeGee Exhibition Centre, where it forms a dialogue with the sounds and elements of its environment and is free for all to see.

Off Season consists of music, structures and plants, forming one unified artwork. The result is an intense, multisensory and immersive experience where viewers can spend time and enjoy the environment. Off Seasons is a sound installation based on the collaboration between the visual artist Hans Rosenström and the Danish artist duo Stormglas (Andreas Borregaard and Mikkel Sørensen.

The work gives the audience an opportunity to listen to the interpretation of the theme of four seasons by four contemporary Nordic composers. The music is composed by Rasmus Zwicki, Fredrik Österling, Sunleif Rasmussen and Martin Rane Bauck. The composers, selected by Stormglas, chose their preferred season, which formed the basis for their composition. Stormglas’ only rule was that the music had to be composed for a quintet. Hans Rosenström edited a soundtrack from the compositions for the work Off Seasons.

“The four seasons are such a familiar theme in classical music, with Vivaldi’s composition of course being the best-known of treatments of it. I combined the seasons into one work, with the intention perhaps to comment on how these days we try to live oblivious to seasons, as if they made no difference,” says Hans Rosenström.

The music was composed for five different instruments, namely electric guitar, accordion, violin, piano and double bass. These, in addition to the sound of breathing, can all be heard through the various speakers. The soundtrack lasts about 30 minutes, and plays on a loop. The work was originally created on commission by the Chart Art Fair in Denmark, and was shown as part of the art fair’s programme in autumn 2016. There it was presented in the courtyard of Copenhagen’s Kunsthal Charlottenborg.

Sound has a special role in Hans Rosenström’s art. He has created sound installations for public spaces and exhibitions throughout the world. The permanent public work of art in the ferry terminal in Stockholm’s Gärdet offers a glimpse into the future. His work that recently featured at the recent ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum Triennial was based on the image of ruins in one of Caspar David Friedrich’s paintings. In Off Seasons, Rosenström returns to the same themes: the mutually opposing concepts of building and ruin, and their presence in our lives and environment.

Off Seasons has recently been acquired for EMMA’s collection and can be set up both indoors and outdoors, changing the location and adjusting the work accordingly. EMMA aims to renew the use of museum collections with modifiable, temporary works and renewable conceptual works in order to regenerate public art, and in this way to take art beyond the confines of museum walls.

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Concerts Music

The Sounds at Allas Pool, Helsinki

Indie music label Fullsteam celebrated its 15 year anniversary with a very special gig at an amazing location: Swedish band The Sounds playing at Allas Pool in the heart of Helsinki in Katajanokka district.

Finnish music scene has a lot to thank the irruption of Fullsteam in the business in Finland, a company that brought fresh air to a scene dominated mainly by heavy metal bands and has gained the hearts of a new generation of music lovers with a more diversified taste for pop rock style. To put the cherry on top of the cake, they organized a very pleasant event at Allas Sea Pool.

Allas Pool is a new public swimming pool that opened last summer in the heart of Helsinki, in front of the presidential palace, in a very exclusive great scenario just close to the sea where you can have a swim while watching the big ferries departing to Tallinn and Stockholm. From the Swedish country came the main act of the night, The Sounds, with Mira Luoti previously opening as performer the summer night where miraculously the weather respected and did not rain until the show was over.

The concert was a pleasant way to start a Friday evening, young hipsters Finnish fans were mixed in the crowd with some more older followers, almost everybody with a drink on their hands to warm up a weekend night out in the Finnish capital. The concert itself can be considered as a warm up for the incoming Flow Festival that will take place this next weekend with a great array of artists for all tastes, a festival that closes symbolically the music summer season in Helsinki (yes my friends, winter is coming…and summer did never fully arrive this year).

The Sounds delivered with their easy going attitude and happy music and put everybody’s mood in high levels, with their attractive blonde singer Maja Ivarsson hyperactively moving from one side to the other of the stage, teasing the audience constantly lifting her summer dress to show those long legs that turn crazy both men and women in the audience. Mood got at its highest with their huge hit Living in America, and although alltogether with the encore, the concert did not last too long, everybody seemed to be leaving the venue satisfied in search of night adventures or for a good rest before Flow Festival comes to town.

15 years of Fullsteam and hopefully another many more to come to continue bringing a fresh breeze to the Finnish music scene!

