Local Heroes and International Stars Inaugurate Jakobstad’s New Projekt Liv Arena
The brand-new Projekt Liv Arena in Jakobstad, Finland, was opened with a memorable concert, celebrating both local heroes and international stars. Despite the pouring rain, more than 4,000 people gathered to witness an evening full of music, community, and surprises.
A Grand Kickoff with Jeppis Allstars
The evening opened with an impressive lineup of Jeppis Allstars, a collective of local talents including Fredrik Furu (co-organiser), musical star Jennie Storbacka. Others who performed were: Esko Heinonen, Johannes Ahlvik, Charlotta Kerbs, Sanjay Khan, Alva Elle, Joel Sundkvist, Dennis Rönngård, and Philip Järvenpää. Each artist performed a song, starting with a powerful rendition of Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida” sung by Dennis Rönngård—a vibrant start to the show. The Allstars closed their set together with “För alltid vi”, uniting the voices of Jakobstad.
KAJ: From Local Band to International Phenomenon
The much-anticipated comedy-pop trio KAJ (Kevin, Axel, Jakob) took the stage early, making sure even the youngest fans had a chance to see them. Their journey from small-town Vörå—playing weddings and pubs—to competing in Sweden’s national song contest and performing at major festivals was celebrated by the audience.
Their humorous dialect songs, such as “Firmasman”, “Tekst TV”, “Taco hé”, and the tongue-twister “Jåo Nåo E Ja Jåo Yolo Ja Nåo” had the crowd singing along. Highlights included Axel buzzing across the stage dressed as a mosquito during their new track “Mosquito”, and Jakob showcasing his operatic talent with “Näsan domnar”, a playful twist on Giacomo Puccini’s Nessun Dorma. Naturally, the finale was their beloved “Bra bada Bastu”—fittingly paired with an actual sauna on site, which fans could enter to warm up from the relentless rain.
An intermezzo that took place in this unique arena: it carries no corporate name but instead honours a cause—the Projekt Liv Foundation, whose mission is to bring joy and light to the daily lives of children with long-term illnesses. To raise funds, artist Tessa Valla created a painting signed by KAJ, which was auctioned and presented on stage alongside the band and the artist, underlining the strong bond between culture, community, and compassion at the heart of the new arena.
Rock Nostalgia with Dingo
For the older generation, Dingo brought pure nostalgia. The legendary Finnish rock band, now consisting of Pertti Neumann, Jonttu Virta, Tom Eklund, Leena Peisa, and Saska Ketonen, delivered a classic rock show with energetic solos and crowd favourites like “Levoton tuhkimo”, “Nahkatakkinen tyttö”, “Autiotalo”, and “Sinä ja minä”. The audience sang along passionately, proving that Dingo’s 1980s hits still resonate strongly.
Daniel Adams-Ray: Powerful Music and Strong Messages
Swedish artist Daniel Adams-Ray closed the evening with a heartfelt and dynamic performance. Jakobstad already knew him from his appearance in After Eight’s garden during Jakobs dagar, but this return carried even greater weight.
He won the crowd instantly by pulling out a scarf of the local football team FF Jaro, declaring: “I’ve never seen this club play, but tonight we are one team!”—prompting the audience to chant “Jaro, Jaro!”. In his song “Döda hjärtan kan slå igen” he cleverly replaced “döda” (dead) with “röda” (red), in homage to Jaro’s red jerseys.
His new album “Pandemi, Palestina & Heartache” also took centre stage, as he spoke movingly about peace and human rights: “Showing sympathy for something doesn’t mean you hate something else… There are not different peoples, we are one people,” he said, dedicating his words to the children of Gaza. The band revealed T-shirts emblazoned with “Palestina”, underscoring the message.
Adams-Ray also performed “Somewhere in Stockholm”, a song co-written with the late Avicii and sung with the late Marie Nilsson Lind, dedicating it to their memory. Hits like “Mister Cool” and the all-time favourite “Gubben i lådan”—Sweden’s most played song in 2010—brought the night to a powerful close.
A Night to Remember and Maxazine were present
The Projekt Liv Arena has now been inaugurated in style. The organisers delivered a well-structured event, the artists enjoyed themselves, and the audience—despite the heavy rain—was enthusiastic from start to finish. With its successful debut, the arena proved its potential to host not only football matches but also unforgettable concerts.
Next time, let’s hope the weather gods join the celebration with sunshine instead of showers.
Photos (c) Hans Kreutzer
