While the name SmugglerRock may not be internationally famous as the other big event from the same weekend, Tuska Festival, yet this small event has been taking place at Laurinkenttä in Lieto for 8 years as of 2022. The festival took place this year over July 1st and 2nd, with ACCEPT headlining the first night.
The first band we caught was NEGATIIVISET NUORET, who seemed to be having technical difficulties. They claimed to be playing “bad music for bad people,” though the festival seemed pretty empty when they started. The crowd did begin to fill up for the sleazy set by HARDCORE SUPERSTAR at least. Tony Kakko was working double-duty that day, as he had played a show with the NORTHERN KINGS at Tuska earlier that very day at Tuska Festival, so we were all the more impressed that the SONATA ARCTICA show that night was so fantastic.
This was our first time seeing DANKO JONES, who mentioned that it was Canada Day, but that they would rather be playing music in Finland. Before the last two songs, Mr. Jones gave a funny speech about a lady in the front row wearing an ACCEPT shirt: “We are playing our asses off and this lady looks so fucking bored, but I respect that because I’m also an Accept fan and midnight mover too. I have a metal heart in my chest too.” Then the last two songs were for dedicated to her. It was a very entertaining show and the speeches made us laugh out loud.
ACCEPT is a band that I have long hoped to see and photograph. The hour-long set had old classics, as well as songs from their newer releases. Unlike DANKO JONES, there were no speeches between songs, just pure metal – tunti turpaan!
The festival area itself was nice, but this here there was no Turku Rock Academy stage, and with an hour between sets and the price of drinks being so high, most attendees wandered to nearby bars or cars to drink rather than staying at the event space. It seems Rock DJ Sändi was not enough to keep festival-goers interested in the area.
Negatiiviset Nuoret
Hardcore Superstar
Sonata Arctica
Danko Jones
Accept