The Sounds Setlist at Helsinki Allas Sea Pool 04/08/2017

Song With a Mission

Queen of Apology

Shake Shake Shake

The Darkness

Seven Days a Week

4 Songs & A Fight

No One Sleeps When I’m Awake

Thrill

Living in America

Dorchester Hotel

Rock & Roll

Night After Night

Painted by Numbers

Encore:
Tony the Beat

Hope You’re Happy Now

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Articles Misc

Aivojumpan hyödyt

Monet meistä ovat oppineet pitämään itsestään parempaa huolta. Uudet urheilulajit puskevat läpi yhä useammalta suunnalta ja trendejä seurataan silmä kovana. Kaiken pöhinän keskellä on joskus helppo unohtaa se, mikä urheilunkin päätavoite on: hyvä ja terve mieli. Vaikka pitkän päivän jälkeen onkin helppo pyöräyttää Netflix päälle ja vaipua viihteen uumeniin, kannattaa silloin tällöin myös harkita kunnon henkisen verryttelyn hyviä puolia.

Kuinka pitää mieli virkeänä?

Kun puhutaan aivoista, täytyy muistaa että niitä voi lähteä haastamaan mitä erilaisemmilla tavoilla. Joillekin integraalilaskut tuottavat vaikeuksia, jotkut eivät saa piirrettyä edes tikku-ukkoja suoraan. Mitä osa-aluetta itse haluaisit kehittää? Jo läppärin äärelle istuttaessa vaihtoehdot ovat rajattomia. On milloin vain mahdollista napsauttaa selaimelle näkyviin shakkilauta ja alkaa vääntämään kättä henkisesti tai vaikka ratkoa sudokua.

Tänne olemme koonneet muutaman ehdotuksen hyvistä tavoista pitää aivot tiukilla!

Kirjan lukeminen

Jos ei satu olemaan kilpailuhenkisellä tuulella, kirja on hyvä tapa pitää mieli hereillä. Netti on pullollaan monenlaisia palveluita, joista voi ladata mieluista luettavaa. Lukeminen vaatii vain uppoutumista, mikä voi olla jopa rentouttavampaa kuin vaikkapa videon katsominen, vaikka se aktivoikin aivoja aivan eri tavalla. Lukeminen auttaa muistia, lisää tietoutta ja parantaa sanavarastoa.

Palveluita löytyy niin maksullisina kuin maksuttominakin. Esimerkki maksuttomasta palvelusta on readanybook.com, jossa pääsee lukemaan kirjautumisen jälkeen haluamiaan teoksia. Toki kirjan lukeminen onnistuu muuallakin kuin netissä. Suomesta löytyy kiistatta yksi maailman parhaimmista kirjastojärjestelmistä, joten maksamilleen veroille kannattaa ehdottomasti käydä hakemassa vastinetta muutaman kovakantisen verran.

Pelaaminen rahalla

Usein ylenkatsottu puoli korttipeleissä, tuuripeleissä ja veikkauksissa on niiden analyyttinen vaativuus. Ne ovat loppujen lopuksi aina todennäköisyyslaskentaa. Pelit toki vaihtelevat hurjasti taidon ja tuurin välillä, mutta on varmaa, ettei löydy yhtäkään huippupelaajaa, joka istuu aivot nollilla ja luottaa tuuriinsa.

Kovimmat pelaajat kokeilevat monia erilaisia pelistrategioita ja onnistuvat tekemään pelaamisestaan jopa melko tuottoisaa. Voisi kuvitella, ettei vaikka pelirullissa ole juuri taktikoinnin varaa, mutta esimerkiksi suomalaiset kasinot tarjoavat monia erilaisia bonusvaihtoehtoja, joita vertailemalla voi saada hyviäkin etuja netissä pelatessa. Laskelmoivaa ajattelua tällainen hupi taatusti kehittää, mutta kohtuus on hyvä pitää mielessä.

Fiksu keskustelu

Moni ei koe foorumeilla notkumista kovin kehittävänä, mutta se riippuu täysin siitä miten aikansa siellä käyttää. On vaikea uskoa, kuinka monia erilaisia keskustelupalstoja netistä voikaan löytää. Yksi suurimmista keskustelusivustoista, joka on hyvä mainita, on Reddit. Sieltä löytyy alafoorumeita kaikesta maan ja taivaan väliltä.

Monet eri harrastusporukat, fanittajat ja kirjoittajat kohtaavat ja tuovat ajatuksiaan esille juuri heille tarkoitetuilla nettisivuilla. Kiinnostaako autot, poliittiset ilmiöt, astronomia, oluen paneminen tai metallimusiikki? Kaikille näille löytyy tuhatpäinen foorumi niin suomeksi kuin englanniksikin.

