Berlin’s Scandinavian Smorgasbord

Finnish rockers and 2006 “Eurovision Song Contest” winners Lordi will top a Popkomm bill that’s looking like a Scandinavian smorgasbord.

The act will headline one of three showcases organized by Dortmund-based monthly Rock Hard at Berlin’s K-17 club October 8-10.

Another will be presented by Oslo-based Indie Recordings, one of the main exporters of Norwegian metal music.

The lineup will include Stonegard, which has already opened for well-known rocks acts including Black Sabbath, Motörhead, Korn and Slipknot. Support comes from Audrey Horne, Vreid, Enslaved and Greek four-piece Mencea.

Other Finnish talent, including Sturm und Drang, Ismo Alanko, Rubik, April, Underwater Sleeping Society, Damn Seagulls and Astrid Swan, will be among the 400 acts playing at the three-day conference and trade fair.

It’s the second part of a national marketing push called “Helsinki In Berlin,” which is supported by industry organizations including Music Export Finland, Finnish Music Information Centre and IFPI Finland.

The first part was in April, when 50 Finnish acts including Disco Ensemble, Jimi Tenor, Lovex, Poets Of The Fall, 22 Pistepirkko, Diablo and Rinneradio played club shows in such venues as Villa, Kato, Kesselhause, Knaack and 103 Club.

Live Nation’s Copenhagen and Stockholm offices will take over the Red Salon at Berlin Volksbühne Theatre October 8-9 to present the best of emerging Danish and Swedish talent.

Anna Rose from Live Nation Denmark has opted for Lily Electric, which has been resident in Berlin for a couple of years, Copenhagen three-piece Small, As In RebekkaMaria, The Wong Boys, and Majors, who are regarded as the supergroup of Danish hip-hop.

The following night, Emil Larsson from Live Nation Sweden has chosen Moto Boy, Juvelen, Zeigeist, Bullet, and Marionette.