Jytäkesä Go-Go is a festival held at Suvilahti, Helsinki, annually at the end of July. The festival features a nostalgia-driven list of artists ranging from interesting comebacks to foreign favourites riding just below the brightest lights, as well as a list of well-known artists with a national interest in Finland. For the 2026 festival, Jytäkesä Go-Go managed to bring back powerpop favourites LEMONATOR and fished out Irish punk/grunge old-timers THERAPY? and headlined both evenings with Finnish favourites: URSUS FACTORY and ISMO ALANKO. The more interesting up-and-coming names were Finnish bands RAMI HELIN PRESENTS, US, and PLASTIC TONES. We were at the festival in Suvilahti on Friday, July 31st, and Saturday, August 1st, to check out where the festival is going.
We opened the festival on Saturday at Tiivistämö inside the hall with the HAUNTEES, a newly formed goth garage band. They have attracted some attention with their debut album “Shadows Forming” released in February. They have a well-thought-out look and sound, and the gig was an enjoyable feat, albeit the band still has some rough edges to smooth before they’re at their prime.
We lingered on at Tiivistämö as one of the most awaited acts took place there next: RAMI HELIN PRESENTS is a project by Rami Helin, known for example as the bassist in THE FLAMING SIDEBURNS. He assembled a 7-member band called THE FINNISH INQUISITION to accompany him. The music here is orchestrated vocal music, one could think of artists like Scott Walker or Jacques Brel; a magnificent show, bringing goosebumps song after song, and a strong recommendation to check this out.
Quite a change to the mood then, when we next followed PLUTONIUM 74 performing on the main stage. Their psychedelic view on reggae, funk, hiphop and all things that groove was a good feat for spending a summer day with friends, first dance moves of the day emerged in the audience!
Next up, Swedish visitors HURULA played their set of melancholic, emotional rock. Sort of KENT but with a darker roast, a bit more aggression, and a punk attitude. The act was emotional and well-thought-out. Listening to the song material live, maybe did come out a bit one-sided, but as the one side was well done, what’s to complain?
Maybe the biggest foreign name was the Irish trio THERAPY? who performed next on the main stage. They gathered a crowd hungry for nostalgia and delivered by playing some of their big hits like “Screamager” and “Nowhere” and a set of songs from different parts of their career. Now, the 60-year-old men are no longer the angry young men they used to be, but they can still connect to their own crowd.
Possibly the biggest comeback case of the festival was that of LEMONATOR, the ’90s power pop favourites. They played on the Jytälava as the last band. There were many wet eyes in the crowd, as people who had listened to the pop group headed by Lasse Kurki in their youth. And the band was in good playing condition too, seeming to enjoy their connection to each other and the loving vibes from the audience. Definitely not just a comeback out of duty, but one that hit the spot!
Last up, we chose to see US, still a young band though they’ve been around for a long time and have created their own way of doing things quite some time ago. A heavily retro-influenced rhythm ‘n’ blues, but with more of a punk tempo, is their thing. And it’s paying off, as the band has been making a name, especially in Japan. They’ve got it all: the looks, the stage presence, the playing, and a bunch of good songs. The only question that remains is if the genre they’ve chosen is too oddball to ever conquer bigger audiences. If it’s not, then even bigger things await them. Check our photo gallery of the festival’s Saturday…
Hauntees
Rami Helin Presents
Plutonium 74
Hurula
Therapy?
Lemonator
Us
Photos by Arto Alho
