FKA twigs and Charli xcx ride high at Scandi shindig

Finnish musicians went toe-to-toe with big-name headliners at Flow Festival over the weekend

- Maira Butt

A nearly century-old rusting steel gas ring, dilapidated buildings and two tall chimneys set the backdrop for the Suvilahti industrial power plant where Helsinki's Flow Festival takes place in the heart of Finland's capital city.

The country is proud of its homegrown musicians – and it should be. Over the weekend, they go toe-to-toe with some of the world's biggest headliners, and, in some instances, draw a more enthusiastic reception in response.

Finnish rapper Turisti opens the first evening with a ferocious performance on the main stage. “Hotel” singer Montell Fish projects visuals of a hooded figure in snowy woods on the Silver Stage’s curved screen while his characteristic falsetto grips the room. French duo Air plays the main stage with laidback vocals and dreamy synth, while hip hop veterans Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey resurrect the genre’s golden era with Black Star’s performance.