Ajankohtaisista asioista keskustelu, tiedon hankkiminen ja itsensä ilmaisu ovat kaikki aivoja vaativia tehtäviä. Löydä siis itsellesi sopiva sivusto ja pistä parastasi! Trollien välttely, argumentointi ja luova kirjoittaminen kehittävät niin monia henkisiä taitoja, ettei niitä kaikkia tänne kannata edes listata.

Lopuksi

Aivot toimivat kuin lihas. Käyttämättöminä ne rapistuvat sitä nopeammin mitä vanhemmaksi tulee. Ne tarvitsevat haasteita tai ne surkastuvat. Jos olo on väsynyt, saamaton eikä luova ajattelu suju, ongelma saattaa olla vain verryttelyn puute. Kuten fyysinenkin liikunta, aivojumppa voi parantaa muistia, luovaa ajattelua ja vähentää ahdistusta.

On tärkeää olla ottamatta aivojumppaa liian vakavasti ja muistaa nauttia ajastaan. Jos ajatus stressaa liikaa, voi löhöily silloin tällöin olla ihan hyväkin ajatus. Kuten liikunnassakin, lopullinen tavoite on aina pitää itsensä terveenä ja onnellisena!

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Features Interviews Music

Interview with Anneke van Giersbergen at Helsinki Tuska Metal Festival

Dutch metal singer Anneke van Giersbergen has been undoubtedly a reference as one of the most talented female metal voices for more than two decades, since her early beginnings with the band The Gathering.

Having a special relation with Helsinki where she visits and performs often, and with a wide list of collaborations with amazing bands and projects such as Moonspell, Within Temptation, Anathema, Devin Townsend Project or Ayreon, Anneke loves Tuska festival in Helsinki, and Tuska festival loves her back.

Anneke was the queen of the opening Friday day at Tuska performing live 3 times during a busy evening, with her new band Vuur, in a short acoustic solo for some lucky winners of a competition and closing the night as special guest together with Devin Townsend Project. An excellent opportunity for the Finnish fans to enjoy once more her amazing vocal skills, special energy on stage and perennial charming smile.

Before that, FREE! Magazine had the chance to sit with her for a few minutes in the backstage so she could share with us her impressions about Vuur, her visits to Finland and the future plans ahead:

Thanks for your time Anneke! You come to Helsinki quite often, and this time is with your new band Vuur. Can you tell us a bit more what the fans here in Finland can expect from the incoming gig?

Thanks to you too! Yeah, it has been a long time since I made a true metal album, cause I have been all over the place and I love all kind of different styles of music, I just love singing. But I felt when we were working on The Gentle Storm like I wanted to continue making a solo album with these same guys, the live band of The Gentle Storm, cause they are so good! I was very inspired by them, so I thought that if I wanted to make a metal album on my own, I had to do it now and with these guys, so I did! And it turned out even better than I expected, there is a good vibe around it and people are excited anticipating it!.

If I am not mistaken there is already released the first official track. How are the plans for the release of the album?

We are doing one or two more tracks before the album gets released in October and we will do some summer festivals anyway where we play new songs, so there will be new songs online, in Youtube etc.

Do you feel easier now with the new technologies and social media to reach your audience?

Yeah, I think is great to have Youtube, Spotify and the whole thing. It is easier to get our music out and to get people to the shows. Of course maybe you sell a bit less Cds than 20 years ago but it does not matter, we need to be creative!

You are going to have a busy day today right? After Vuur concert you will make a small solo acoustic show and Devin Townsend is playing later, are you gonna join them?

Yes, I am going to join them. 3 shows today, but I am looking forward to all 3!

I remember that you were here in Tuska last time 2 years ago when you came with The Sirens, I saw that show. What memories do you have?

I just love Tuska festival, it is a fantastic festival and I love it every time since I came here. I wanted to come back with Vuur very much and I was on the trousers of Jouni (Jouni Markkanen, Tuska Festival promoter) to bring us here. He booked us even without listening to the album! So he believes in me and in the band and that is so cool! It is great to have a few festivals before the release of the album.

Do you find the Finnish audience having special features compared to other countries? Sometimes other artists have told me that they are more silent but you can feel how they are enjoying the music deep inside…

Yeah, that’s the thing about the Finnish, like you said, they are collected and quiet but there is so much fire and passion, and you can see it, you know. But when the song finishes, they are loud. It is a crazy thing about Finland.

