Helsinki Ensemble Takes Berlin

Disco Ensemble heads a list of more than 50 Finnish acts due to play Berlin April 13-20, part of what must be one of the biggest cultural export drives the country has ever mounted.

The alternative-punk merchants, who’ve already played major European festivals including the U.K.’s Glastonbury, Germany’s twinned Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park and Denmark’s Roskilde, were one of the most successful acts from ETEP 2007 and are at Columbia Club April 23.

It’s the third show of a 15-date European run through Germany, Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland, followed by 11 shows in Finland. The U.S. tour starts in July.

"Helsinki In Berlin," which also features Jimi Tenor, Lovex, Poets Of The Fall, 22 Pistepirkko, Diablo and Rinneradio, is supported by national organisations including Music Export Finland, Finnish Music Information Centre and IFPI Finland.

The shows are spread across a dozen of the city’s clubs, including Villa, Kato, Kesselhause, Knaack and 103 Club.