Robert Plant needs no introduction—unless you’ve been living under a rock for most of your life. Best known as the iconic frontman of LED ZEPPELIN, Plant has carved out an impressive solo career since the band’s disbandment. While some artists continue to coast on the success of their past (looking at you, Tom Morello, still playing RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE), Plant has consistently chosen to explore new musical paths. His solo work has leaned into Americana, blues, and bluegrass, and I fondly remember his tour with Alison Krauss around the “Raising Sand” era—a project that still sticks with me to this day.
In 2019, Plant launched a low-key acoustic outfit called SAVING GRACE, currently touring with singer Suzi Dian. Their latest stop brought them to the Finlandia-talo in Helsinki on May 19, 2025.
The evening began with Pekko Käppi, a name that’s appeared on our site more than once, although admittedly, I hadn’t given his work much attention until now. Turns out, I was missing out. His modern take on Finnish folk music, complete with the haunting sound of the jouhikko, created an atmosphere that was both eerie and magical. The audience was entranced, and I have to say—this was a bold yet perfect choice to open for someone like Plant. Definitely a name I’ll be digging into more.
Then, it was time for Robert Plant Presents Saving Grace Featuring Suzi Dian (yes, that’s the full name—no shortcuts allowed). Most of the setlist was made up of American folk songs, and I swear, Plant could sing an IKEA manual and make it sound mystical. There’s something spellbinding in his voice, something raw and otherworldly that just pulls you in. I remember when he released a song named “Turn It Up“—I stopped everything I was doing just to listen. That same feeling washed over me during this show.
While some might have attended hoping to hear LED ZEPPELIN hits, what they got instead was something far deeper—music that sits closer to the roots of rock ‘n’ roll than the flashy spectacle many might expect. But for those craving a bit of that old magic, Plant didn’t disappoint. The set included deep cuts like “Four Sticks,” “Ramble On,” “Friends,” and “Gallows Pole,” reimagined through the stripped-back, acoustic lens of SAVING GRACE.
Suzi Dian, for her part, is a phenomenal vocalist. Much like Alison Krauss, her voice blends seamlessly with Plant’s—fragile, powerful, and perfectly in sync. It’s no wonder he keeps returning to the duet format; it just works.
All-in-all, the night was a masterclass in subtlety, soul, and aging like a total rock legend. No flashy lights, no 10-minute guitar solos—just great music, delivered by people who live and breathe it. If you came expecting ZEPPELIN 2.0, maybe this wasn’t your night. But if you came to hear the roots of rock ‘n’ roll in its most honest form? You were in the right place.
Text and photos by Laureline Tilkin
Setlist
- The Very Day I’m Gone (Nora Brown)
- The Cuckoo (trad.)
- Four Sticks (Led Zeppelin)
- Down to the Sea
- Soul of a Man (trad.)
- Orphan Girl (Gillian Welch)
- Ramble On (Led Zeppelin)
- Let the Four Winds Blow
- Everybody’s Song (Low)
- As I Roved Out (trad.)
- For the Turnstiles (Neil Young)
- Friends (Led Zeppelin)
Encore: - Gallows Pole (trad.) /Black Dog (Led Zeppelin)