I remember in 2010 for example when you came with Anathema, not sure if you have memories of that day, but the people were really crazy at Tavastia Club!

Totally! As the Finnish say of themselves “we are quiet people” and I know that there is a bit of a reservation there, but still you have a lot of passion for arts, music, artists…

I also wanted to ask you about the special concert you gave 3 years ago for the 25th Anniversary of The Gathering with all the previous artists. How did it feel?

It was great, it was very peculiar cause when we talked about it, and with some people I have not seen them for 8 years, and then we talked about the reunion and then we started rehearsing and it felt like yesterday that we played these songs together, it is crazy, and it was 8 or 9 years ago when we did, but it felt like at home. I was at The Gathering for most of my young adult life and the influence that you get at this age period is very big.

I think you wanted to make clear that it was just a one time special occasion, so only 1 special show…

Yeah, of course promoter said “you could go on tour” and I am sure we could have made a lot of money, etc but we said “let’s keep it special”. We never say never for a next time, but you have to keep it exclusive and is more special that way. Plus I am busy with everything else I do.

After such a fruitful career in music and having participated in so many nice collaborations with talented artists and bands, do you feel lucky to have made good friends in the music industry?

Yeah, totally! The only friends I have!! Hehehe, no more social life, most of my real friends are in music and then apart I have one or two girl friends that I know from the time before music, but at that period I was just 14! So my life and my family and everything, all has to do with music. But musicians in general they get each other, they understand the lifestyle, the weird hours, the passion, the way you are always busy with music and with creating something.

You seem to have a busy rest of the year 2017, touring with Vuur, doing some more solo acoustic concerts, sharing tour with Epica, the new album getting released. How do you face the incoming busy months?

I like busy, the album is done and is almost on the shelf waiting for release, we are doing the promotion for the album with festivals and gigs, and in October we are going on tour. We have some really nice things coming up. I like it as I have not played so much for a long time since we were at the studio and I wanted not to do 10 projects at the same time, I was really focusing but that means that you are not playing a lot and I start to miss it. I love being at home and doing laundry, etc it gives me peace, but when I am not playing I get restless. I kind of need it, but is a good balance on and off. I know a lot of people who tour all year around every year and they get a little bit off balance.

And after that, do you have plans in the longer run for the incoming 2018 or so far just focused on 2017?

Well, I think for the moment playing with Vuur and at some point writing for an incoming new album. I will do also some solo stuff next months in Holland, theater shows and a classical show with orchestra. And I like that, active but not too much, like before with The Sirens and a new album incoming and you know… usually 5 projects at once and that is insane, so I try solo, acoustic and Vuur as my focus now.

As the time for your show with Vuur is coming close, I do not want to take more of your time so you can prepare. Anything else you want to add for the readers and the Finnish (and foreign) audience here?

Well, I am here in Finland around two times per year, they invite me so many times that I feel a bit like being my home away from home, I have great friends here and I love this festival. I am looking forward to playing here again!

Categories
Concerts Music

Rockfest in Vantaa 2017 – 5 things that rocked and 5 things that not!

Vantaa celebrated a few days ago the first edition of a new festival in Finland: Rockfest (even when some artists would not know understandably the difference between Vantaa and Helsinki and would just salute to Helsinki from stage, but we can forgive that, right?).

As every time that a new event takes place, there are always good things and bad things to highlight. FREE! Magazine has been bringing you news in English about the music scene in Finland for the last 10 years, and once more we were accredited there to check the best festivals and venues in the country. Here are our top 5 things that we really enjoyed in the festival and the top 5 that maybe deserve some improvement if organization decides to repeat in following years the experience:

Things that rocked!

1. Rammstein

The Germans are always a safe bet for any concert organizer in Finland. Finnish fans love them, and they love the country back, visiting often this Nordic country. They headlined the festival the first day on Friday, and together with the sunny weather, brought a huge mass of spectators to enjoy the show. Their live performances never let down and can be surely counted as the best visual and music experience to enjoy in the last decades. Although the sound quality was not the best, they delivered what people wanted, straight to the point without wasting time in speeches, one hour and a half of strong music that hits like a straight bullet to the head.

2. Easy to arrive by train

The venue was located just in front of Vehkala train station, so even when was a bit far from Helsinki centre, transportation was very convenient to arrive. Another different story was when leaving at night…

3. Great selection of food.

Many stands with different choices of food for all tastes and other entertainments so the audience would not starve during the long hours of the evening.

