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Qstock Sheds Light on 20th Anniversary Festival’s Programme

Making his comeback to the limelight, now under the name VV, Ville Valo is one of the most eagerly awaited artists to perform at Qstock next summer. Known as the frontman and vocalist of HIM, Valo will release his debut album as VV in January. Entitled Neon Noir, the album has been composed, written, played, sung, and produced entirely by Valo himself. Some HIM songs can also be expected to appear on VV’s set list.

Among the other early announcements for Qstock at this stage are Apulanta who just released a new album, all-time biggest Danish rock band D-A-D, symphonic metal greats Epica, and Popeda who will play their last ever Oulu show at Qstock.

Other confirmed artists so far include Gettomasa, Gasellit, J. Karjalainen, Kissa, Sexmane, Stam1na, Cledos, 69 Eyes, Ilta, Erika Vikman, Ramses II, Ida Paul & Kalle Lindroth, BESS, costee, Aliisa Syrjä, and finally Radiopuhelimet, who have appeared at Qstock every year of the festival’s existence.

Next summer, Qstock will celebrate its 20th anniversary, for the first Qstock was organised in summer 2003. Planned as a small-scale event, the festival attracted 7 000 people to Kuusisaari instead of the expected 3 000 visitors. Over the following three years, Qstock grew into a festival of 20 000 annual visitors.

Now, Qstock has sold out for nine consecutive summers and established a status as one of the biggest festivals in Finland, attracting 40 000 festivalgoers over two days every year.

Qstock 2023 will take place on Kuusisaari and Raatti islands in Oulu on 28–29 July 2023.

Qstock ticket sales will start on Thursday 1 December at 9 a.m. A special price two-day ticket costs 134 and a VIP ticket 304 euros on Ticketmaster ticketing channels. Osuuskauppa Arina offers two-day tickets at Prisma stores in Oulu, Kempele, Kemi, Tornio, and Rovaniemi for 124 euros with the S co-op membership card. There is a limited number of the special-priced tickets for sale.