Finland’s John Smith Rock Festival is gearing up for a special 10th anniversary edition in 2027, with ACCEPT, THE SISTERS OF MERCY, SONATA ARCTICA and DECAPITATED among the first nine acts confirmed for next summer.
Taking place from 22–24 July 2027, the festival has built a reputation for its strong line-ups, well-organised event and, perhaps most importantly, booking artists that are rarely seen elsewhere in Finland. This first announcement looks set to continue that tradition, mixing legendary names with exclusive appearances and some intriguing reunions.
Metal veterans ACCEPT bring five decades of heavy metal history to the bill, while gothic rock pioneers THE SISTERS OF MERCY are another major draw, with the band making a relatively rare appearance in Finland.
There are also some special treats for fans. ENSIFERUM – THE EARLY YEARS, featuring Jari Mäenpää, will revisit the band’s early material, while Finnish melodic death metal outfit NORTHER are set for a comeback, at least for now. Norwegian metallers TRIOSPHERE also join the line-up.
Returning to the festival after appearing at its inaugural edition are Finnish power metal favourites SONATA ARCTICA, alongside Swedish hard rockers DYNAZTY. Rounding out the first wave are Polish death metal heavyweights DECAPITATED and Danish blackgaze outfit MØL.
Festival organisers say the announcement reflects the spirit that has shaped John Smith over the past nine years, balancing familiar favourites with acts that fans might not get the chance to see live very often. They also highlighted the honour of welcoming ACCEPT and THE SISTERS OF MERCY, alongside the special ENSIFERUM performance featuring Mäenpää.
With its 10th anniversary celebrations now taking shape, John Smith Rock Festival has officially kicked off its 2027 line-up announcements, with more acts expected to be revealed later this autumn.
The festival takes place from 22nd – 24th July 2027 in Finland.
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