4. The weather

Everybody living in the capital area of Finland knows that this summer has not been the best weather related so far. Pretty much, you could see the sun for a couple of hours and then follow up by 5 days cloudy, cold and rainy. However the gods of metal sent a wink to the festival and for 2 days one could enjoy in just shorts and T-shirt the music around. The audience responded, overall on the first day on Friday, going massively to enjoy the chance to hear music, drink beer and get some tan.

5. Guano Apes

This is more of my personal choice as I used to follow the band 20 years ago and never had the chance to see them live. It was quite exciting to be able to finally seeing Sandra Nasic singing some rock anthems like Big in Japan or Open your Eyes.

Things that did not rock!

1. The rocks scattered all over the festival venue

Yes, we know the name of the festival was Rockfest, but it felt a bit unnecessary to have to step all over big stones in most of the surface of the festival. I am sure more than one assistant ended up with the ankle twisted there. We also like Tuska (Pain) festival, and that does not mean we want to be whipped when entering the venue. Some grass areas to sit would have been truly appreciated instead of the choice between rocks or mud.

2. The drinks prices and the long queues on Friday

Of course festivals need to make money, but paying 7 euro (one euro gets returned if you give back the empty can) for a 33cl beer or cider is a bit too excessive. Not that the price would matter to many Finns who were decided to spend hundreds of euro to get wasted on Friday at literally any price. But still, too much, specially when we add queues of half an hour to order a beer or one hour to order a burger. If organization wants to put those ridiculous prices, at least they could beef up with more manpower to speed up serving.

3. Leaving the festival

At night security decided to close Vehkala station and make people walk a couple of kilometres until the next station in Vantaankoski where people could take buses, taxis or trains. At least organization could have let know of this in advance as most people got surprised the first night about how to reach back home.

4. The general list of bands performing

Painful to say, but the simple truth is that the festival did not have the quality to keep up for 2 days. It is true that the first day Rammstein attracted a big bulk of fans, but on Saturday assistance was maybe one third in comparison. Being honest, for much that Evanescence is a nice band to watch, it was not enough to headline the second day (practically all the audience left after their show without even waiting for an encore). The festival missed at least one more big name to headline for Saturday, so many people decided just to buy a one day ticket or simply not to come back for Saturday concerts.

5. The tent of the secondary stage was too small

Some people complained that they could not see a shit there like in the show of Kotiteollisuus that is quite a popular Finnish band. If you want to have a second stage, at least make it accesible and big enough for the spectators to enjoy.

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Articles Misc

WORLD TAPAS DAY IN FINLAND

On June 15th, Finland took part in the celebration of the “World Tapas Day”. This International Day is an occasion to celebrate the Spanish culture and gastronomy in the whole world, through one of its more emblematic dishes; the tapas. More than 600 restaurants from over 30 countries offered Spanish tapas to their customers around the world.

For the celebration of this International Day, The Spanish Tourist Office in Finland has counted on the assistance of Mikko Takala, one of the most relevant influencers on the international gastronomic scene. His assistance has been a guaranty of the quality and high level of the restaurants participating in this International Day.

On this year’s “Tapaspäivä” in Finland, 36 outstanding restaurants of Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Rovaniemi and Oulu offered tapas and other dishes of the Spanish cuisine and, in many cases, offered special dishes of fusion cuisine.

On June 14, as a special event, a contest took place among 19 of the restaurants participating in the Tapas Day, in order to choose “The Best Tapas of Helsinki”. The contest was organized in the venue of the cooking school, Kokkikoulu Espa, and it counted on the sponsorship of the awarded wines of the Catalonian region of Empordà.

The jury was presided by Mikko Takala and also formed by Sauli Kemppainen, a renamed chef and author of gastronomic books, who is working in one of the most exclusive Restaurants of the city of Berlin, and Susanna Vuori, the head of a new bakery brand in Punavuori. She is a highly skilled baker and patissier, and has worked in various Michelin-starred restaurants in London and Paris.

The competition in this contest was very hard, and so was the work of the jury. Finally, the results were:

Second Honorary Award: BasBas & Staff wine bar (Tehtaankatu 27-29)

First Honorary Award: SOIL (Fredrikinkatu 37)

WINNER OF THE CONTEST: JORD (Kortteli, Urho Kekkosen Katu, 1)