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Aug 13, 2024 By Laura Studarus Photography by Laura Studarus Web Exclusive

A Brief Love Letter to Flow Festival

It’s difficult to discuss Flow Festival without falling into hyperbole. Last weekend the Helsinki festival celebrated its 20th anniversary. I’ve attended six different years, and honestly—it might be the best event of the summer. (Oh look, there’s that hyperbole!)

It’s very easy to say that Flow cool—the very novelty of travelling to another country for music is enough of a dopamine rush. But Flow really does do things differently in a way that makes for a better festival experience. Over the years’ here’s what I’ve learned about why Flow feels head and shoulders above other festivals.

Ecological initiatives:

In 2009 Flow Festival quietly went zero waste. With the help of a cleaning staff of 400, trash is sorted by hand, electricity is taken from green sources, 90,000 visiting fans are encouraged to walk or take public transit, and carbon credits are purchased to make up the difference. While it might seem annoying to pay an extra Euro when buying a drink to get a glass (don’t worry—you get your money back when you return it), but the extra care makes the whole experience feel more luxurious. No carpet of cups at every stage, no venders handing out fliers or plastic crap didn’t really want to take but did because you feel bad for the person being never visit a cleaner festival. Even better news: It’s not just Flow that supports a “no music on a dead planet” mentality. Helsinki is one of the most ecologically advanced cities in the world, meaning your vacation time outside the fest is likely to be sustainable as well. Worried about flights? I’m a fan of Finnair’s carbon offset credit program, a program cheap enough for a broke writer to afford.

Food:

Obviously, a big part of any festival program. First the potentially controversial news: There is no meat onsite. To further limit the overall environmental impact, vendors are limited to veggies and fish. The good news—to put it bluntly, it’s freaking delicious. For the same price I paid for a greasy grilled cheese at an American Festival, I was able to sample restaurant-quality meals, including poke bowls, bao, and pad thai. It might be the only music festival where I don’t walk away literally craving more snacks.

They’re great at booking interesting acts:

Yeah, vibes are all well and good, but you’re here for the music right? Over the years, Flow has gained a reputation for a wide variety of acts. There’s the local heroes you’re unlikely to see outside of Finland (yet!). I particularly loved Vesta, who could easily open for Florence and the Machine or Fever Ray. The acts with social media buzz, like Kenya Grace or Artemas, who I guarantee you’ve heard on Instagram and Tiktok. Indie darlings like AURORA whose fans will see her anywhere. And, of course there are heavy hitters like Janelle Monáe and PJ Harvey, who I will happily see anywhere in the world, but feel extra happy to have caught at Flow.

Dance it out:

Many attendees forgo the main stages in favour of the Flow’s multiple dance stages—Resident Adviser Front Yard, Heineken Back Yard, The Other Sound, X Garden, and Lanson Champagne Bar & Lounge. The variety of genres, beats, and sounds was impressive, and the number of people dancing like no one was watching (including a clutch of drag queens during a particularly wild Sunday afternoon set), was inspirational.

Special events:

Flow is no stranger to experimentation. (Need proof: check out its origins as a small jazz and soul event held across local warehouses.) This year, their special program featured a lunch, created by local culinary hero Kozeen Shiwan and sponsored by Oatly. The plant-based menu featured plays on dishes from the chef’s Michelin star-reconized restaurant, and a deep bench of wines to pair it with. Even as a festival fan who tends to go until I drop (sometimes literally), I found myself enjoying sitting for a slow meal in the surreal, cloud and fog-enclosed event space.

The Nordic summer:

Yes, everyone above the equator is enjoying summer right now, but there’s something to be said for the magic of the Nordic summer. The days are long and the season is short, so residents make use of every moment. It’s the kind of carpe diem spirit you want in life, and doubly so at a festival. It’s the base for the kind of memories I find myself treasuring all year long.