Fullsteam Into Festivals

Fullsteam Records & Agency chief Juha Kyyrö is moving into the festival business by starting a two-dayer in downtown Helsinki June 27-28.

Kyyrö is launching the new 10,000-capacity Pitkä Kuuma Kesä (Long Hot Summer) at Suvilahti, the old power plant area Flow Festival uses.

He co-founded Fullsteam Records in 2002 and added the agency in 2006, after spending two years working as an agent and promoter at Live Nation Finland.

Fullsteam has run shows under the Pitkä Kuuma Kesä banner before and its agency has put acts on Flow, but this is the first time the company has tried using the site for a festival.

Kyyrö, who is now regarded as the second-most influential person in the country’s music biz according to an annual poll in Rumba magazine, has already confirmed Social Distortion, Flaming Lips, Mogwai, The Sounds and Disco Ensemble, an act he also manages.

The Rumba poll had Tavastia club owner and Ruisrock and Ankkarock festivals director Juhani Merimaa in first place, a position he’s held for the last five years and more times than anyone else in the Finnish music business.