Once again, Helsinki invites people of all ages to celebrate the New Year at Kansalaistori Square. Helsinki’s New Year celebrations will kick off at 17:00 with the family favourite Hevisaurus. The roaring Jurassic heavy rock band has released eight studio albums and twice received the Emma Award for Best Children’s Music Album. The gig will be topped off with a family-friendly pyrotechnic display at 18:00.
The late New Year Eve event will start at 22:15 when star artists Ares, Erika Vikman and KAJ take the stage. Ares, one of the pioneers of the new wave rap scene in Finland, makes music entirely on his own terms, and every track on his latest album APATHIA made it into Finland’s official chart.
Erika Vikman is one of the brightest stars of Finnish disco pop and a trailblazer of feminist pop; she rose to public attention with her hits Cicciolina and Syntisten pöytä. Her appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest established her a significant fan base across Europe.
KAJ, a trio from Vörå, is also gaining popularity both in Finland and overseas, their Eurovision hit Bara Bada Bastu shooting to number one on the Spotify Top 50 in both Finland and Sweden. The band has released seven albums, written and performed two musicals and sold out three arena gigs over the years.
The evening event will be hosted by Jaana Pelkonen and Christoffer Strandberg, both known from numerous hit shows, and the concert will be broadcast live on Nelonen and Ruutu. “It’ll be great to see in the New Year with great performers and a stellar programme together with people of Helsinki,” says Mayor Daniel Sazonov, who will deliver a New Year’s speech at the event.
Traffic restrictions will be enforced around Kansalaistori Square on New Year’s Eve, so it is advisable to arrive at the event area early. The event will culminate in a pyrotechnic display at midnight, which can be viewed from a distance at Mannerheimintie or Töölönlahti Park as well as up close in Kansalaistori Square itself.
Helsinki’s New Year programme
17–18 Children’s New Year event: Hevisaurus
22:15–00:15 Helsinki’s New Year’s concert: DJ Pahkala, Ares, Erika Vikman and KAJ
Live broadcast on Nelonen and Ruutu 22:30–00:15.
