Rajarock - Graniza rock - Gränserock, 25 years rocking...

I'm not sure but I think our Rajarock event is maybe the oldest rockfestival still existing in Lapland. It was August 1989 in Utsjoki village when we started this event. During it's whole history it has been a possibility for rockers 14 - 19 years old to have an international possibility for a gig and for training powered by professional musicians.

Time flies: we've the celebration year in 2014. In fact I had the feeling that the Tornio - Haaparanta event last October was the last one ever. Anyway we thought that at least one more time with a celebration concert together with opening ceremonies of Vasatokka new sportshall and 10 year anniversary events. So we'll have the showtime saturday 25th of January 18 - 23 pm at Vasatokka Youth Center in Riutula village.

After the start in Utsjoki there has been 18 Rajarocks, with about 120 different bands, with all kinds of rockstyles, with unforgettable experiences, with customformalities, with all... Originally the event was ment for border area between Norway - Finland but since 2002 we've been in all four Barentsian countries and it's really cool. All Rajarocks have been good ones. Lots of stories. Maybe easiest to remember is Apatity in 2003. Really cool...half a day at Russian customs, some cultural shocks, heavymetal style and big audience, everything... Musically it is easy to go back to Burning churches at a christian camp center -feelings in Västre Jakobselv Vadsö 2005.  And so on...

The feedback from youngsters has always been the same: yes, more... This has been maybe the reason to continue. Of cource the main problem after the first years has been especially how to get money.

We got a kind of extra years to continue via Enpi Kolarctic supported Connecting Young Barents Project. What happens after this year? Nobody knows. I think that after concert, we'll have a meeting with our network and discuss about this issue. It would be pity to give up, I think. Our nework to all distances functions really well at the moment...

But first we have to enjoy the Vasatokka evening, long concert with eight bands. Cool... Here something about the bands in beforehands...

There is a kind of paradise on earth for young rockers called Huset in Alta. Huset is our partner when speaking about CYB -Project like Youth House Mr. Pink and Socium+ in Murmansk. Huset creates lots of bands. At this youth house four young men, who has got influence via Metallica, Iron Maiden and Slayer, established a couple of years ago a band called Iron Bound. To be seen...

Whar happens if there isn't any band, though there is a need for it? Band has to be gathered. Our Osallisuusorkesteri is a group like that. What unites the youngsters, in addition to music, is that all they belong to Inari municipality youth parliament. All live in different places of Inari area and this group has never played together. Interesting to see what's going to happen.

                                                            
There will be a lot of punk. The Boobs from Murmansk and 3AK HC from Tornio. Once You see them on stage, You'll always remember. When they start: in 30 seconds You have Your opinion...

Third punk group is a kind of speciality. Etulinja (The front line) is a group, which appears like the fenix bird, when needed. Only Miku, the absolut crazy Tornio youth worker, is the one and only original. All the other players just join the party. Now we'll have Etulinja with two singers and one bassplayer from Tornio and Juuso "Gary Moore of Saitajaervi" and Pekka "Charlie Watts of Inari village". Really cool, Tornio-Inari youth work co-operation is on a really high and developed level. Even a common band.

Sàmi music is a must in Inari. Maybe the hottest name at the moment is rapper Ailu Valle. He is famous and known about his lyrics which say the things straight. Mostly they deal with nature and the situation in society. Ailu will have on stage the background group Trio Boogiemen. Two of the guyes, guitarhero Oula and bassplayer philosopher Juho,  are known as the Inari part of SomBy rockband. This will be nice to listen...

(The 2nd Best, kuva: Jussi Hellsten) 

 

Those persons who followed Inari rocklife in the beginning of 2000 century maybe remember   names The Bloom and Concks. These groups are a kind of background to The 2nd Best because Ruotsalainen brothers and Jopi the bassplayer have been or they still are members in all these. These days young men have their gigs in Helsinki area. This gig is for them the second one to their roots. At Pajarock in 2010 the group had a big success. So worth to be seen...

   





Eighteen events in four countries need a couple of responsible organizators and effective network: Musikkråd i Finnmark, Studiefrämjandet Haparanda, Arts Council of Lapland, Barents Co-Operation Office Byco Murmansk, Tornio and Inari municipal youth works, Utsjoki youth work,Youth Center Vasatokka, CYB partners in Alta and Murmansk, Tornio Musichouse, Ungdomens Hus Station Haparanda, Regional youth work of Lapland Area, Murmansk Regional youth committee, Culture Palaces in Apatity and Polarnye Zor....

 

Lots of background persons too of cource. Too long list to write it here. Maybe two names: regional artist Juha Söder (ex) and Hannu Raudaskoski (on duty). These guyes have taken care about workshops at events. Guidance for youngsters has been an important part of concept.

 

That's why it's clear that in the concert the teachers have their own band called Special Guests. Cool and nice...

 

All this worth to see... And one thing is clear: there won't be a concert like this in Inari for a long time... So take it now...

 

Skoeoe