U2NL in Finland

04 Aug 2007 - 11:21, by chuck Our lovely A&R Manager Nathalie not only takes care of us when Wolfgang isn't around, she also has great poetry skills. Therefore we asked her to write a nice piece about our trip to Finland:


A&R manager?

Saturday (very early) morning 28th of April the whole band (except 4 one) meets at a very busy Schiphol Airport for their trip to Finland where they will be the final act on the Rock off festival in Mariehamn.

Unfortunately our manager Wolfgang had to cancel at the last minute. Instead of a trip to Finland, he got a trip to the hospital... (don't worry folks, he's getting better all ready), we wish him all the best!

Upon arrival in Stockholm at 09.00 hrs we were welcomed by Chuck and Judith who traveled ahead by car. As real artists, our private chauffeur with a Rolls coach, we don’t do for less, took us through the beautiful landscape of Sweden to the ferry Viking line at Kapellskär where we arrived around 11.00 hrs.


If it ain't a Rolls, we're not gonna ride it!

We were sure we would be able to get a cup of coffee there while we had to wait for the ferry of 15.00 hrs but were very much disappointed as everything seemed to be closed. A very kind Swedish lady, the only other living sole around, informed us there that there was a camp site not far out where we should be able to grab something.

So through the gorgeous nature in very pretty weather we walked to the camp site hoping for food & beverages. Arriving there we did not find much more than a tiny little camp shop annex reception. We got coffees there and while our sound man enjoyed the trampoline the others played a serious game of golf, as real artist do.


Trash, Trampoline and the Party Boy

After the play, which wasn’t won by Chuck as he had collected the maximum amount of points, we returned to the ferry again.


All pretty handicaped

When we first got on the ferry it started to rain but once we had some food and tax free shopping the sun joined us on the deck for a lovely view of a few of the 6.000 Åland islands in between Sweden and Finland. It was not until we saw the harbour of Mariehamn ahead that we realised that there was an hour time difference so we arrived at 19.00 hrs local time.


Frank: "Yep, I'll take the lot."

Kim, one of the members of the Rock off team welcomed us and brought us in two teams to the hotel which appeared to be really close as the island is not very large. Once we reported to the check in desk we were told that we were not booked there so our friend Kim had to take us in two teams to the next hotel again. After everyone had a quick shower or whatever they wanted to do in their room we left to the festival area which was only a stroll away. Again we were welcomed by Kim who escorted us, as real artists, through the public to the back stage area while the number one singer of Sweden ‘Nanne Grönwall’ was giving her performance.


"Garçon ou est le Foie Gras?"

In the artist venue behind the main stage a table was very nicely set for 10 people and we were officially served, like real artists, by not just one but two waiters. A nice glass of rosé, as required by our official rider, and a lovely meal of fresh Finish fish. For the two team members who preferred meat a nice piece of meat was quickly arranged.

We were supposed to start our show at 22.30 hrs but as the band before us did not want to stop (it was their last performance) we did not start until 23.00 hrs and were told to stop just before midnight. As from the first note the audience joined us in every song we sang and was very enthusiastic.


Robbie Williams Style

Too soon the last song was sung but the loud cheer was enough evidence of the good performance we made. After the organisation had said their thanks the fireworks started and we had a quick drink. No further partying for us as the day had been very long and very early morning we had to catch the ferry again.

After only a few hours sleep a taxi brought us from the hotel to the ferry at 05.30 hrs. On the ferry we all set together on the deck for a coffee but that early in the morning after only a few hours sleep it worked out being just a bit too cold.

"Need coffee... NOW!"

There was hardly anyone on the ferry which is not very astonishing on such a divine Sunday morning. The only other passengers were the number one singer from Sweden and her band who had also found herself a very comfortable place to catch some sleep, and a German guy who fancied a bottle of Jagermeister at 7 in the morning... At 08.30 hrs we arrived in Sweden again where we had to wait for our private coach until 09.30 hrs.

While everyone else who had arrived by ferry left by car or coach there were again only 10 people left at the premises. For a while we had noticed a general bus in the parking lot but as we expected a Rolls again and did not see the driver we could imagine it being for us. Until our dear Chuck went up and found the driver who claimed to be waiting for a group of 10 people. Just imagine, we were the only 10 people around!

"No way we're getting in that one, it ain't a Rolls!"

After another trip of about an hour and a half we arrived at the airport where the group split up. Chuck stayed for another few days before traveling back by car and Sander planned an extra day in Stockholm. The rest was lucky and although they were due to leave at 14.55 hrs had a delay of nearly an hour on the airport and when they got back in Amsterdam an extra hour traffic jam.

What a trip for about an hour performance in Finland!