After a 5am start and a successful journey where I only nearly lost my records once (yikes!!!) me and Dave (my partner in crime and helpful record bag carrier) landed in Tampere, southern Finland, at about 7pm local time.

We headed straight into town, to check out some bars and to sample the some local bevvies before my gig with my friends Saara and Ant.

We checked out Café Europa, a really nice bar which was a mad combination of antique décor and modern fixtures (chandeliers and gilt-edged mirrors alongside industrial tubes and pipes).

Cider drinkers

As soon as Dave and I learnt that the Finnish for 'cheers' sounds just like 'get pissed' (honest it really does) we just knew we were in for a fun weekend ;-)

Lizzie Curious

I wondered why people most people were drinking cider - then found out it only became available in the country two years ago!

As soon as Dave and I learnt that the Finnish for 'cheers' sounds just like 'get pissed' (honest it really does) we just knew we were in for a fun weekend ;-)

My gig for the night was at Progress, at a medium sized club about the size of the Soundshaft, run by DJ Seb.

It was a mix of progressive house, funky house and uplifting trance. People seemed to love my funky tunage (phew!!)…. And I have to say it was a really great feeling to have all these people in a different country enjoying my music - though I couldn't be sure what they were saying they seemed to be having a good time!

I was however more than a little surprised when someone asked if I had any Scooter tunes!! DJ Phaze was closing the night and he played a wicked trancey set which then ended with the classic old skool tune "Sweet Harmony" as loads of bubbles came down around us- nice touch.

Hard day's night?

One thing I hadn't really taken into account was that daylight is a whole different ball game in Finland - in the summer the sun never sets but in the winter, they only have a couple of hours of sunlight in the winter. So when we got out of the club at 3.30am it was as bright as midday - tres sketchy!!

The trendy Aboutique in Helsinki

The next day we headed over to Helsinki - capital of Finland! The club night I was playing was called mother and was a mix of a relaxing open bar area and an amazing dancefloor which had a roof six storeys high where they beamed amazing projections.

I was really impressed by this place, clearly a playground for the beautiful people of Helsinki. Abraham, the resident DJ and promoter was a brilliant host, plying me with all sorts of drinks and generally making me feel very welcome (and perhaps a little drunk too).

Perky shots

One drink that became a favourite of mine was an unpronounceable shot which was a thick black liquid - like Aftershock but way more intense. A few of those and you feel remarkably perky!

Once my set finished I was whisked off to Hallmark, the best trance club in Helsinki. The club was about the size of the Fridge (Brixton) and the DJ booth situated up on a stage with the whole crowd facing inwards.

Though there weren't any particularly amazing lights or lasers, the atmosphere more than made up for this! Beautiful uplifting trance, not a hint of mozzarella, and a crowd that were going crazy - at times you couldn't hear the music over the roar!

Arty disco balls:-)

t was their closing party for the season, so I guess people were partying extra hard. Top marks to the resident DJ Tab, he was ace: I love to see a DJ really enjoying their set and engaging with the crowd.

The second to last tune was the legendary Carte Blanche and really raised the roof. I had a fantastic time and have to say was really impressed with how friendly everyone was.

All clubs in Helsinki end at about 4am, but there are plenty of clubs that start after parties at 5am, so you can carry on partying all day. In the summer, Hallmark hold all night parties 'Unity' on a little island just off Helsinki which sound awesome.

Aboutique

After the excesses of Saturday night, we were feeling a little, ahem, fragile! However, the Bombfunk MCs were playing at a free festival in Helsinki and there was no way I was going to miss that!

So off we went off for a bounce around to their set before driving over to Turku, the last stop of my stay in Finland. And Sunday night proved to be was just what the doctor ordered: Aboutique at Kino.

Mixing it up at come

This night is run by Karri K and DJ Seb and it is at a really funky bar in Turku, where you could sit back, relax and recall the weekend's madness! Or start again on the cider and potent shots…uh oh!!

Chilled summery tunes were the order of the day and it was a brilliant way to end such an enjoyable weekend.

The things that really stood out on this trip was how friendly everyone we met was and this made us feel really welcome.

Finnish parties

Finnish people really know how to party and I really want to go back to experience some of their mid-summer madness! I would definitely recommend going out there, the clubs have a great atmosphere and not only that everyone also seemed to speak perfect English. Oh, and did I mention that the Moomins come from Finland?

Big thanks to the brilliant Karri K, DJ Seb, Abraham, Saara and all the wicked people I met….I'll be going to Funland again for sure!!!

Lizzie Curious xxx

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