Helsinki's Flow Festival Was The Undisputed Champ Of This Year's Season

Don't think the UK and Europe have the festival scene on lock.

Flow Festival   credit Samuli Pentti
WikiCommons

Image via Samuli Pentti

Flow Festival   credit Samuli Pentti

Flow Festival 2016, for everyone in attendance, will go down as one of the most brilliantly organized, expertly curated and achingly cool festivals on the circuit this year. Though Flow has sprouted from a small soul and jazz creative gathering into what it is now, in its 11th year, a fully fledged festival with a plethora of amazing music, dining, drink, talks, performance art, film and everything in between, it still feels close to its roots as a tight-knit, friend-of-friend organized festival in the way that everyone is set on making sure you have an absolute belting time.

Situated in the setting of an industrial power plant site just outside of Helsinki, you find yourself weaving in and out of incredible, custom built arenas playing host to everyone from Kaytranada through to Ata Kak between the gas holders and pylons that dominate the Finnish landscape. Boasting both amazing Icelandic talent such as Jaakko Eino Kalevi through to the massive household festival names such as Morrissey, Sia and Massive Attack, there is music for all musical spectrums and age-groups. You are spoilt for choice in every aspect, having to make tough decisions on which vegan or meat-rich, locally sourced and organic to yam down, or cutting either Lil B or FKA Twigs out of your already frenetic schedule—rest assured you're never once anything but totally and ridiculously entertained.

Flow is fast becoming the worst kept, yet best, secret on the festival calendar—and its stock continues to rise after another incredible year in Helsinki.

Flow Festival   credit Annikki Valomieli
Flow Festival   credit Samuli Pentti
Flow Festival   credit Andrew Taylor
Flow Festival   credit Kondrukhov Konstantin
Flow Festival   credit Niklas Sandstrom
Flow Festival   credit Konrukhov Konstantin
Flow Festival   credit Samu Hintsa
Flow Festival   credit Kondrukhov Konstantin
Flow Festival   credit Tomi Palsa

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