Last year, we fell in love with Helsinki’s Flow Festival once again and so getting back feels like a logical decision. The Finnish capital is always worth a weekend trip, so why not combine that with seeing some of the most hyped headliners of the year? With its agenda for sustainability and gender equality, the festival proves once more that it doesn’t just have a shiny lineup but much more to offer than many other festivals. We collected six reasons why to attend this year’s Flow Festival from 9th to 11th August 2019.
1. Line-Up
Year after year, Flow provides a genre-expanding lineup, which connects the best of international music with local acts. This year, we’re mostly looking forward to seeing The Cure, James Blake, Cardi B, Erykah Bahdu, Blood Orange, Flohio, Slowthai, Yves Tumor and many, many more in the Finnish capital. While Resident Advisor present the best electronic acts at their Front Yard Stage, you can check-out experimental and unique artists at the small The Other Sound stage.
2. Sustainability
A festival in 2019 should have more than just a great lineup. Flow addresses on of the major topics in our society: climate change. The festival reduced its carbon emission and uses only green electricity, as well as, reused materials. Another important step in the sustainable program is the protection of the Baltic sea, one of the most polluted sea areas worldwide.
3. Gender equality
Flow is one of the festivals participating in the European Keychange Initiative, an initiative that aims to improve the representation of female artists. By 2022 the festival will reach an equal amount of female and male artists in its lineup. The organisers also support a Finnish initiative that promotes equality, non-discrimination, and diversity within the music business.
4. Accessibility
Unlike other city festivals, Flow Festival is pretty easy and fast to reach by public transport. Located in Suvilahti, it is just about 15 minutes away from the city center by tram. You can also reach the festival area by foot or bike. Another important step towards a sustainable festival experience.
5. Food
The on-going trend about healthy and meat-free food has by now reached many festivals. Flow works together with over 40 Helsinki restaurants delivering local and seasonal cuisine. You will find anything from South-American to Asian kitchen, as well as Finnish cuisine.
6. Art
Working together with several artists, the festival creates a diverse offer of light, video and visual art. A new stage called Pink Space will present poetry, performance art, and video installations this year. Another new concept is Flow x Opera, where the program expands to the Finnish National Opera. You’ll be able to experience electronic music, audiovisual art, and contemporary dance in the city centre.
Weekend and day passes for Flow Festival 2019 are still available here.