The Raskasta Joulua tour stopped at Uskela Church in Salo, on November 28th, 2024. The Raskasta Joulua ensemble included well-known names such as Marko Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT, NORTHERN KINGS), JP Leppäluoto (CHARON, POISONBLACK), and Antti Railio, mostly known from Idols Suomi.
After walking up the hill where the church is located and stepping inside, I immediately noticed how packed the place was. I already knew the show was sold out, but it seemed like the seating arrangements were calculated for very tight spaces. As Finns aren’t too keen on sitting close to strangers, it caused some trouble for latecomers trying to find available seats. However, a firm-sounding church worker quickly got the audience’s attention and managed to organize everyone so that there was enough room for everyone to sit during the show.
Of course, I wasn’t planning to sit during the performance since I never do while photographing. For that purpose, Uskela Church was ideal, as there was plenty of room to move around and capture different angles. I only wished there had been more variety in the lighting setup.
The show itself was somewhat surprising to me. I had expected it to be heavier, as the name Raskasta Joulua [Eng. Heavy Christmas] suggests. This was a significant disappointment for me, as I’m not the biggest fan of Christmas music. I was hoping to hear heavier renditions of well-known Christmas songs. Instead, what we got were mostly traditional-sounding lighthearted Christmas songs performed with acoustic guitars and sung by vocalists known for heavy metal music. While the show was a pleasant experience for what it was, it fell far short of what Raskasta Joulua shows are typically known for. Check our photo gallery of the evening here…
Photos by Richard Forsman
