Wednesday 13 headlining in Finland for the first time in over 10 years

After more than a decade away from Finnish stages, American horror punk legend Wednesday 13 made a long-awaited return to Helsinki’s iconic Tavastia Club on Tuesday night. The show marked his first headline appearance in Finland in 12 years, following his 2024 visit supporting Cradle of Filth with a special Murderdolls tribute set. This time, it was all about Wednesday 13’s own twisted brand of horror rock and what a triumphant comeback it was.

The night opened with Swedish sleaze rockers Sister who wasted no time getting the crowd fired up. Bursting onto the stage with their latest track “The Way We Fall”, frontman Jamie Anderson bounded around like a man possessed blending growls and screams with pure rock’n’roll swagger. The rest of the band matched his intensity throwing shapes and pulling faces as they delivered a tight, high-energy set. For anyone who hadn’t kept up with Sister since their early days, this was a pleasant comeback as the band sounded sharper and more confident than ever. Their finale, a fiery cover of Motörhead’s “Rock Out”, sent the audience into an epic atmosphere. An opener that truly did its job.

After a short break, the lights dimmed and it was time for the main attraction. Wednesday 13 and his band stormed the stage to “Look What the Bats Dragged In” from the classic Transylvania 90210: Songs of Death, Dying, and the Dead. The lack of a safety barrier between the band and crowd only heightened the intensity. This was punk intimacy at its finest. The frontman’s charisma was undeniable: Wednesday 13 remains one of the most entertaining and magnetic vocalists in the genre, seamlessly blending snarling attitude with spot-on vocals.

Backed by a powerhouse band clearly enjoying every moment as the nearly 20-song setlist was a career-spanning celebration. Fans were treated to horror punk staples and fan favorites from across Wednesday’s discography, along with a few Murderdolls gems like “Summertime Suicide” and “Nowhere” that sent longtime followers into a nostalgia. Drummer Mike Dupke also took the spotlight for a dynamic solo punctuated with classic horror movie samples that perfectly fit the night’s macabre vibe.

As the show drew to a close, Wednesday 13 delivered his irreverent anthem “I Love to Say Fuck” as a closer leaving the audience shouting along word for word. Throughout the night and clearly touched by the crowd’s energy, he repeatedly thanked the Finnish fans, calling them “one of the best crowds on the whole tour by far.” After such a fiery return, let’s hope it won’t take another 12 years for Wednesday 13 to bring his headliner horror circus back to Finland. Judging by the crowd’s reaction, Tavastia would gladly welcome him any night.