From sauna to trophies on the nation’s cabinet

In the autumn of 2015, Mr. Smith’s mind and barrel sauna seats were filled with the idea of creating a new rock festival in the festival constellation of the Finnish music sky. Constellation is hypothetical and a bit delusional as a goal, but he was still serious about his utopia and what he was doing, even after the idea became flesh. Morning came, summer came. From words to action; after the spring of learning brought by mistakes and failures, the summer of 2016 was coming and the whole nation was ready for the festival. Of course – fortunately – not all of them, but just a large enough part of the population that the activity could be perceived as accepted and profitable in all respects, even from the traces of the fumbling first steps. That event was to be named the John Smith Rock Festival, after his apprentice and a local sailor.

Laukaa’s Peurunka and its scenic beach landscape were selected as the focal point of the event. The amphitheater-like grass grandstand combined with the sunset and a flock of ducks swimming in the background created a physical setting for a relaxing picnic, with good people and moderate and correct enjoyment. Years passed and the event sought more friends and additional forms. The coordinates were checked and the course was set, but the horizon reflected clear and common in the visual and sensory organs of both the authors and the invited guests. Praised and criticized, created and regretted. That’s how a year passed, and another. A large group of fanatical friends, disappointed people who tried it for the first time, and the concept, which basically found its way, remained largely unchanged until these days.

Helloween, Arch Enemy, D-A-D, Mustasch, Lacuna Coil, Amaranthe… Amorphis, Children of Bodom, Stratovarius, Apocalyptica… The JSRF years have included an enviable bunch of greats and an even bigger group of still unknown and by lame standards “smaller” bands. Luckily for us, several of the latter have broadened the consciousness of the masses, moving one step closer to the popularity they deserve. One of the cemented dogmas of the John Smith Rock Festival is the band selection screen, which only carefully considered choices that follow one’s own opinion pass through. Numerous band comebacks and maiden visits to Finland have served as an interesting spice in the endlessly attractive band concoction.

The most important flagship projects of the John Smith Rock Festival have been, are and will always be, two things; the atmosphere created by the people as well as the service and its quality! The most significant guarantee of the quality of the service covering all areas has been the number of people, which, with limitations, has been wanted to be kept moderate compared to the event area and the number of services. That and many other components have created an atmosphere that does not leave its experiencer warm, and created a bacchanal that entitles John Smith’s works to the “quality guarantee” certificate, which awaits new and old disappointed people once again!